With an expanded import policy, African coffee is gaining wider access to China’s growing coffee market.
BY DANIEL MURAGA
BARISTA MAGAZINE ONLINE
Featured photo by Joshua Fernandez
What to know:
- China has opened its market to coffee imports from 53 African countries, replacing country-by-country quarantine agreements with a single continent-wide import framework to simplify exports
- The move builds on growing coffee trade between China and Africa, supported by zero-tariff policies and rising demand among Chinese consumers for specialty coffees, particularly African arabica and robusta
- African coffee exporters stand to benefit from easier market access and direct trade opportunities, though all shipments must still meet China’s phytosanitary and border inspection requirements
Africa is set to spread its coffee export wings wider with China opening market imports for coffee from the continent. According to China’s General Administration of Customs (GAC), the Asian country will permit eligible coffee bean imports from all 53 African countries that maintain friendly diplomatic relations with Beijing beginning July 20, 2026. The move marks a significant expansion of market access for coffee, one of Africa’s key agricultural exports.
According to the GAC, coffee beans, an important agricultural product and a major economic driver in many African nations, are the second category of African agricultural products to receive full quarantine access to the Chinese market after dried chilies.
Several African countries, including Burundi and Ethiopia, have already gotten approval to export coffee beans to China. Other countries such as Angola, Guinea, Liberia, Mauritius, São Tomé and Principe, and Togo are among those that have submitted applications to access the export opportunity to China.
However, China has introduced unified phytosanitary (control and regulation of plant health) requirements, for a continent-wide import framework, replacing the previous system under which individual countries were required to negotiate separate bilateral quarantine agreements. This follows a full assessment of coffee bean production systems and pest control frameworks in Africa. The new structure is expected to simplify and accelerate market access procedures for African coffee exporters.
“China’s implementation of zero-tariff treatment for the 53 African countries has opened a new window of opportunity for expanding African exports to China,” Mao Ning, spokeswoman of the Foreign Ministry, told China Daily. “The policy reflects China’s approach to Africa based on sincerity, real results, amity, and good faith, as well as its commitment to pursuing the greater good and shared interests.”
African exports to China—some background
Over the years, Africa’s coffee exports to China have brewed up significantly, from a niche market to a blossoming multi-million-dollar industry. To fuel this growth, China has a ready “coffee class” waiting to sample African coffee, has favorable zero-tariff policies, and streamlined quarantine processes for Africa, making the continent one of its most vital trade partners in agricultural products.
Like most African countries, China was also historically a tea-drinking nation with coffee drinking limited to major and upper class expat hubs. In early 2020, China underwent paradigm changes that made it recognize the rising local demand for premium, fruit-flavored Arabica and bold Robusta coffee. To promote this trade, the Gaoqiao Grand Market, a large beverages and food sales market in Hunan Province, China, started an African coffee trade center. This center made it possible for Chinese coffee buyers to circumvent the European and North American coffee middlemen, buying directly from African farmers and cutting costs by up to 30%.
To make the growth even faster, China has implemented a zero-tariff policy on products from 53 African countries that has created a massive rush forward in agricultural trade in Africa. According to China-Africa Business Council, China imported $246 million worth of African coffee in 2025, up from $157 million recorded for 2024.
To add to this momentum, the current continent-wide “Green Channel” is promising to accelerate African coffee export to China. This is the unified phytosanitary requirements initiative that is promising to end all bureaucratic, country-by-country quarantine agreements.
What’s next for African coffee exporters?
With the open market for coffee exports to China for African coffee producers, the traders are expected to reap massive profits. Some of the reasons for increased profitability include direct purchases from Africa. With major Chinese coffee chains trading directly with African farmers, there will be increased profitability waiting for African exporters ensuring a stable and traceable specialty coffee supply.
Due to the fact that Chinese consumers and trendy coffee chains in the country are known for a preference for the unique floral and fruity notes of specialty coffee beans from East Africa, they are going to continue incorporating them into their signature coffee drinks making the demand for African coffee to soar even further. To make the situation even better, the current trade frameworks have eliminated many historical trade hurdles, enabling African coffee producers to speedily scale up their trade operations and move beyond traditional western coffee markets.
Looking forward
Opening the market for coffee imports from Africa is a big step toward casting the net wider in the lucrative Chinese market for Africa’s premium coffee. However, the full quarantine access does not mean that imports will be exempted from border checks. In fact, the framework says that all shipments must comply with requirements stipulated in GAC Announcement No. 68 of 2026. For better trade, the GAC promises to continue to implementing what they call upgraded “green channel” facilitation measures to bring more high-quality, secure African products to the Chinese market.
“China will continue to build on the zero-tariff policy by upgrading the “green channel” and further expanding market access for African products,” Mao says, “so that the benefits of the policy can be shared more widely by the peoples of both China and Africa.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Daniel Muraga (he/him) is a communications expert, researcher, writer, and editor based in Kenya with over 10 years of experience in the industry. His mission is to highlight Africa’s contributions to the realms of science, technology, innovation, culture, food, and related fields. He has done extensive research and written widely in the coffee niche for Sprudge Media, as well as in related areas for Life & Thyme and CQ Researcher, among others. When not writing, he is always outdoors communing with nature. You can find him on Facebook, X, and LinkedIn.
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