Booming coffee exports propel national progress
In the heart of Vietnam, the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak, known for its vast coffee plantations, is spearheading a strategic shift in the coffee industry. The province approved a list of key ventures through 2025, comprising 36 projects across various sectors, including 8 projects in agriculture and agricultural product processing, at a cost of nearly VND1 trillion ($40 million).
Despite being the world's second-largest coffee exporter after Brazil, Vietnam is making a strategic shift towards technological investment and development of Arabica-growing regions to export higher-value-added products that meet demand. This shift is evident in the growing robustness of specialty coffee exports, with prices reaching 1.5 to two times the global average.
Vietnam's coffee export turnover is projected to surpass $7.5 billion in 2025, representing a 36.9% increase year-on-year, according to MoAE forecasts. A significant factor contributing to this surge in export value is a significant increase in average export prices, which rose over 59% year-on-year.
Phan Minh Thong, chairman of Phuc Sinh JSC, a pioneer in this shift, emphasized the need for the Vietnamese coffee sector to focus on quality, branding, deep processing, and innovation to increase value. Phuc Sinh has developed Arabica and Cascara farms in Son La province, certified by the Rainforest Alliance, and has expanded into premium market segments.
Phuc Sinh employs traceability systems to comply with global standards and has established partnerships with farmers to improve yields. The added value of Phuc Sinh's coffee products has increased by 30-50% compared to unprocessed exports.
Another key player in this transformation is An Thai Coffee JSC. The company has invested in modern equipment and signed contracts with cooperatives to purchase raw materials, building a sustainable value chain from production to processing.
The government aims to raise the proportion of processed coffee to 30-40% by 2030. Nguyen Nam Hai, chairman of the Vietnam Coffee-Cocoa Association, attributed the surge in export value to this strategic shift towards deep processing and brand development.
In Dak Lak, Nguyen Thien Van, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee, aims for 15-20% of coffee products to undergo advanced processing. The province has approved plans for 20 coffee processing projects, with a total capital exceeding VND4 trillion ($160 million), since 2016.
Moreover, local exporters are accelerating efforts in deep processing and brand development due to shifting global consumer preferences and stricter import regulations. Over 90% of Vietnam's coffee exports remain in raw form, but this is changing as companies like Phuc Sinh and An Thai Coffee JSC lead the way in transforming Vietnam's coffee industry.
In the US market alone, Vietnam exported nearly 60,600 tonnes of coffee in the first half of 2025, earning $333 million in revenue. Germany, Italy, and Spain were Vietnam's top three coffee importers during the first six months, collectively representing 31.6% of total export value.
Meanwhile, the Sang Na Tre agricultural cooperative led by Mr. Cam Van Hoang in Dak Lak province has invested in coffee product processing, including washing, peeling, fermenting, drying, roasting, and grinding with modern machinery, achieving an annual revenue of nearly 8 billion VND.
The focus on quality, branding, deep processing, and innovation is paying off. The Central Highlands province of Dak Lak, and companies like Phuc Sinh and An Thai Coffee JSC, are setting the stage for Vietnam's coffee industry to continue its growth and become a global leader in specialty coffee exports.
