The Robusta Report: A Deep Dive into the Vietnam Robusta Green Coffee Price Europe

You have gained a high-level understanding of the Vietnam green coffee price per ton Europe, equipping you with a macro view of the financial landscape. Now, it is time to dissect the single most important component of that trade: Robusta. To talk about the Vietnamese coffee trade is to talk about Robusta. This hardy, resilient, and powerful bean is the engine of the industry, the product that has positioned Vietnam as a global coffee superpower. For the vast majority of European importers, roasters, and consumers, it is the cornerstone of their coffee experience, providing the rich crema for espresso and the soluble solids for instant coffee.

Understanding the Vietnam Robusta green coffee price Europe is therefore not just a niche analysis; it is the key to understanding the entire market. The price of this specific commodity is a complex and dynamic interplay of global futures markets, intricate quality grades, and the powerful new realities of European regulatory compliance.

This report serves as your granular, expert analysis of these factors. From my vantage point here in Buon Ma Thuot, the capital of Robusta country, we will deconstruct the entire pricing structure, from the trading floors in London to the quality control labs here in Vietnam. This is your consultant’s guide to sourcing the world’s most significant Robusta supply with strategic, data-driven precision.

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The London LIFFE Market: The Global Heartbeat of Robusta Pricing

Before any discussion of the price of a physical bag of coffee in Dak Lak, we must first look to London. The price of every single Robusta bean in the world is benchmarked against the ICE Futures Europe exchange, universally known in the trade as LIFFE (London International Financial Futures and Options Exchange).

Understanding the Benchmark

When a Vietnamese exporter provides a quote for Robusta, it will never be a simple flat price. It will be quoted as a “differential” against the London futures market. The final price is a formula: London Market Price +/- The Differential. The LIFFE market trades Robusta contracts in US dollars per metric ton for specific future delivery months (e.g., November, January, March). The price on any given day reflects the global market’s collective assessment of future supply and demand.

Current Market Drivers (as of Q3-Q4 2025)

As of late 2025, the London market remains at historically elevated levels. This is not driven by speculation alone, but by a fundamental, multi-season global Robusta supply deficit. Lower-than-expected yields in key producing countries, including Vietnam and Indonesia, coupled with robust global demand for instant coffee and the use of Robusta in blends to offset high Arabica prices, has created a tight market with strong upward price pressure.

Vietnam’s Critical Role

Because Vietnam is the world’s number one producer and exporter of Robusta, its supply situation has a direct and immediate impact on the London price. Any news emerging from the Central Highlands—be it unfavorable weather during the flowering season (typically March-April) or projections for the main harvest (typically November-January)—can cause the LIFFE market to move significantly in a single trading session.

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The “Differential”: Where the Real Value of the Vietnam Robusta Green Coffee Price Europe is Determined

If the London market sets the baseline, the differential is where the true quality, character, and immediate availability of the physical Vietnam green coffee beans are priced. The differential is the premium or discount to the London price, quoted in USD per ton. Understanding what drives this “diff” is the key to understanding the value you are paying for.

The Standard Grades: G2 vs. G1

The vast majority of commercial Robusta is traded against two main grades defined by the Vietnamese national standard (TCVN 4193:2014):

• Robusta Grade 2 (G2): This is the standard commercial grade. It allows for a higher percentage of defects (up to 5% black and broken beans) and a small percentage of foreign matter. It is the baseline quality.
• Robusta Grade 1 (G1): This is a cleaner, higher-quality version. It has a much lower allowable defect count (typically 2% black and broken) and a stricter screen size requirement. Robusta G1 will always command a positive differential over G2, reflecting the extra sorting and cleaning required.

Physical Specifications and Their Price Impact

Beyond the basic grade, the differential is further refined by specific physical attributes required by the buyer:

• Screen Size: European buyers are often very specific about bean size for roasting uniformity. A lot that is guaranteed “Screen 18” (larger beans) will have a higher differential than a “Screen 16” lot or an “FAQ” (Fair Average Quality) lot with mixed sizes.
• Processing: While standard Vietnamese Robusta is natural (dry) processed, some buyers require “Wet Polished” Robusta. This process cleans the bean and gives it a polished appearance, and the extra step adds a clear cost premium.

The Rise of Fine Robusta

The most exciting development is the emergence of “Fine Robusta.” These are specialty-processed, zero-defect Robustas that are priced completely differently. Their differential is not a small adjustment to the London price; it is a massive premium based on their SCA cupping score (80+ points), reflecting their unique flavor profiles and rarity. This is the highest tier of the Vietnam Robusta green coffee price Europe.

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A Cost Model for the Vietnam Robusta Green Coffee Price Europe

With an understanding of the FOB price (London +/- Differential), the European buyer must then build a complete landed cost model.

From FOB to CIF: The Transit Costs

• Ocean Freight: The cost to ship a container from Ho Chi Minh City to major European hubs like Hamburg, Antwerp, Rotterdam, or Genoa remains a significant and volatile expense.
• Marine Insurance: The small but essential cost to protect the financial value of the cargo during its 4-5 week journey.

EU Entry Costs and the New Regulatory Premium

This is where the price for EU-destined coffee fundamentally diverges from coffee going to other parts of the world.

• EVFTA (EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement): This provides a crucial advantage by making Vietnamese coffee duty-free into the EU, provided the correct Certificate of Origin is supplied.
• The EUDR Compliance Premium: The EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) has introduced a new, non-negotiable cost. The price for traceable, EUDR-compliant Robusta—with verifiable geolocation data for every farm—is now the new baseline for the EU market. This “compliance premium” covers the immense cost of the data collection, technology, and auditing systems required. A non-compliant supplier is not a viable option for the EU market, making this premium a mandatory “cost of entry.”
• Value-Added Tax (VAT): The significant cash flow event of paying the import VAT (e.g., 19% in Germany, 22% in Italy) on the total CIF value of the goods.

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Putting It All Together: A Sample Landed Cost Calculation

Let’s create a realistic, line-by-line model for a typical shipment to illustrate the final landed Vietnam Robusta green coffee price Europe.

• Scenario: 1 x 20ft container (19.2 metric tons or 19,200 kg) of EUDR-compliant Robusta G1, SCR16, from Vietnam to a roastery in Milan, Italy, entering via the Port of Genoa.

Line Item	Example Cost (EUR)	Notes
PART A: FOB COSTS (Paid to Supplier in Vietnam)
Coffee Cost (19.2 MT @ €2,800/MT FOB)	€53,760.00	This FOB price is based on the London market + a differential for G1 quality and full EUDR compliance.
PART B: INTERNATIONAL TRANSIT COSTS
Ocean Freight (HCMC to Genoa)	€4,000.00	Highly variable; based on a market estimate.
Marine Insurance (0.4% of CIF Value)	€231.04	Calculated on the value of goods + freight.
PART C: ITALIAN ENTRY COSTS (Genoa)
Customs Duty (EVFTA)	€0.00	A key advantage.
Customs Broker Professional Fee	€300.00	A typical flat fee for handling the clearance.
Port & Terminal Fees (THC, etc.)	€700.00	Can vary by terminal and includes handling/documentation.
Value-Added Tax (IVA) @ 22%	€12,757.95	(€53,760 + €4,000 + €231.04) x 0.22. Major cash flow event.
PART D: FINAL MILE COSTS
Inland Trucking (Genoa to Milan)	€850.00	Dependent on current trucking rates and fuel surcharges.
Unloading Labor	€300.00	Cost to physically unload the container.
TOTAL LANDED COST (Excluding Reclaimable IVA)	€59,141.04	The true, all-in cost of the goods.

Calculating the Final Landed Cost per Kilogram

• Initial FOB Price per kg: €2.80
• Total Landed Cost (ex-IVA): €59,141.04
• Total Kilograms: 19,200 kg
• Final Landed Cost per kg: €59,141.04 / 19,200 kg = €3.08 per kg

In this scenario, the final landed cost is 10% higher than the initial FOB price. This detailed calculation is the only way for a European roaster to accurately understand their true cost of goods and price their final products profitably.

This deep dive into Robusta provides a clear financial model for Europe’s most-imported coffee type from Vietnam. With this knowledge, you can approach the market with strategic precision. The next logical step is to broaden this understanding to all coffee types, providing a comprehensive overview of the Vietnam green coffee beans price landscape as a whole.