Page plan · 14 pages

Written for: Students of agriculture and the commodity trade

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   Vietnamese coffee: from the Central Highlands to the world

   • Vietnam is one of the world's largest coffee producers, and the top producer of robusta.
   • This talk follows coffee from Central Highlands farms to buyers abroad.
   • We look at history, production data, farming, processing, trade and climate.
   • The lens is agriculture and the commodity trade.
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   From the first plantations to tomorrow's climate risks

   • The story starts with the introduction of coffee plants under French colonial rule.
   • Then comes the expansion into a major export crop.
   • We then turn to how the crop is grown, processed and sold.
   • We end with climate risks and what they mean for future harvests.
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   Roots of coffee in Vietnam

   • French colonists brought coffee to Vietnam in the 19th century.
   • Early plantings were mostly arabica in the northern highlands.
   • Robusta later proved better suited to the Central Highlands.
   • Economic reforms from the late 1980s (Doi Moi) encouraged households to expand coffee growing.
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   Robusta makes up almost all of Vietnam's crop

   • In 2024/25 Vietnam produced about 28,000 thousand 60-kg bags of robusta.
   • Arabica was only about 1,000 thousand bags in the same year.
   • Robusta is therefore roughly 97% of the crop on these figures.
   • Vietnam's output profile is tied closely to robusta demand and prices.

   Pie chart: Vietnam coffee production by type, 2024/25 (thousand 60-kg bags). Source: PSD Online coffee dataset (psd_coffee_csv.zip) · checked 2026-10-10

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   The Central Highlands

   • The Central Highlands are the heartland of Vietnamese coffee.
   • Provinces such as Dak Lak, Lam Dong and Gia Lai are key producers.
   • Basalt-derived red soils and a marked wet and dry season suit robusta.
   • Dak Lak is widely known as the robusta capital.
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   Comparing growing regions

   • Regions differ in altitude, climate and the coffee type they favor.
   • Lower, warmer highlands suit robusta; cooler, higher areas suit arabica.
   • Lam Dong's higher elevations are better suited to arabica than Dak Lak's plains.
   • Compare regions on altitude, rainfall, soil and typical yield.
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   Production and exports, 2006/07 to 2024/25

   • Production rose from 19,500 thousand bags in 2006/07 to 31,580 in 2021/22.
   • It dipped to 29,000 thousand bags in 2024/25.
   • Exports climbed from 18,840 to a peak of 29,065 in 2015/16.
   • Exports were 25,200 thousand bags in 2024/25, below production.
   • Exports track production closely, with year-to-year stock swings.

   Line chart: Vietnam coffee production and exports by market year (thousand 60-kg bags). Source: PSD Online coffee dataset (psd_coffee_csv.zip) · checked 2026-10-10

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   Smallholder farms

   • Most Vietnamese coffee comes from small family farms.
   • Typical holdings are a few hectares, often mixed with pepper or fruit trees.
   • Smallholders face rising input costs, labor needs and price swings.
   • Cooperatives and certification schemes can improve access to markets.
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   Harvest and drying

   • Harvest runs roughly from October to January in the Central Highlands.
   • Pickers pick ripe cherries by hand, though some farms strip-pick.
   • Many farmers sun-dry cherries on patios or yards.
   • Rain at harvest can slow drying and hurt quality.
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    Processing and grading

    • Most robusta is dry-processed: cherries dried, then hulled.
    • Beans are graded by screen size and defect count.
    • Green coffee is bagged and sold through traders and exporters.
    • Some producers invest in wet processing and fine robusta quality.
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    Main buyer markets

    • Vietnamese coffee is exported mainly as green robusta beans.
    • Buyers include Europe, the United States and Asian importers.
    • Much of the volume goes into instant coffee and blends.
    • Pricing links to futures benchmarks for robusta.
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    Coffee culture at home

    • Domestic coffee culture is strong, with cafes across Vietnamese cities.
    • Phin filter brewing makes a strong, slow-dripped cup.
    • Ca phe sua da is iced coffee with sweetened condensed milk.
    • Egg coffee is a Hanoi specialty.
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    Climate risks

    • Drought and irregular rainfall threaten Central Highlands yields.
    • Irrigation water is drawn heavily from groundwater, which is a limit.
    • Heat and weather extremes can affect flowering and bean filling.
    • Pests, disease and aging trees add risk.
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    What the next harvests may bring

    • Future harvests depend on weather, water and prices.
    • Replanting with better varieties can lift yields.
    • Water-efficient irrigation and shade trees may build resilience.
    • Watch production, exports and buyer demand in coming seasons.