On global exchanges, prices moved in opposite directions. Arabica reversed lower, giving up gains from the previous session, as the Brazilian real weakened against the USD, prompting farmers to increase selling pressure and pushing prices on the New York market down.

In Di Linh, Lam Ha, and Bao Loc (Lam Dong Province), coffee was purchased at VND97,800/kg. In Cu M’gar (Dak Lak), prices reached VND98,500/kg. In Ea H’leo and Buon Ho, prices were VND98,400/kg. In Dak Nong (Lam Dong Province), prices stood at VND98,600/kg, while Gia Nghia and Dak R’lap recorded VND98,500/kg. In Gia Lai, prices were VND98,400/kg in Chu Prong and VND98,300/kg in Pleiku and La Grai. In Kon Tum (Quang Ngai Province), prices were VND98,200/kg.

On the global market, at the latest close, Robusta coffee for March 2026 delivery on the London exchange rose USD2/tonne to USD3,955/tonne, while the May 2026 contract fell USD3/tonne to USD3,879/tonne. On the New York exchange, Arabica coffee for March 2026 delivery declined 4.25 cents/lb to 356 cents/lb, and the May 2026 contract fell 3.35 cents/lb to 338.25 cents/lb.

Following a bumper crop and record-high prices in 2025, the global coffee market entered 2026 under surplus supply pressure, leading to price corrections. In addition to supply factors, profit-taking after the sharp price rally in early 2025, along with the US cutting retaliatory tariffs on Brazilian coffee and the extension of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) implementation timeline, contributed to a more cautious market sentiment.

Experts noted that Robusta prices may remain relatively high in the first half of 2026 but are likely to face stronger downward pressure from Q2 and Q3 as supply from Vietnam, Indonesia, and Ethiopia increases. Arabica prices are also unlikely to hold peak levels due to improved crop prospects in Brazil.

From a business perspective, although current trading remains subdued as farmers tend to hold stocks in anticipation of higher prices, many believe that the overall price environment in 2026 will be more stable than the highly volatile conditions seen in 2025. Vietnam’s coffee export turnover in 2025 were estimated to exceed USD8 billion, though the likelihood of setting a new record remains limited amid weaker price momentum.

Việt Nam has more than 600,000 coffee-growing households farming nearly 800,000ha, largely in the Central Highlands. The dominance of small, scattered plots and the proximity of many plantations to natural forests present major challenges for traceability yet the shift is also pushing the industry towards more modern and environmentally responsible management.

At a recent dialogue on Việt Nam–EU cooperation in EUDR preparation, Nguyễn Đỗ Anh Tuấn, Director of the Department of International Cooperation under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, said compliance depends on linking three core datasets: land-use maps, forest-status maps and land-user information. Together they will form a unified plantation database that supports EUDR requirements and long-term sustainable agriculture.

Several Central Highlands provinces are already piloting 'deforestation-free coffee models, assigning GPS coordinates and polygon maps to each plot and uploading them to mobile-based traceability systems. Experts from the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) say scaling up this approach could make Việt Nam a regional leader in transparent agricultural supply chains.

Since late 2023, the ministry, industry associations, businesses and international partners have coordinated on standardising procedures and data requirements. Exporters must now declare polygon-mapped plantation coordinates and a traceability system covering the entire supply chain. The exporting company holds final responsibility for compliance.

T.Huong

Source: Vitic