Vietnam's coffee harvest begins with muted prices despite record exports
3 min read
Coffee prices in Vietnam's Central Highlands showed little movement on October 13, trading between 113,000-114,000 VND per kilogram ($4.54-$4.58), unchanged from the start of the week but down 3,000-3,500 VND from the previous week.
The market's calm reflects typical seasonal patterns as farmers have just begun the early harvest phase, primarily selling fresh coffee cherries to dealers for processing.[1][2]
Harvest Season Begins Amid Market Quiet
The 2025/26 harvest season, which runs from October through January, is in its initial stages with peak activity expected in November and December. Current harvesting remains limited as farmers are conducting preliminary picking, with full-scale operations set to accelerate in late November across key growing regions in the Central Highlands.[2][1]
US Buying Surge Despite Tariff Challenges
Despite the quiet domestic market, Vietnam has experienced a dramatic surge in US coffee purchases. September exports to the United States reached 5,528 tons, representing an 81% increase from August and a remarkable 163% jump compared to September 2024. For the first nine months of 2025, the US imported 70,834 tons of Vietnamese coffee valued at $387.6 million, marking a 10.2% volume increase and 65% value surge compared to the same period last year.[1]
This buying pattern reflects shifting trade dynamics following US tariff policies implemented in August 2025. While Vietnamese coffee faces a 20% tariff, Brazilian coffee confronts a punitive 50% levy, creating a significant competitive advantage for Vietnamese exporters. The tariff differential has prompted American importers to increasingly pivot toward Vietnam as their primary sourcing destination.[2][1]
Record Export Performance Despite Local Market Calm
Vietnam's coffee sector has delivered exceptional export performance in 2025, with nine-month revenues reaching a record $7.01 billion on nearly 1.24 million tons of exports - an 11.7% volume increase and 62.2% value surge compared to 2024. The country remains on track to potentially exceed $8 billion in annual coffee export revenues for the first time.[1][2][3][4]International coffee prices have remained elevated throughout 2025, with Robusta futures on the London exchange closing the previous week at $4,480 per ton for November delivery, while Arabica contracts in New York settled at 373.05 cents per pound for December. However, both markets showed recent weakness due to improved weather conditions in Brazil and expectations of increased Vietnamese supply as the harvest progresses.[5][1]
Reference sources:
[1](https://trangtraiviet.danviet.vn/gia-ca-phe-it-bien-dong-giao-dich-tram-lang-khi-vu-thu-hoach-ca-phe-robusta-bat-dau-d1369993.html)
[2](https://www.foodbusinessmea.com/vietnams-coffee-export-revenue-surges-61-to-us7b-in-first-nine-months-of-2025/)
[3](https://en.vietnamplus.vn/vietnams-coffee-exports-on-course-for-8-billion-usd-milestone-post327114.vnp)
[4](https://khmerpostusa.com/vietnams-coffee-exports-in-2025-breaking-records-targeting-8-billion/)
[5](https://baogialai.com.vn/ngay-13-10-ca-phe-chung-gia-sau-2-phien-giam-lien-tiep-post569155.html)
[1](https://nld.com.vn/gia-ca-phe-hom-nay-13-10-my-tang-mua-dot-bien-gia-ca-phe-co-tang-tro-lai-196251013071736958.htm)
[2](https://van.nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/coffee-prices-on-october-12-2025-the-market-fell-sharply-d778394.html)
[1](https://trangtraiviet.danviet.vn/gia-ca-phe-it-bien-dong-giao-dich-tram-lang-khi-vu-thu-hoach-ca-phe-robusta-bat-dau-d1369993.html)[2](https://nld.com.vn/gia-ca-phe-hom-nay-13-10-my-tang-mua-dot-bien-gia-ca-phe-co-tang-tro-lai-196251013071736958.htm)