The decrease was attributed to inflation which forced people to cut expenditures. However, with the economic recovery, European consumers’ coffee demand is expected to boom this year.

According to the European  Coffee Confederation (ECF), the EU has the highest coffee consumption per capita in the world. The European coffee market is expected to have value of $47.88 billion in 2024 and $58.14 billion in 2029, with an average growth rate of 3.96 percent in the 2024-2029 period.

Coffee is one of the most popular drinks in Europe. Newly opened café chains and coffee machine buyers are increasing. 

In 2023, the EU imported 1.31 million tons of coffee from intra-block members, worth 8.54 billion euros ($9.26 billion), down 6.8 percent in quantity and 0.1 percent in value compared with 2022. The biggest suppliers were Germany, Belgium, Italy, the Netherlands and France.

In addition, the EU imported 2.74 million tons of coffee from non-EU markets, worth 10.63 billion euros ($11.53 billion), down 10 percent in quantity and 17 percent in value.

It imported 921,800 tons of coffee from Brazil, valued at 3.3 billion euros ($3.57 billion) in 2023, down 11.6 percent and 24 percent, respectively.

The Brazilian market share in the EU dropped from 23.41 percent in 2022 to 22.74 percent in 2023.

Meanwhile, with export volume of 652,000 tons of coffee and value of 1.53 billion euros ($1.66 billion), Vietnam became the second largest coffee supplier for the EU in 2023 in output and the third largest supplier in value.

Vietnam’s coffee exports to the EU only decreased slightly by 1.4 percent in volume and 0.02 percent in value compared with 2022. Vietnam’s market share in the EU rose from 14.85 percent in 2022 to 16.08 percent in 2023.

The coffee bean prices in Vietnam have exceeded VND100,000 per kilogram. On April 6, coffee was traded at VND102,500 per kilogram. In Dak Lak, Lam Dong, Gia Lai, Dak Nong and Kon Tum, the prices were VND104,000 per kilogram.

Nguyen Nam Hai, chair of the Vietnam Coffee and Cocoa Association (Vicofa), said roasters all over the globe still have high demand and are seeking suppliers in Vietnam.

From January to the end of April, if European importers want to buy Robusta, they can only seek supplies from Vietnam, because harvesting is not yet to begin in other Robusta growing areas.

Tam An