Coffee Export Procedures

Coffee is one of Vietnam’s key export products, accounting for approximately 10% of the total export turnover of agricultural products. To successfully export coffee, businesses need to understand the legal regulations and follow the correct export procedures.

Legal Regulations:

According to Circular No. 04/2014/TT-BTC dated January 27, 2014, issued by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, coffee is not listed in the prohibited or restricted export goods, and it does not require a permit for export. However, businesses should be aware of certain regulations after exporting coffee:

• Exported coffee must meet quality requirements and food safety and hygiene regulations as stipulated by law.
• Exported coffee must be properly packaged with complete labeling information, including place of production, expiry date, and other specific ratios.
• Exported coffee must undergo plant quarantine as required by law.

HS Code and Export Tax for Coffee:

The HS code for coffee beans is 0901, and the specific code is chosen based on the processing method and type. The details are as follows:

HS Code	Description
0901	Coffee, whether roasted or not, decaffeinated or not; husks and skins; substitutes containing coffee in any proportion.
	Coffee, not roasted:
090111	Not decaffeinated:
09011110	Arabica WIB or Robusta OIB
09011190	Other types
090112	Decaffeinated:
09011210	Arabica WIB or Robusta OIB
09011290	Other types
	Coffee, roasted:
090121	Not decaffeinated:
09012110	Not ground
09012120	Ground
090122	Decaffeinated:
09012210	Not ground
09012220	Ground
090190	Other types:
09019010	Coffee husks and skins
09019020	Substitutes containing coffee

The export tax for coffee beans is 0%.

Customs Documentation:

To complete the customs procedures for exporting coffee, businesses need to prepare the following documents:

• Customs declaration form.
• Input documents for goods (invoices, purchase lists).
• Commercial invoice.
• Sales contract (if any).
• Packing list.

Export Procedures:

The coffee export procedures are carried out in the following steps:

• Register for plant quarantine: The plant quarantine registration dossier includes:

• • Plant Quarantine Registration Form (as per template).
  • Packing List.
  • Authorization Letter for Delegated Inspection Procedures (if applicable).
  • Sample of the Exported Coffee Batch.
• Customs Declaration Process

After preparing the necessary documents as required, businesses proceed with customs declaration procedures at the Customs Department where the export batch is located:

• • Submit the electronic customs declaration form for the batch
  • Submit the customs declaration form and accompanying documents to the Customs Department.
  • Wait for the Customs Department to review the documents and clear the batch.
  • Physically inspect the goods.
  • Complete customs documentation.
  • Pay export taxes (if applicable).
  • Present the goods to the customs authorities.
• Transporting Goods Abroad

Depending on the transportation method, businesses can choose different transport units such as shipping companies, road transport companies, or air transport.

Additional Notes

• Businesses should be mindful of the plant quarantine registration deadline, typically 2-3 days before the coffee batch is transported.
• Exported coffee is usually packaged in 30kg bags (for roasted and ground coffee) or 60kg bags (for raw coffee beans).
• Businesses must ensure that the exported coffee meets the required quality standards and complies with the importing market’s regulations.