Brazil threatens Vietnam’s reign as ‘King’ of Robusta coffee

Vietnam’s position as the world’s top producer of Robusta coffee is under threat as Brazil edges closer to taking the lead within the next two to three years thanks to technological advancements and sustainable development policies.

The warning was issued by Trinh Duc Minh, chairman of the Buon Ma Thuot Coffee Association, during a recent seminar titled ‘Vietnamese Coffee: Enhancing Farmer Benefits and Supporting Export Enterprises.’

The event took place in Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City as part of the third edition of the ‘Honoring Vietnamese Coffee and Tea’ program organized by Nguoi Lao Dong (Laborer) newspaper on Saturday and Sunday.

Minh said that although Brazil primarily grows Arabica, its Robusta output is rapidly catching up, driven by advances in agricultural technology and sustainable development policies.

Brazilian cooperatives operate on a much larger scale than their Vietnamese counterparts, with average yields reaching up to eight metric tons per hectare.

In contrast, Vietnam’s coffee farming is largely fragmented, with production often shifting toward more profitable short-term crops like durian, avocado, and pepper, leading to volatile output and lower yields-only about three or four metric tons per hectare.

“Vietnam is currently the world’s leading Robusta producer, but without timely reforms, we'll risk losing our global standing,” Minh said.

“Brazil could surpass Vietnam within the next two or three years, with Robusta production projected to exceed 30 million pounds."

Coffee expert Nguyen Quang Binh echoed these concerns, pointing out that nearly 90 percent of Vietnam’s annual output, estimated at 1.6-1.8 million metric tons, comes from smallholder farms producing only a few metric tons each.

Farms producing 100 metric tons or higher per year remain rare, which limits investment in value-added processing.

Some experts at the seminar highlighted science and technology as critical bottlenecks.

Vietnam's coffee sector still suffers from small-scale production, poorly organized growing regions, and a lack of cohesive development planning.

“To achieve stable quality and high volumes, farmers cannot be left to fend for themselves,” said one expert.

“It is necessary to support cooperatives with incentives, land access, human resources, and infrastructure, which will help enterprises form effective links with production regions to build a sustainable value chain.”

Branding must go beyond product

Gruber Alexander Lukas, director of Master Roasters Saigon Service JSC (Alambe Vietnam), advised Vietnam to focus on its unique strengths, particularly Robusta, rather than competing head-to-head with every global coffee producer.

“Vietnamese coffee should be introduced not just as a beverage, but as a cultural artifact - an expression of dedication, regional identity, and tradition,” he said.

He added that consumers are increasingly drawn to authentic, unblended coffee.

Vietnamese trade counselor in Belgium and the EU Tran Ngoc Quan emphasized the need for a new approach to brand development in the European market.

While Vietnamese coffee has been exported to Europe for many years, most of it remains raw and unprocessed, limiting brand recognition and market impact.

“To succeed in the EU, we need a long-term strategy and stronger partnerships with trusted European distributors,” Quan said.

“Brand building is not only about selling a product, but also about spreading the cultural and agricultural identity of Vietnam onto the global stage.”

He also stated that local authorities would continue supporting coffee businesses in expanding into the EU through networks of overseas Vietnamese communities and importers.

To Dinh Tuan, editor-in-chief of Nguoi Lao Dong, said that the coffee industry’s impact goes far beyond export growth.

One million farmers will see improvements in their livelihoods, he said.

He added that feedback from the seminar would be compiled and submitted to policymakers, with the goal of accelerating structural reforms in the near future.

Statistics from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment indicated that Vietnam’s coffee exports in the first four months of 2025 reached 662,900 metric tons worth US$3.78 billion, down 9.8 percent in volume, but up 51.1 percent in value year on year.

Tieu Bac - Nguyen Tri / Tuoi Tre News

(2025/05/19-17:52)