Buying coffee from Vietnam: robusta, the Central Highlands and EUDR

Vietnam coffee in numbers

The USDA forecast Vietnam's 2025/26 crop (October to September) at about 31 million 60 kg bags, of which about 30 million robusta and 1 million arabica, on 620,000 harvested hectares. Exports were forecast at 27 million bags, about 90% green beans and the rest roasted and instant. The Central Highlands hold about 92% of the coffee area. Germany, the United States, Italy, Japan and Spain are key buyers, and about 41% of exports go to the EU.

Where the coffee grows

• Central Highlands: Dak Lak, Gia Lai, Lam Dong and neighbouring provinces grow most of the robusta.
• Lam Dong (around Da Lat) and Son La in the north grow arabica, including a new wave of specialty lots.
• See the Vietnam lots page for harvest months, usually from late in the year into early the next.

Grades

Commercial robusta is sold by grade and screen, for example Grade 1 Screen 18 or Screen 16, with limits on moisture (usually about 12.5%), black and broken beans and foreign matter. Wet-polished and washed robustas sell above ordinary naturals, and fine robusta scoring 80 points or more is a growing niche. Read robusta coffee explained.

EUDR and traceability

Because so much Vietnamese coffee goes to the EU, traceability matters. Vietnam is building a national coffee database and some exporters already run EUDR-ready traceability systems. Ask exporters for plot geolocation for the coffee in your lot, and read our EUDR guide.

Buying tips

• Price robusta against the ICE London contract and agree the differential, grade and moisture in writing. See how coffee prices work.
• Ask for a pre-shipment sample and cup it: robusta quality varies within one grade.
• Large buyers often use bulk containers; smaller lots go in 60 kg bags. See shipping green coffee.