China clears 183 Brazilian companies to export coffee to the country
China has authorized 183 new Brazilian coffee companies to export the product to the country. The announcement was made by the Chinese embassy in Brazil on social media. The measure is said to be valid for five years and came into force on July 30, the same day that the US signed the order making the tariffs against Brazil official.
A post from last week provides figures for the product on the Chinese market. Net imports of coffee into the country grew by 13,08 thousand tons from 2020 to 2024, and the potential for growth is made clear by the fact that per-capita consumption is 16 cups a year, well below the global average of 240. “Coffee is gaining a foothold in the daily lives of the Chinese,” the publication reads.
The Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture and the Brazilian Coffee Exporters Council (Cecafé) have yet to comment on the matter.
The announcement comes amid uncertainties for coffee exporters. US President Donald Trump’s administration announced that Brazilian coffee exports to the US will be taxed at 50 percent as of August 6. The country is the main destination for coffee exports. In 2024, they imported around 23 percent of Brazilian coffee—especially the arabica variety, an essential item for the local roasting industry.
According to Cecafé, in the first six months of 2025, coffee exports to the US totaled 3,316,287 60-kilo bags. While the US ranks first in purchases of the Brazilian product, China ranks tenth. In the same time range, 529,709 60-kilo bags were exported to the Asian country—6.2 times less than the volume sold to the US.
Trump’s tariff
On Wednesday (Jul. 30), President Donald Trump signed the executive order imposing the tariff on Brazilian products traded with the US. But the document included around 700 exceptions—such as orange juice and pulp, fuels, minerals, fertilizers, and civil aircraft.
Coffee was not among the exceptions. As a result, right after Trump’s announcement, Cecafé said it will continue to work to ensure that coffee is included in the list of Brazilian products not to be taxed.
