Year by year, this Asian country is strengthening its position as the world’s largest producer of Robusta coffee and its second-largest exporter. The success of this variety of coffee is driven, on the one hand, by rising sales of coffee blends and instant coffee and, on the other hand, by shortages of Arabica coffee.

Exports of Vietnamese Robusta reached a record high in 2025, with almost US$ 9 billion worth of coffee shipped to buyers. This year is shaping up to be even better: in January alone, the value of coffee exports reached US$ 1 billion, breaking last year’s record. Meanwhile, the European Union remains Vietnam’s most important coffee market, with Germany being the leading consumer of Vietnamese beans, followed by Italy, Spain, the Netherlands and Belgium.

Vietnam mainly grows the above-mentioned Robusta coffee (over 90% of output) with some Arabica coffee (in the highlands). It also produces the lesser-known Excelsa (Chari) and Liberica varieties. The country is also famous for rarer varieties such as Weasel coffee. Vietnam’s yield per hectare is the highest in the world, thanks to intensive farming methods.

‘Robusta coffee accounts for around 40% of global production and is of exceptional importance to international trade. It is more resistant to climate change, pests and diseases than Arabica coffee, and its additional advantages include a higher caffeine content and lower production costs. Let’s not forget that the revolution in the form of instant coffees and coffee blends would not have been possible without Robusta. Once regarded as an inferior variety just a few years ago, Robusta is now taking the coffee shop market by storm and entering the mainstream. In my opinion, there are still many surprises in store for us, stemming from exclusive Robusta varieties and the promotion of unique regional growing areas, albeit somewhat marketing-driven’, says Sylwia Mokrysz, President of the Coffee and Tea Market Research Institute.

Some statistics

In 2024, Vietnam exported 1.32 million tonnes of coffee, which was 18.8% lower in volume compared to 2023, yet the export value jumped 29% to reach US$ 5.48 billion. However, it was last year that broke all previous records. Approx. 1.59 million tonnes of coffee were shipped to customers worldwide, generating record revenues of over US$ 8.92 billion for this Asian country – representing sharp increases of approx. 18.3% in volume and 58.8% in value compared to 2024. Analyses from a few years ago had predicted that such sales levels would not be reached until around 2030. Coffee market experts argue that the consequence of the global rise in coffee demand is that Robusta beans have become key in meeting growing consumption levels.

Coffee – a touch of luxury every day

Experts emphasise that the key factor behind the recent rises in coffee prices, apart from crop failures in South America, has been, and will continue to be in the coming years, growing demand in Asia. In 2024, inhabitants of Asia and Oceania drank 7.4% more coffee than in the previous year, while consumption in Europe fell by 1.2%. This trend is even more pronounced in Vietnam, a country with a population of over 100 million. There, coffee consumption per capita has almost doubled over the past decade, rising from 1.7 kg in 2015 to approx. 3 kg per person per year at present (according to estimates by the US Department of Agriculture), although this still remains lower than in Europe, where consumption is estimated to be 6-8 kg per person per year.

And what about Poland? Several years ago, the mottcoffee.com blog reported that approx. 25% of Poland’s total green coffee imports came directly from producing countries. In 2020, this figure stood at 42,500 tonnes. Brazil and Vietnam were the largest suppliers of coffee to Poland, accounting for over 80% of total direct bean imports. Coffee imports to Poland mainly arrive via the ports of Gdynia, Gdansk and Szczecin. Poland has a relatively large and important coffee roasting industry, producing 38,000 tonnes of coffee annually, including Robusta.

Polish demand reserve

‘In the context of globalisation, the digitalisation of the global economy, the dynamic development of technology and the growing popularity of online shopping, changes are taking place in the mindset of modern societies, prompting people, regardless of their age or marital status, to constantly adapt their lifestyles. Undoubtedly, the modern consumer uses mobile devices to compare prices and seek information about products before making a purchase. At the same time, it is evident that, due to the constantly evolving circumstances of consumers’ lives, there is a growing trend toward consuming various types of stimulating drinks, which are intended to improve concentration and mental alertness and, consequently, increase activity, argues Tomasz Zalega in his article “Young and Silver Singles as Consumers in the Polish Coffee Market – Selected Issues,” which will appear in the June issue of the “Coffee & Tea Marketing Journal” magazine published by the Coffee and Tea Market Research Institute. We invite you to read this issue today.

According to the Coffee in Europe report by Allegra World Coffee Portal, which will also be covered in the upcoming issue of Coffee & Tea Marketing Journal, the average coffee consumption per person in Poland is approx. 3 kg of coffee per year, while in countries such as Finland and Norway, however, consumption exceeds 10 kg per person. A BioStat survey shows that 65.1% of Poles drink coffee once or twice a day, while another 30.8% drink it even three or four times a day. ‘This demonstrates the potential for growth in coffee demand, with consumption of various varieties and product combinations likely to increase by several more kilograms in the coming years,’ argues Sylwia Mokrysz.

Coffee and Tea Market Research Institute Team