China becomes major buyer as Vietnam coffee exports hit $4.81bn in H1 2026
Vietnam shipped 1.05 million tonnes of coffee worth $4.81 billion in the first half of 2026, with volume up 7.4% but value down 13.8%. China surged into the top ranks of buyers, paying $5,680 per tonne and overtaking Brazil as China's second-largest supplier.
Vietnam exported 1.05 million tonnes of coffee worth $4.81 billion in the first half of 2026, according to figures from Vietnam's Customs Department cited by vietnamnet.vn. Volume climbed 7.4% against the same period of 2025, yet export value fell 13.8% — a sign that Vietnamese beans are moving in larger quantities at lower average prices. In June alone, shipments reached 126,400 tonnes valued at $585.6 million.
China climbs the buyer rankings
The sharpest change came from China. In June 2026, China recorded the fastest growth of any destination market and rose to become Vietnam's third-largest coffee customer, behind only Japan and Germany, according to vietnamnet.vn. Across the first six months, exports to the market of more than 1.4 billion people reached 38,823 tonnes worth nearly $226.4 million, up 49.3% in volume and 76.1% in value.
Chinese customs data, cited in the same report, frames the trend from another angle. In the first five months of 2026, China imported 85,900 tonnes of coffee worth $651.9 million, up 0.3% in volume and 8% in value year on year, drawn from 50 countries and territories. Ethiopia remained the single largest supplier at 29,200 tonnes worth $224.8 million, lifting its share of Chinese imports from 19.97% to 33.99%.
Vietnam overtakes Brazil in China
Over the same five months, China spent $99.6 million importing 17,500 tonnes of Vietnamese coffee, a jump of 76.9% in volume and 87.1% in value. Vietnam's share of total Chinese coffee imports rose from 11.57% to 20.4%, and the country overtook Brazil to become China's second-largest supplier.
The price gap was the standout detail. The average import price of Vietnamese coffee entering China rose 5.8% year on year to $5,680 per tonne — $1,123 above the $4,557 average that Vietnam received across its other export markets. Chinese buyers, in other words, are paying a clear premium for Vietnamese supply.
A structurally growing market
Vietnam's Import-Export Department, part of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, attributed the rising Chinese demand to changing consumption habits among younger consumers, continuing urbanization and the rapid spread of coffee chains. Citing Grand View Research, it valued the Chinese coffee market at about $3.26 billion in 2025, projected to reach $5.36 billion by 2033 — an average annual growth rate of 6.4% between 2026 and 2033.
Roasted coffee currently generates the largest revenue in China, while ready-to-drink coffee is forecast to grow fastest thanks to its convenience. The department sees the strongest opportunities for exporters, Vietnam included, in Robusta, instant coffee and ready-to-drink products tailored to younger Chinese tastes.
