Vietnam’s coffee industry is approaching a major milestone, with export revenues nearly reaching $8 billion in 2025. As the year wraps up, coffee farmers in the Central Highlands are enjoying a prosperous harvest thanks to strong yields and high market prices.

According to data from the General Department of Customs, Vietnam exported nearly 89,000 tons of coffee in November alone, earning around $508 million - an impressive 41% increase in volume and 44.4% rise in value compared to the same month in 2024.

Over the first 11 months of 2025, total coffee exports reached 1.4 million tons, bringing in $7.94 billion. While export volume rose by 15.1% year-on-year, value skyrocketed by 60.9% due to an average export price of $5,661 per ton - up 39.8% from the previous year.

Experts consider 2025 a landmark year for Vietnamese coffee, as rising global prices, tightened supply, and steady demand from key markets have driven export growth. Gradual improvements in product quality have also elevated Vietnam’s international coffee reputation and export value.

If the current trend holds, 2025 is on track to set a new record in export revenue, further solidifying coffee’s role in Vietnam’s booming agricultural sector. At the same time, local farmers are reaping the benefits of a profitable season.

In Dak Lak, the heart of the Central Highlands coffee region, farmers are entering a bustling new harvest season - what some call a “money-picking” period.

In Dak Sak commune, Dak Nong province, Nguyen Van Tao and his family head out daily to harvest early-ripening coffee cherries. Although their early-ripening crop is small, they’ve had to hire extra labor to keep pace with the harvest.

“Peak harvest comes at the end of December. That’s when it really gets busy, with harvesting, drying, bagging, and storing,” he shared.

Tao noted that while the early crop had lower yields, the main season promises excellent output and quality. He estimates each hectare can yield between 5 and 5.5 tons of processed beans. His family’s total of 7 hectares is expected to produce 35–37 tons.

“At the moment, coffee is selling for about 95,000 VND per kilogram (around $3.91), slightly down from earlier prices, but still very profitable,” Tao said. However, his family typically stores coffee and waits until after the Lunar New Year to sell, when prices usually rise. Besides coffee, they also grow durian and black pepper on a smaller scale, so coffee revenue mostly goes into savings or business ventures for their children.

In a previous harvest, Tao sold 35 tons of beans at a peak price of 127,000 VND/kg (approx. $5.24), earning nearly $177,000.

Similarly, Le Van Quan and his wife in Dak Nong have started their new harvest just weeks after pocketing nearly $80,000 from their last sale.

With 4 hectares of coffee (excluding intercropped areas), Quan expects at least 20 tons this season. Favorable weather, especially the absence of drought, has led to a better crop than last year.

“Some agents have approached me, but I’m waiting for a better price,” he noted.

Nguyen Nam Hai, Chairman of the Vietnam Coffee – Cocoa Association (VICOFA), told VietNamNet that national output for the 2025–2026 harvest is expected to rise by 5–10% from the previous season.

He attributed this to two years of sustained high prices, which have encouraged farmers to reinvest in their coffee farms. With better care and favorable weather, both yields and quality have improved.

However, since early December, domestic coffee prices have dropped sharply as the main harvest peaks in the Central Highlands, and global prices fall. Exporters have adjusted purchasing prices accordingly.

Currently, domestic coffee bean prices range from 92,000–94,000 VND/kg (approx. $3.79–$3.87).

Despite this, Hai noted that both Brazil and Vietnam - the world’s two largest coffee suppliers - are seeing strong harvests. While prices may continue to fall, he does not expect them to return to historic lows.

Even if prices dip to 80,000–85,000 VND/kg ($3.29–$3.50), farmers will still enjoy solid profits this season, he said.

Tam An