To meet coffee farmers’ demand for information, Y5Cafe has compiled details about projects that enhance the added value of Vietnam’s coffee sector. Naturally, the “most remarkable” achievements below were valid at the time of publication and may be surpassed in the future.
1. The Most Modern Coffee Processing Plant in the Northwest
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Son La, June 8, 2009 – A coffee processing plant with a total investment of USD 5 million broke ground, employing the most advanced technology from the Brazilian group Pinhalense. Planned to be built and installed in three months, it was scheduled to operate for the 2009–2010 coffee season.
The coffee plant is part of a complex of three factories, including an animal feed plant and an organic fertilizer plant, with a total investment of VND 110 billion. The project was invested by Thai Hoa Group and located in Chieng Mung Commune, Mai Son District, Son La Province.
This is the first coffee processing plant in the Northwest and was rated the most modern in Vietnam for processing fresh cherries. With a capacity of 30,000 tons of green coffee per year, it can meet the high-quality processing needs of the entire Northwest region.
2. The Largest Coffee Processing Plant in the Central Highlands
Buon Ma Thuot, October 21, 2003 – Trung Nguyen Coffee Co., Ltd. broke ground for the largest coffee processing plant in the Central Highlands. The plant consists of two workshops: one for roasted coffee and one for instant coffee, with a total investment of over VND 152 billion.
The roasted coffee workshop has a capacity of 1,500 tons of finished product per year and was expected to be completed by the second quarter of 2004, creating jobs for nearly 200 local workers. Sixty percent of the roasted coffee output would be exported to markets such as Japan, Singapore, Thailand, Germany, and new markets including the U.S., Canada, Russia, the U.K., and France.
The instant coffee workshop, equipped with advanced European technology and worth over VND 120 billion, was scheduled to be completed and produce output by the end of 2004.
3. Vietnam’s Largest Instant Coffee Processing Plant
December 15, 2010 – Vinacafé Bien Hoa broke ground on an instant coffee processing plant with a capacity of 3,200 tons of pure instant coffee per year, using the most advanced technology at the time.
Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Diep Kinh Tan stated that this groundbreaking event marked an important milestone for Vietnam’s coffee industry. Once operational, every hour this plant would add half a ton of instant coffee to the global market.
According to Pham Quang Vu, General Director of Vinacafé Bien Hoa, this third plant’s capacity is four times that of the second and forty times that of the first. When it came into operation in the first quarter of 2013, Vietnam’s total instant coffee output for the world would double. The third plant, invested with more than VND 500 billion, was built on nearly 5 hectares of land in Long Thanh Industrial Park, Dong Nai Province.
From a small coffee plant left by the French that could not even operate, after nearly 40 years of development Vinacafé Bien Hoa has become a major joint-stock company with Vietnam’s largest instant coffee production capacity and a famous domestic and international brand.
4. Asia’s Largest Instant Coffee Processing Plant
September 3, 2010 – In Cu Kuin Industrial Cluster, Cu Kuin District, Dak Lak, Indian-owned Ngon Coffee Co., Ltd. broke ground on what would be Asia’s largest instant coffee processing plant.
Built on 24 hectares with modern European technology and equipment, the plant has an annual capacity of 10,000 tons of product and a total investment of USD 18 million. After production began, the plant’s products would be sold domestically and exported. Initial annual revenue was expected at USD 27 million, rising to USD 40.5 million from 2014 onward, with at least USD 2.1 million in annual tax contributions to the state budget.
The plant would provide stable employment for 200 permanent workers and over 1,000 seasonal workers. It was scheduled to be completed and operational by July 2011.
5. Trung Nguyen Starts Building the World’s Most Modern Coffee Processing Plant
June 9, 2009 – Trung Nguyen Coffee officially started construction of a state-of-the-art coffee processing plant in Buon Ma Thuot City, Dak Lak Province. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Gia Khiem, along with leaders from central and local agencies, international investors, and many ambassadors attended the ceremony.
The Trung Nguyen plant was invested with more than USD 40 million and built on an area of 27,000 m² in two phases. Phase one involved nearly USD 20 million for infrastructure and basic operating systems. Phase two would use the remaining investment for purchasing cutting-edge equipment and expanding the plant by an additional 50,000 m². The design capacity was set at more than 60,000 tons of processed coffee annually, with the plant expected to be completed and operational after 18 months.
According to the project design, the new plant would feature a German vacuum steaming and drying line for green coffee to enhance the quality and value of Vietnam’s Robusta coffee before domestic processing or export. It would also include Asia’s largest caffeine extraction line, with a capacity of 20,000 tons per year.