In June, Viet Nam's coffee exports were estimated at 140,000 tonnes, worth $237 million. — Photo tapchicongthuong.vn

Viet Nam exported 955,000 tonnes of coffere, worth US$1.6 billion, in the first six months of 2020, the Department of Import and Export under the Ministry of Industry and Trade reported.

The total exports were up 3.7 per cent in volume and 2.5 per cent in value over the same period of 2019.

In June, the coffee exports were estimated at 140,000 tonnes, worth $237 million, up 7.5 per cent in volume and up 7.4 per cent in value compared to May, but down 3 per cent in volume and 1.9 per cent in value year on year.

In the first six months, the average export price of coffee reached about $1,685 per tonne, down 1.2 per cent year-on-year.

The department said in June, domestic coffee prices continued to decrease slightly according to the world coffee price. On June 30, the coffee price fell by 0.3 per cent to VND31,000 per kilo in Eo H’leo and Buon Ho districts of Dak Lak Province and by 1 per cent to VND30,300-30,400 per kilo in Lam Dong Province.

The highest reduction was 1.6 per cent in Dak Ha District, Kon Tum Province to VND30,700 per kilo.

The lower coffee price on the domestic market meant farmers could not sell coffee, leading to difficulties for traders and exporters in purchasing coffee for export, according to the Department of Import and Export.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade has also said that coffee has been one of the key farm products exported to African countries for many years, mainly North African countries.

Therefore, the ministry is implementing many solutions to increase coffee exports, including the organisation of trade promotion activities in those markets, especially Viet Nam's processed coffee brands.

At present, Viet Nam’ coffee exports to North Africa are raw products, including 80 per cent of them being robusta coffee and 20 per cent being arabica coffee.

Africa has increasing demand for processed coffee products to boost competition among many foreign and domestic coffee producers. Meanwhile, the export volume of canned and instant coffee from Viet Nam to North African countries has so far been limited.

To expand market shares in African markets, Vietnamese coffee exporters must study market demand and the regulations of each country, especially Halal standards for Muslim consumers, according to the Viet Nam Trade Office in Algeria. — VNS