The Italian Import-Export of Coffee

Are you curious to know what statistic you are part of as a coffee drinker? To know to and from which countries the Italian import-export of coffee is focused? To know how many coffees Italians consume per year? And finally, do you have any idea how many tons of raw coffee beans are imported annually?

We like to share fun facts as well as educational concepts and information that inspire reflection and speculation. Among these, with a focus on the coffee habits of Italians, we have begun offering a series of overviews dedicated to Italy’s statistics in relation to coffee. Today we will look at data regarding the Italian import-export of this beloved black beverage.

Imports: Where do the best raw beans come from?

According to the Italian Coffee Committee, more than half of our imports come from Brazil or Vietnam. The highest quality raw arabica beans come from Brazil. Meanwhile, the highest quality raw robusta beans come from Vietnam.

After these, the countries that produce the best coffee beans processed by Italian roasters include: India, Uganda, Indonesia, Honduras, Colombia, and Ethiopia.

According to ISTAT, in 2019 Italy imported 10.2 million 60-kg sacks, with this volume representing a 1.48% increase as compared to the previous year. With regard to the volumes in 2020 and in 2021, still underway, for obvious reasons it is not particularly meaningful to report the data in terms of medium to long-term statistics.

The volume of green coffee beans transformed by our company in 2019 was approximately 10 million sacks, always at 60 kg each, thus representing a 1.16% increase as compared to 2018.

Exports: Where do we export roasted coffee to?

According to the International Coffee Organization, in 2019 alone, Italian roasters exported more than 5 million 60-kg sacks, confirming an important upward trend that was only interrupted by the forced closures which, in 2020 and 2021, affected businesses in the Ho.Re.Ca. channel all around the world.

The primary destinations of coffee exports, from roasted beans to grounds, are the other European nations – with Austria, Germany, and France in the lead, followed by Great Britain, the United States, Canada, and Switzerland. Regardless, Europe accounts for 60’% of Italian exports.