Shanghai imported 583 million yuan of African green coffee beans in January-April, up 129.5% year on year after China scrapped a minimum 8% tariff on beans from 53 African diplomatic partners on May 1.
The broader market is expanding fast: Shanghai's total coffee imports rose 15.5% to 2.67 billion yuan, while China’s coffee imports climbed from 59,100 tons in 2015 to 213,300 tons in 2024.
Shanghai remains the main gateway, handling 38% of China’s coffee imports and 40% of African coffee imports in 2025, helped by tariff-free entry, simplified clearance for small shipments and a green channel for beans.
Access is still limited because only seven African countries, including Ethiopia and Burundi, can currently export coffee to China, and suppliers must meet strict phytosanitary and pesticide-residue rules.
Chinese buyers are already scaling up: one importer raised African coffee purchases from about 120 tons in 2020 to 1,600 tons in 2025, while another signed contracts for more than 900 tons of Burundian beans worth $5.44 million.
As Chinese demand for African coffee soars, which global coffee exporters are poised to lose the most?
China offers 53 African nations zero tariffs, so why can only seven actually export their coffee beans?