The European Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) is placing strict requirements on the Vietnamese coffee industry when exporting to the EU market. At the International Trade Conference - Connecting and Elevating Vietnamese Coffee (Dak Lak), experts and businesses commented that the EUDR is both a challenge and an opportunity for Vietnamese coffee.
On March 11, in Buon Ma Thuot city, Dak Lak Provincial People's Committee coordinated with the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, and the Vietnam Coffee - Cocoa Association to organize the "International Trade Conference - Connecting and Elevating Vietnamese Coffee".
Delegates attending the International Trade Conference - Connecting and Elevating Vietnamese Coffee. (The International Trade Conference was attended by 800 delegates, including 200 international guests).
Speaking at the opening of the conference, Mr. Nguyen Tuan Ha, Standing Vice Chairman of Dak Lak Provincial People's Committee, emphasized that Dak Lak in general and Buon Ma Thuot in particular have long been famous for their vast coffee regions. The province is known as the "Coffee Capital of Vietnam".
In the 2023-2024 crop year, the country's coffee exports will reach nearly 1,477,000 tons, with export turnover reaching more than 5.4 trillion USD, down 11.3% in volume but up nearly 33% in value compared to the previous crop year.
Of which, Dak Lak province alone exported nearly 265,000 tons of coffee, accounting for 17.9% of the country's total; export turnover reached nearly 915,800 million USD, an increase of 22.5% compared to the previous crop, accounting for 16.9% of the country's total.
Mr. Nguyen Tuan Ha, Permanent Vice Chairman of Dak Lak Provincial People's Committee, spoke at the "International Trade Conference - Connecting and Elevating Vietnamese Coffee".
However, Dak Lak province's coffee exports are still mainly green coffee. Although instant coffee has increased in recent crop years, it still accounts for a small proportion of total export turnover.
At the same time, Vietnamese coffee is still mainly in the low-priced segment, with a large proportion of raw materials being exported. Production is still small-scale, quality is uneven, while deep processing technology is limited. These are major challenges when meeting the needs of large markets with increasingly high quality requirements.
"The conference aims to better identify and reaffirm the role and position of the coffee industry, while seeking opportunities and solutions to increase the value of Vietnamese coffee. This is also a bridge between those who love, care about and are attached to coffee, bringing them closer together. Thereby, contributing to bringing Vietnamese coffee to a new level, worthy of the position of one of these popular drinks," Mr. Nguyen Tuan Ha emphasized.
There are currently 7 groups of commodities within the scope of EUDR, including: palm oil, livestock, coffee, rubber, timber, cocoa and soybeans. Of these, Vietnam has 3 commodities: coffee, timber and rubber.
Speaking at the conference, Mr. Vu Ba Phu, Director of the Trade Promotion Department (Ministry of Industry and Trade), emphasized that Buon Ma Thuot coffee in particular and Dak Lak province in general always contribute positively to the overall development of the Vietnamese coffee industry.
With a tradition of more than 100 years of coffee cultivation and rapid adoption of new technological achievements in processing, along with good infrastructure, a highly open industry, the ability to link chains, experience and market relations... are the advantages that allow Dak Lak province to successfully develop the specialty robusta coffee segment.
Notably, the European Anti-Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) has recently been approved by the European Parliament. This is both an opportunity and a challenge for Buon Ma Thuot coffee in particular and the Vietnamese coffee industry in general, meeting the requirements for green, fast and sustainable development.
Vanusia Nogueira, Director General of the International Coffee Organization (ICO), said: "Last week, the coffee price index reached its highest level since 1975.
Asia is the region with the largest coffee consumption. If we look at the population and coffee consumption, we can see that coffee consumption is growing faster than the population growth - this is considered a good sign when the amount of coffee produced is always ready to meet the needs and demands of the market," said Ms. Vanusia Nogueira.
Ms. Vanusia Nogueira, Director General of the International Coffee Organization (ICO), spoke at the conference.
According to Ms. Vanusia Nogueira, global coffee consumption is forecast to increase from 0.9-3.4%/year, equivalent to 8-30 million bags of coffee (60kg/bag).
In addition, the global coffee industry is still facing many difficulties such as volatile prices, limited production land, the impact of climate change and especially strict legal regulations such as EUDR.
According to Mr. Thai Nhu Hiep, Vice President of the Vietnam Coffee and Cocoa Association (VICOFA), one of the biggest challenges now is that the EUDR will take effect from 2026.
According to EUDR, coffee exported to the EU must prove that it is not related to deforestation after December 31, 2020. Accordingly, businesses are required to invest in traceability systems, monitor production and reduce carbon emissions.
Delegates visited booths displaying coffee products and many other agricultural products.
Mr. Thai Anh Tuan, General Director of 2-9 Coffee Company Limited (Simexco Dak Lak), commented that meeting EUDR will increase production costs, while businesses have to worry about other standards from Japan and Korea on pesticide residues and carbon emissions.
According to Mr. Nguyen Quoc Manh, Deputy Director of the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment is finalizing a document guiding the use of the data system for businesses and farmers to meet the EUDR.
"This is the basis for the coffee industry to maintain exports to the EU, creating a transparent foundation for sustainable development," said Mr. Nguyen Quoc Manh.
In response to the urgent request from EUDR, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has piloted a growing area data system in four districts: Krong Nang, Cu M'gar, Ea H'leo (Dak Lak) and Di Linh (Lam Dong).
By December 2024, 100% of coffee areas in these localities will be updated in the database system of planted areas and forests.
Within the framework of the conference, a signing ceremony of cooperation agreements between units, enterprises, production and business establishments of Dak Lak province with international organizations and foreign enterprises took place. The content of the signing was about Export of coffee, durian, roasted specialty coffee beans, specialty coffee filter paper, ground coffee, instant coffee...
According to Dr. Truong Tat Do (Department of Forestry and Forest Protection, Ministry of Agriculture and Environment), the European Deforestation Prevention Law (EUDR) was issued to prohibit products and goods that cause deforestation, forest degradation and do not comply with the laws of the country of exploitation and export for import into or export from the EU market.
The law will apply from December 2025 (for EU export and import enterprises), and from June 2026 for small enterprises. The EUDR applies to 7 product lines: livestock, cocoa, coffee, palm oil, rubber, soybeans and wood.
Source: https://danviet.vn/quy-dinh-chong-pha-rung-chau-au-thach-thuc-va-co-hoi-cho-ca-phe-viet-nam-2025031115180934.htm
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