English 
Spanish 
4 min read
3 comments
Brazilian products are dominating the Chinese market, with explosive growth in exports.
Brazil, known worldwide for its leadership in coffee production, now finds itself in a new position in the international market.
But what few expected is that this leadership would gain unprecedented strength in an unlikely place: China.
This country, traditionally associated with tea, is experiencing a true revolution in coffee consumption, and the Brazilian bean is the main protagonist of this change.
- New Law that reduces working hours to 30 hours will benefit 30 MILLION Brazilians
- No soy or sugarcane! Brazil's largest exported product is oil, to the delight of Petrobras and other companies in the sector.
- New pharmacy scam: what they do with your CPF in exchange for a discount revealed
- One of the largest Brazilian highways (BR) will be transformed! The highway will be widened by 221 km, R$ 7 billion in investments and could generate up to 100 THOUSAND jobs
The rise of coffee in China
Although tea is an ancient drink in China, with records dating back more than 3 thousand years, coffee has been gaining more and more space.
According to recent data from the Brazilian Coffee Exporters Council (Cecafé), coffee exports to the Asian country have grown exponentially.
In July alone, China imported 51.714 bags of coffee from Brazil, bringing the total from January to July 2024 to more than 594 thousand bags.
The cultural change is evident: while in 2013 around 190 million Chinese consumed coffee, this number now exceeds 330 million.
The majority of these consumers are young people who work in offices, mainly women, as stated by Marcos Mattos, general director of Cecafé in an interview with the website Examination.
“There is a very important cultural change in China, in the aspect of globalization. And coffee is the symbol of this globalization”, highlighted Mattos.
Coffee shops and the globalization of coffee
One of the factors that most contributed to this cultural transformation was the proliferation of coffee shops in China.
Currently, the country has around 50 thousand establishments of this type, a number that reflects the growing investment in roasting and grinding industries.
These coffee shops are not only places of consumption, but also meeting points that encourage coffee culture among Chinese people.
Brazil, as the largest global coffee producer, harvested 55 million bags in the 2023/2024 harvest, according to the National Supply Company (Conab).
This volume puts the country ahead of other major producers such as Colombia and Vietnam. This supremacy in the world market places Brazil in a strategic position to meet growing Chinese demand.
The explosive growth of exports to China
Between the 2019/2020 and 2024/2025 harvests, coffee consumption in China increased by more than 60%, and expectations for 2024 are even more promising.
According to data obtained exclusively by Exame in partnership with Cecafé, Brazilian coffee exports to China are expected to reach 2,5 million bags in 2024, an increase of 65% compared to the previous year.
The total value of exports is expected to reach US$525 million, marking a growth of 64% compared to 2023.
The strengthening of commercial ties between Brazil and China is also reflected in significant agreements. This year, Brazil signed a memorandum of understanding with Luckin Coffee, the largest coffee shop chain in China and the main importer of Brazilian coffee, which has more than 16 thousand stores in the country. The agreement foresees the purchase of around 120 thousand tons of Brazilian coffee, with an estimated value of US$500 million.
Climatic and logistical challenges
Despite promising prospects, The Brazilian coffee sector faces considerable challenges, mainly in relation to climate change and logistical problems.
In March 2024, intense rains hit the conilon coffee producing regions in Espírito Santo and southern Bahia, while drought was the main obstacle in the previous cycle.
In the logistical aspect, the limitations of the Port of Santos, responsible for 69% of the country's exports and imports, raise concerns.
In July 2024, 60% of ships destined for coffee exports faced call changes or delays in the main Brazilian ports.
The Port of Santos recorded the longest waiting time, with up to 55 days between the first and last deadlines, according to the Detention Zero Bulletin, prepared by the startup ElloX in partnership with Cecafé.
The future of Brazilian coffee on the global stage
Despite the challenges, the Brazilian coffee sector remains confident in its leadership position in the global market. Orlando Editore, head of coffee at consultancy Datagro, believes that the growth in Chinese demand will further boost Brazilian production.
“China’s growth will boost demand for Brazilian coffee, especially for blends. This type of coffee continues to dominate global consumption, and Brazil, as the largest coffee producer in the world for many years, remains on this podium with no signs of decline,” said Editore.
The future looks promising for Brazilian coffee, which is not only conquering new markets but also strengthening its position in traditional ones. China, with its growing appetite for coffee, could be key to Brazil's continued expansion on the global stage.
LULA EFFECT, THE TIME IS GOOD!!
I just read that a company from Paraná is celebrating its entry into the Chinese market by supplying chicken meat. China is our largest trading partner. May they continue to come with their products and open their market to ours. This partnership is the result of the work, real work, of our current federal government. Be careful with your votes in the next elections, municipal elections have a lot of weight. Executive and legislative branches, vote and demand that they work.
A serious government opens doors and markets. It is not the bum on the jet ski and motorcycle who only has ideology.