Vietnam’s coffee exports reached a historic milestone for the first time in January, surpassing fruit and seafood shipments.

Despite a sharp decline in export volume, the export value hit a record of over US$760 million in just one month, driven by a surge in global coffee prices.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Vietnam exported 140,000 metric tons of coffee in January 2025.

While this figure represents a decline of 40 percent in volume, the corresponding revenue increased five percent compared to the same period last year.

The key driver behind this record-breaking export turnover was the significant rise in coffee prices, which reached approximately $5,450 per metric ton, marking a year-on-year increase of over 78 percent.

In comparison, Vietnam’s fruit exports totaled $400 million in January, while seafood exports reached $750 million.

With coffee exports hitting $763 million, the sector became the second-highest revenue generator in the country’s agricultural exports, trailing only behind wood and wood products, which recorded $1.4 billion in export value.

The surge in coffee prices is attributed to tightening global supply.

Market analysts observed that major coffee-producing countries, including Brazil and Vietnam, have been limiting sales, leading to a global price recovery at the start of 2025.

Industry expert Nguyen Hung Cuong, a coffee trader from Pleiku City, Gia Lai Province, in Vietnam’s Central Highlands region, noted that the coffee market, both domestically and globally, remains highly dynamic.

Despite challenges such as climate change, global coffee consumption is expected to continue rising, providing strong opportunities for Vietnamese exporters.

“Vietnam has been the world’s leading supplier of robusta coffee for many years, as robusta accounts for 90 percent of the country's total coffee production. Given the current market trends, farmers and businesses are optimistic that coffee prices could soon reach VND150,000 [$5.9] per kilogram or even higher,” Cuong stated.

As of February 9, 2025, domestic coffee prices ranged between VND128,500 ($5.08) and VND129,500 ($5.11) per kilogram. Despite a recent dip, the domestic coffee market has experienced four consecutive weeks of gains.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture forecasts that Vietnam’s coffee exports will increase by 1.8 million bags in 2025, reaching 24.4 million.

Meanwhile, global coffee consumption is projected to rise by 5.1 million bags, exceeding 168 million bags, driven primarily by demand from the EU, the U.S., and China.

The international standard weight for a full coffee bag is typically 60 kilograms (132 lbs).

This standard is commonly used in the coffee industry, especially for green (unroasted) coffee beans.

However, some countries and regions have different standard bag weights.

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