How Vietnam Robusta Is Priced Against the London Market
How Vietnam Robusta price is set: ICE London futures, grade differentials, FOB HCMC, fixed vs PTBF contracts, a worked example and how to compare offers.
Green coffee matching for roasters and traders
Vietnam green coffee beans, matched to your spec
Robusta from Dak Lak, Gia Lai and Lam Dong. Fine Robusta from selective-picking farms. Arabica from Cau Dat, Da Lat and Son La. Send a spec and we match you with up to 3 Vietnamese exporters, processors or farms that can ship it, from sample bags to full containers.
OriginCentral HighlandsDak Lak, Gia Lai, Lam Dong, Dak Nong
CropsRobusta · ArabicaAbout 95% Robusta, 5% Arabica by national volume
Container20ft / 40ft19.2 t jute, 21.6 t GrainPro, LCL on request
Response timeWithin 24hBusiness hours. Samples usually ship in about 5 business days
Why a matching service
Finding coffee is easy. Finding a supplier who ships your spec is not.
Vietnam is the world's largest producer of Robusta and a rising origin for high-altitude Arabica. The country exports roughly 1.5 to 1.8 million metric tons of green coffee per year, supplying soluble coffee plants, espresso blends and an expanding specialty segment. The challenge for international buyers is not finding coffee. It is finding consistent, contract-honoring suppliers who can match an exact moisture, screen and defect specification, ship on time and ride out currency and weather swings without breaking commitments.
Direct farm or exporter contact looks attractive on paper but rarely scales. Many cooperatives speak limited English, payment terms collide with smallholder cash-flow cycles and a single rejected container can wipe out a season's margin for both sides. Many exporters also only quote full containers, which does not suit an independent roaster buying a few bags of a specific lot.
coffeebeanvn.com is the filter in between. You send one spec. We match it with up to 3 Vietnamese exporters, processors or farms whose grades, lot sizes and paperwork fit, and they quote you directly. Free for buyers, no commission on the coffee and an NDA on request before any lot details are shared.
Why buyers send green coffee specs here
It comes down to the match: suppliers that fit your spec, from the first quote.
Matched by specialisation
Your spec goes to up to 3 Vietnamese suppliers that ship this kind of green coffee regularly, picked for your variety, grade, screen size and processing. Not a general directory.
Professional suppliers
Suppliers in the network quote to your spec, communicate clearly and keep you updated while your lot is prepared.
You deal with the supplier
Samples, quotes, contract and delivery are agreed between you and the supplier. Free for buyers.
Origin profiles
Where Vietnamese green coffee comes from
Robusta: Dak Lak, Gia Lai, Dak Nong
Buon Ma Thuot in Dak Lak is the historical capital of Vietnamese coffee, with basalt-rich red soil at 500-800 m. Gia Lai and Dak Nong contribute similar profiles. Standard Robusta here delivers a heavy body, low acidity and the bitter-chocolate backbone that espresso blends in Italy, Spain and Eastern Europe rely on. Natural (sun-dried) processing is dominant; honey and washed lots are available from selected mills.
Arabica: Cau Dat, Da Lat (Lam Dong)
The Cau Dat plateau sits at 1,400-1,600 m, the highest commercial coffee terrain in Vietnam. Catimor is the dominant variety, with growing volumes of Bourbon and Typica from second-generation specialty farmers. Cup profiles run brown sugar, stone fruit and citrus. Specialty lots score 80-84 SCA points, with micro-lots reaching 85+.
Fine Robusta and northern Arabica
Fine Robusta comes from farms that pick ripe cherry selectively and control drying, often in Lam Dong and Dak Lak, and is sold by cup score rather than by screen alone. Son La in the north grows mostly Catimor Arabica in larger volumes, a practical option for washed Arabica blends with traceability to the commune.
Standard grades
Grades and specifications you can order
Vietnamese coffee follows two parallel grading systems: the national standard TCVN 4193:2014 used for bulk export and SCA-style specifications adopted by specialty roasters. Most contracts reference screen size, moisture and defect count. Below is a working summary of grades Vietnamese exporters ship most consistently.
| Grade | Type | Screen size | Moisture | Defects (per 300 g) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robusta S18 | Natural / washed | 90% min on screen 18 | 12.5% max | 30 max black and broken |
| Robusta S16 | Natural | 90% min on screen 16 | 12.5% max | 60 max |
| Robusta S13 | Natural (commercial) | 90% min on screen 13 | 13% max | 150 max |
| Arabica washed | Wet-processed | Screen 16+ | 12.5% max | 5 max primary |
| Arabica natural / honey | Sun-dried / pulped natural | Screen 15+ | 12% max | 8 max primary |
| Specialty Arabica | Micro-lot, washed / natural | Screen 16+ | 12% max | 5 max full defects, cup score 80+ |
Certified lots
Rainforest Alliance, 4C, EU Organic, USDA Organic, JAS Organic and Fair Trade lots exist at a limited number of Vietnamese exporters. Volumes are limited and lead times longer. Certified premiums typically run 200-400 USD per metric ton over conventional Robusta. We only pass your request to suppliers who can show a valid certificate.
Packaging options
- 60 kg jute bags (standard, 320 bags per 20ft)
- 60 kg jute with GrainPro liner for longer moisture protection
- 1,000 kg big bags (FIBC), 19 bags per 20ft, lower cost per kg
- Vacuum-sealed 1 kg / 5 kg bags for specialty Arabica
- Private printed bags, typically from 200 bags per design
Full grade guide: screen sizes in mm, defects, moisture and container loads
How matching works
From spec to container in six steps
Whether you need one sample bag or one hundred containers, the path is the same. The point is simple: no surprise at the port and no quality dispute after arrival.
01
Send your spec
Target grade, processing, moisture, volume, certification needs and destination port. Tick the sample box if you want cupping samples. Sign an NDA first if you prefer.
02
Get matched with up to 3 suppliers
We read the spec and reply within 24 business hours with up to 3 Vietnamese exporters, processors or farms whose grades, lot sizes and paperwork fit. Not an open marketplace, no bidding war.
03
Cup the samples
Matched suppliers send 300-500 g cupping samples of 2-4 lots, usually within about 5 business days of your request. No commitment at this stage.
04
Contract directly
Once a sample is approved, the supplier issues a sales contract referencing the exact lot, grade specification, packaging, Incoterm and shipping window. Ask for a sealed type sample to be held for 12 months.
05
Pre-shipment QC
A 1 kg pre-shipment sample is sent before loading. Independent inspection (Cafecontrol, SGS or Cotecna) can be written into the contract at the buyer's option. Loading proceeds after written approval.
06
Loading and documents
Loading photos and a sealed sample go with the documents: phytosanitary certificate, ICO certificate of origin, certificate of origin and inspection report, couriered with the original B/L. A 14-day claim window after arrival is a sensible clause.
Who this is for
Independent roasters and green coffee traders
Small lots. Not every Vietnamese exporter ships by the bag. We match small-lot requests with processors and farms that sell vacuum-packed or jute-bagged lots below a full container, or with exporters who consolidate LCL.
Traceability. Ask for a region (Dak Lak, Lam Dong, Son La), a district or a single farm. Suppliers state where the lot was grown and processed, not just "Vietnam".
Clear numbers before you order. TCVN 4193 grade, moisture and cup score are part of the offer, and pre-contract samples come from the lot you would buy.
Up to 3 matches. A short list of suppliers who fit, not an open marketplace where your request goes to everyone.
FAQ
Common questions about buying Vietnamese green coffee
Most of these come up during the first inquiry. If yours is not here, send it through the RFQ form and you get a written answer, usable as a record if you are comparing several suppliers.
What coffee bean grades does Vietnam typically export?
Vietnam exports mainly Robusta in grades S18, S16 and S13 (screen size in 1/64 inch) with moisture below 12.5% and defect counts following SCA or Vietnamese TCVN 4193 standards. Arabica from Lam Dong (Cau Dat, Da Lat) is sold as parchment, washed or natural, screen 16+. Specialty Arabica lots are cupped at 80+ SCA points.
What is the minimum order quantity for green coffee beans from Vietnam?
The standard MOQ at most exporters is one 20ft container (around 19.2 t in 60 kg jute bags, or up to 21.6 t in GrainPro-lined bags). Sample orders of 1-3 bags are possible for quality validation, and some exporters consolidate LCL lots of 2-10 t for a first shipment. Specialty processors also sell smaller vacuum-packed lots.
How is quality controlled before shipment?
Each lot should be screened for moisture, screen size, defect count and density. Pre-shipment samples are airfreighted to the buyer for cupping approval. Independent inspection (Cafecontrol, SGS, Cotecna) can be arranged before container loading, with the report attached to the shipping documents.
What are typical payment terms and Incoterms?
Common terms are 30% T/T deposit and 70% against a scan of the B/L, or an irrevocable L/C at sight for first-time buyers of larger volumes. Incoterms range from FOB Ho Chi Minh City to CIF buyer's port; CFR is a frequent request from European and Japanese roasters.
Can I get certified organic or Rainforest Alliance lots?
Some Vietnamese exporters hold Rainforest Alliance, 4C or EU/USDA Organic certification, and we only match you with suppliers who can show a valid certificate for the lot. Volumes are limited, premiums typically run 200-400 USD per tonne over conventional Robusta and lead times are longer, often 6-10 weeks.
Is coffeebeanvn.com an exporter?
No. coffeebeanvn.com is a matching service. We pass your spec to up to 3 suitable Vietnamese exporters, processors or farms, and you buy from them directly under your own contract. It is free for buyers and we take no commission on the coffee.
Buyer guides
Latest guides
Sourcing Arabica from the Cau Dat Plateau near Da Lat
Cau Dat Arabica for roasters: altitude, varieties, harvest timing, processing, cup profiles, lot sizes and sampling, plus a comparison with Son La Arabica.
Moisture and Water Activity in Vietnamese Green Coffee: Limits, Testing and Contract Terms
Green coffee moisture content and water activity for Vietnam lots: TCVN limits, testing methods, humidity and shipping risks plus how to write moisture clauses.
Supplier network
Are you a Vietnamese coffee exporter, processor or cooperative?
We are building a supplier network. If your cooperative, farm or processing mill produces Robusta or Arabica green beans at export-grade consistency, register to receive buyer specs that match what you ship.
- Experience in green coffee export or domestic processing (5+ years preferred)
- Capacity for at least one 20ft container per month, or consistent small specialty lots
- Documented QC: moisture, screen and defect grading on every lot
- Open to a certification track (4C, Rainforest Alliance, organic) if not already held
Or email directly: partner at coffeebeanvn.com
Request a match
Ready to source from Vietnam?
Tell us your target grade, processing, volume and destination port. We come back within 24 business hours with up to 3 matched suppliers and a sample plan.
Prefer email? sales at coffeebeanvn.com