Yunnan brewing up success with coffee exports

Southwest China's Yunnan province is expected to be tops among domestic peers in coffee exports this year, buoyed by growing international interest in the region's beans — a trend boosting widespread industry optimism about the outlook for Yunnan's coffee sector.

According to Kunming customs, exports of coffee and related products from Yunnan reached 840 million yuan ($120 million) in the first 11 months, making the province the largest coffee exporter nationwide.

Gao Jie, general manager of Baoshan Gaolaozhuang Agricultural and Sideline Products Development Co, a coffee trader in Yunnan, said the company has exported 124 metric tons of coffee beans so far this year, covering Vietnam, South Korea, Malaysia and Singapore.

Earlier this month, it exported 19.2 tons of Baoshan-grown coffee beans to Malaysia.

According to local officials, small-grain coffee beans from Baoshan, western Yunnan, have gained international recognition for their distinctive flavor — often described as strong but not bitter, aromatic yet smooth, with a mild fruity acidity.

Gao's company has been exporting coffee beans since 2012, with international orders remaining stable throughout the years.

Gao said the economic value of Yunnan coffee beans had been underestimated, but has gained recognition in recent years thanks to the development of foreign trade, the increasing number of companies going global and the growing global demand for coffee, leading to further improvements in quality and an increase in prices.

Pu'er, the largest coffee-growing region in China, has witnessed the development of coffee exports in Yunnan.

Gao Mei, deputy general manager of Yunnan Simao Beigui Coffee Co in Pu'er, said the company has been exporting arabica coffee beans since 2004, primarily to the European Union, with over 1,200 tons being shipped since the beginning of this year.

With the diversification of market needs, coffee varieties have been improved, and the deep processing rate has significantly increased, she added.

An increasing amount of Yunnan coffee, from beans to specialty products, is making its way into the international market, according to Kunming customs.

Fan Ben, director of Yunnan Jinglan Tropical Crops Technology Co, said that previously the firm primarily exported coffee beans, and this year it has expanded its range to include coffee products such as cold-brew and freeze-dried varieties, with shipments reaching Russia, Jordan, Myanmar and Thailand.

The company's export value reached 17.56 million yuan, marking a 37 percent increase compared to the previous year, Fan said.

Wang Xianwen, director of technology and industry research center at Baoshan Inspection and Testing Institute, said the export growth has been driven by Yunnan's natural advantages as one of the world's prime coffee-growing regions, benefiting from its unique climate, soil and altitude conditions.

Meanwhile, joint efforts by multiple departments are driving the upgrade of the entire industry chain, including the collection of seed resources, the breeding of varieties, the upgrading of processing equipment and the improvement of field management techniques, Wang said.

With the growth of the coffee market and favorable policies, the export prospects for Yunnan coffee are promising, Gao Mei said.

"We should take advantage of the opportunity to improve the quality of the coffee and broaden its market reach," Gao Jie said.