Coffee Types in Vietnam
Table of Contents
The Vietnamese market offers various popular coffee types such as: Robusta (cà phê Vối), Arabica (cà phê Chè), Culi coffee, Cherry coffee (cà phê Mít), and Moka coffee.
However, the two main types most widely consumed and with the highest export proportion are Robusta and Arabica.
Vietnam’s Coffee Export Situation
In 2022, Vietnam’s coffee production remained stable. According to the Vietnam Coffee and Cocoa Association (VICOFA), total production for the 2021–2022 crop year (October 1, 2021 – September 30, 2022) was estimated at around 1.73 million tons, showing little change compared to the previous crop.
The total cultivated area remained unchanged, about 600,000 hectares. In 2022, average coffee yield reached 2.82 tons/ha, the highest level since at least 2005, according to the Crop Production Department. Favorable weather, with rainfall at the right times during planting, flowering, and harvesting, contributed to good and uniform quality, with a high bean-to-screen ratio.
Main Export Markets
The European Union (EU) continued to be Vietnam’s largest export market in the first months of the year, accounting for 43.6% of total export volume with 62,132 tons, valued at USD 135 million.
Key EU markets for Vietnamese coffee include: Germany (21,487 tons), Italy (17,274 tons), Belgium (9,282 tons), Spain (5,984 tons).
Beyond the EU, other major destinations included: the United States (10,901 tons), Russia (10,087 tons).
Exports to certain coffee-producing countries increased sharply in January compared to the same period last year:
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Indonesia rose 4.5 times (3,245 tons)
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Mexico rose 4 times (2,797 tons)
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India rose 62.3% (2,507 tons)
Consumption Trends
According to the International Coffee Organization (ICO), global coffee exports, after increasing in November, declined again in December 2022, falling 8.5% YoY to 10.9 million bags.
By type, green coffee beans accounted for over 90% of total exports. In the first 3 months of the 2022–2023 crop year, cumulative green bean exports reached 27.3 million bags, down 1.5% compared with the previous crop.
General Coffee Information
Arabica
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Shape: Beans are slightly elongated, light-colored after roasting, hard and dense with low expansion.
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Processing: Post-harvest cherries are fermented, soaked in water, washed, then dried.
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Flavor: Mild acidity, with a distinctive aftertaste shifting from sourness to bitterness; rich and aromatic.
Robusta
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Shape: Smaller beans, darker in color after roasting, expand significantly.
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Processing: Usually sun-dried directly without fermentation. Roasting requires stricter control at 230–240°C.
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Flavor: Strong, bold bitterness ranging from neutral to harsh, with notes similar to oatmeal; aroma less pronounced than Arabica.
Cultivation Regions
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Cầu Đất, Đà Lạt – With altitude over 1,600m, cold climate and year-round fog, this region is ideal for Arabica. Harvesting is selective—only ripe cherries are picked. Cultivation area: 1,100 ha.
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Khe Sanh, Quảng Trị – About 5,000 ha of Arabica under the brand “Khe Sanh Arabica,” valued at USD 25 million annually.
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Northwest Vietnam (Sơn La, Điện Biên) – Nearly 9,000 ha of Arabica, with suitable soil and climate.
For Robusta, cultivation is concentrated in Đắk Lắk, Đắk Nông, Lâm Đồng, Gia Lai, accounting for over 90% of Vietnam’s coffee production and one-third of global Robusta consumption. With about 600,000 ha, Vietnam maintains consistent supply both domestically and internationally. Robusta is more disease-resistant and cheaper (roughly half the price of Arabica), making it highly competitive in global markets.
Harvest Seasons
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Arabica: September – November (can vary ±1–2 months depending on climate).
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Robusta: October – December, sometimes extending to January.
Domestic Prices
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Arabica Cầu Đất: ~280,000 VND/kg
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Arabica Laos: ~75,000–80,000 VND/kg
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Arabica Đà Lạt (screen 18, dry-processed): ~60,000–65,000 VND/kg
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Arabica Đà Lạt (screen 18, wet-processed): ~60,000–75,000 VND/kg
(Wet-processed is more expensive than dry-processed) -
Robusta S18 (raw): ~45,000 VND/kg
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Robusta wet-processed (raw): ~62,000 VND/kg
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Robusta honey (raw): ~69,000 VND/kg
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Roasted Robusta beans: ~85,000–90,000 VND/kg
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Specialty Robusta: ~140,000–260,000 VND/kg
Prices generally increase from raw to roasted.
Domestic Price Trends
In January 2023, domestic Robusta prices surged in line with global trends.
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Lâm Đồng & Đắk Lắk: up 3,100 VND/kg → 42,200–42,800 VND/kg
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Gia Lai & Đắk Nông: up 3,000 VND/kg → 42,800 VND/kg
Export Prices
In January 2023, Vietnam’s average coffee export price fell for the third consecutive month to USD 2,178/ton, down 2.5% MoM and flat YoY.
Export Markets
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Asia: Japan, South Korea, China, Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia – declining trend
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Europe & U.S.: Germany, Belgium, Italy, Spain, USA, New Zealand – increasing trend
Imports
Vietnam also imports coffee beans, roasted coffee, and instant coffee from Brazil, the U.S., China, Indonesia, Laos, Cambodia, etc.
Export Volume
According to Vietnam Customs, in January 2023, coffee exports reached 142,544 tons, worth USD 310.4 million – down 38.4% in volume and 38.1% in value YoY. Compared to February 2022, exports increased 2% in volume but decreased 3.6% in value.
Strengths
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Brand building and regional planning are being expanded.
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Strong application of science, digital transformation, and sustainability initiatives to meet strict U.S. and EU market demands.
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Robusta: low-priced, suitable for markets such as China, India, Philippines.
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Export tax = 0% and VAT = 0%.
Weaknesses & Challenges
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Insufficient rainfall combined with cold weather impacts flowering and fruit-setting.
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Severe frost in Sơn La (Jan–Feb 2023) damaged many farms; severely affected trees had to be cut down.
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When harvests are abundant, oversupply leads to falling prices.
Domestic Competitors
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Vĩnh Hiệp Co., Ltd.: ~30,000 tons/year, exporting mainly to the U.S., Japan, South Korea, and EU.
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Intimex Group JSC: Owns 11 factories with total capacity of 570,000 tons/year.
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Intimex Mỹ Phước JSC.