The figure is double from the same period last year, and even higher than the $5.4 billion recorded in the whole of last year, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment.
This means the coffee industry has achieved its full-year exports target within the first half.
Domestic prices too have crashed. Green coffee bean prices in the Central Highlands fell to VND94,500 (US$3.62) per kilogram Monday, the lowest this year and 30% down from this year’s peak of VND135,400 in March.
 |
|
A person prepares coffee beans for roasting in Hanoi in April 2025. Photo by VnExpress/Hoang Giang |
Globally, robusta coffee prices for July delivery fell by 30.9% to $3,661 per ton and September delivery to $3,593, the steepest fall in over a year.
The jump in exports has been due to large orders from key markets like the U.S., Europe, Japan, South Korea, and China.
The ministry credited this to a strategic focus on high-value products such as specialty, instant and deeply processed coffees.
It expected whole-year exports to rise by 37% to $7.5 billion.
The U.S. remained the main market for Vietnam’s processed and specialty coffees, particularly instant and high-end varieties.
But the ministry cautioned that some U.S. buyers are exploring alternative suppliers, urging companies to strengthen their competitiveness.
Northeast Asia, including Japan, China and South Korea, is emerging as a major market for Vietnamese robusta, and new markets such as the Philippines and Thailand also show high potential for growth.
But inadequate supply could be a hurdle, according to industry insiders.
Nguyen Nam Hai, chairman of the Vietnam Coffee Cocoa Association, attributed the recent price drop to external factors, primarily Brazil’s bumper harvest and Indonesia’s large inventories and a stronger U.S. dollar, prompting speculators to cash in profits and pressure the coffee market.
“If prices continue to decline, the next crop cycle could be affected as farmers cut back on investments, impacting yield and quality.”
To sustain exports, the agriculture ministry recommended prioritizing high-value processed products, expansion into new export markets and proactively adopting measures to navigate global economic uncertainties.
