Coffee from China brings its unique aroma to the Middle East

DUBAI: At this year’s expo, several companies from Yunnan, China’s top coffee-producing region, joined forces to showcase the distinctive appeal of Chinese coffee. One trader from the Yunnan Coffee Trading Center mentioned that the Middle East, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait, is one of their key markets.

“Our coffee beans have already made their way to places like the Middle East, South Korea, and Australia. We’re really hoping to make Yunnan coffee a global name, spreading its unique aroma worldwide,” said the head of a coffee cooperative from the Yunnan International Trade and Investment Chamber of Commerce, while handing a cup of coffee to a reporter at the 2024 Café Show China.

“Our main product is Catimor beans, grown in areas like Dehong, Baoshan, Pu’er, and Xishuangbanna, covering over 13,000 hectares. These beans are becoming increasingly popular in the Middle East, Russia, and beyond. Although the pandemic slowed our international business, we’re now gearing up for a fresh start. We currently export thousands of tons annually, and we expect this to grow even more in the future.”

China has become a major player in the global coffee scene, with Yunnan producing over 98% of the country’s coffee. In 2023, China exported around 5,900 tons of coffee, valued at USD 78 million, mostly in green beans.

In December 2023, Chinese coffee chain COTTI Coffee announced its expansion into Dubai, opening its first store in the UAE just three months later. With the UAE coffee market expected to grow by 8.4% annually from 2023 to 2029, the Belt and Road Initiative could help Chinese coffee find a thriving market in the Middle East.