Coffee · importers
South Korea ranks fourteenth of 96 at $1.4B in the coffee, tea and spices chapter, and cafe culture there is a visible driver of demand.
| Market | HS 09 imports |
|---|---|
| United States | $11.7B |
| Germany | $6.5B |
| France | $4.0B |
| Italy | $3.4B |
| Canada | $2.4B |
Figures are for the whole of HS chapter 09 (coffee, tea, mate and spices); coffee is only part of it. Source: UN Comtrade, as reported by national authorities; latest available year per market.
Switzerland is above at $1.5B and India below at $1.2B. South Korea’s 2.0% share of reported world imports leaves it clear of the market below. The chapter is 0.2% of its $631.7B imports and ranks 45th among its import chapters, well behind fuels at $162.1B, electrical machinery at $123.8B and industrial machinery at $66.0B.
Cafes are a prominent feature of urban life in Korea, and cafe chains, independent roasters and makers of packaged coffee products all buy green or roasted coffee. Instant mixes and ready-to-drink formats also account for a share of consumption. The right approach depends on which of these the importer serves.
Ask about specification, packaging and volume for each format, because a chain buying for many outlets orders very differently from a small roaster.
The biggest names in South Korea’s overall source list are China, the USA, Japan and Saudi Arabia. That list spans all goods and says nothing about where coffee comes from; shipment records for the coffee heading show which origins supply Korean importers. Because cafe chains often standardise their menus, a new origin may need to fit a fixed flavour profile before it is accepted. Import, quarantine and labelling conditions are set by the authorities and can change, so confirm them directly.
The $1.4B combines coffee, tea, mate and spices, so coffee is only part. Each reporting country declares its own figures, so re-exports can bend the table.
Settle the Incoterm, currency, payment terms and port with the buyer. Consignee fields in coffee-heading shipment data identify the importers, and this site’s free marketplace helps you contact them.
Fourteenth of 96 markets at $1.4B in 2024, a 2.0% share of reported world imports.
Cafe chains, independent roasters and makers of packaged and instant coffee products.
No. It includes tea, mate and spices.
Search coffee-heading shipment data and read consignee names and weights.
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