A worker checks roasted coffee beans at a farm near Brasilia, Brazil July 15, 2025.
The U.S. tariff poses challenges for Brazilian coffee exporters, who annually supply approximately 8 million 60-kilo bags to U.S. processors, meeting about one-third of the country’s coffee demand. This trade was valued at $4.4 billion for the 12 months ending June 2025. In June alone, Brazil exported 440,034 60-kilo bags to the U.S., compared to 55,976 bags to China, according to data from Cecafe, a Brazilian coffee industry group.
China, Brazil’s largest overall trading partner, imports significantly less coffee than the U.S., which also purchases substantial amounts of Brazilian beef and orange juice. The approval of these 183 companies enhances opportunities for Brazilian coffee exporters to diversify their markets. An official from the Chinese embassy stated: “The measure aims to strengthen trade ties and provide Brazilian coffee producers with expanded access to the Chinese market.”
The Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture and Cecafe have not yet provided comments on the development. Efforts to reach China’s customs authority for further details were unsuccessful outside business hours. The new export approvals are expected to help Brazilian companies offset potential losses from the U.S. tariffs by increasing shipments to China, a growing market for coffee consumption.
Brazil’s coffee industry, a key global supplier, faces the task of redirecting exports to maintain its market share. The approval by China reflects a strategic move to deepen economic ties, leveraging Brazil’s robust coffee production to meet rising demand in China. This step aligns with efforts to ensure stable trade flows for Brazilian exporters amid shifting global market dynamics.
