Buying coffee from Yemen: ancient naturals, qishr and the risks to check

Yemen coffee in numbers

An FAO assessment published in 2025 puts production at 20,812 tonnes in 2019 on about 35,000 hectares, mostly by smallholders with about 0.3 hectares each. Officials quoted in 2026 said output had risen to 42,000–45,000 tonnes in 2025. Coffee bean exports were worth about US$20 million in 2019, and Saudi Arabia took about 63% of them, followed by the United States and the EU.

Regions and harvest

Coffee grows on terraces in the northern highlands, in governorates such as Sana'a, Sa'adah and Amran, with well-known areas like Haraz, Bani Matar and Hayma. The harvest runs from about October to February. See the Yemen lots page.

The coffee

Yemen grows old local arabica types, mainly from the Typica and Bourbon groups; names such as Udaini or Dawairi are farmers' names rather than distinct varieties. Cherries are dried whole in the sun, giving natural coffees with deep chocolate and winey notes. Yemen also sells qishr, the dried coffee husk, used for a traditional drink; about 1,200 tonnes were exported in 2019, mostly to Saudi Arabia. Read processing methods.

Risks to check

• Conflict has damaged roads and ports: samples that took 3 days can take 20–30 days, and larger shipments 3–4 months.
• Yemen has two rival authorities with different taxes and rules. The United States designated Ansarallah (the Houthis) a Foreign Terrorist Organization in March 2025, so screen every counterparty and payment route against sanctions lists and take legal advice.
• There are no written national grade standards and few testing labs, so rely on your own sample testing. See avoiding scams.

Buying tips

• Buy from established exporters who can show the farm or village, processing and moisture, and approve a pre-shipment sample.
• Plan for long, costly logistics and use hermetic packaging. See shipping green coffee.
• Saudi Arabia is Yemen's biggest market; see our Saudi Arabia and Gulf guide.