In 2024, Costa Rica exported more coffee to Europe than the US for the first time, with 27,494 tons sent to Europe, marking a significant shift in trade dynamics. This increase reflects a focus on quality amidst impending EUDR legislations affecting coffee imports. Costa Rica is actively preparing for compliance to support its smallholder farmers and maintain access to European markets.
Recent data from Costa Rica’s Foreign Trade Promoter (PROCOMER) reveals that the nation has surpassed the United States in coffee exports to Europe in 2024, marking a historic milestone. European countries imported 27,494 tons of Costa Rican coffee, which constituted 42.6% of total coffee shipments, while the US imported 25,759 tons, making up 40%. The top European importers included Belgium, Switzerland, and Germany.
While overall coffee export volumes have declined slightly over the past four years, Costa Rican coffee farmers are prioritizing higher quality to meet the growing demand for premium and specialty coffee in Europe and Asia. Both PROCOMER and the Costa Rican Coffee Institute (ICAFE) laud this growth as a positive indicator of European trust in Costa Rican coffee amidst impending EUDR regulations, which take effect on December 30, 2025.
Gustavo Jiménez, President of ICAFE, stated, “Last year, we sold more coffee to Europe than to the US, our main buyer historically. The increase in European purchases shows we’re ready for these changes in international trade.” This data is timely for advocates of the EUDR, which mandates EU businesses to secure guarantees that imports such as coffee do not contribute to deforestation post-December 31, 2020.
In November 2024, the Council of the EU decided to delay the law’s implementation due to insufficient readiness among coffee producers and concerns about the potential adverse effects on coffee supply chains and farmers’ access to markets. Costa Rica is actively preparing for EUDR compliance in its coffee exports.
Notably, in March 2024, the United Nations Development Programme reported Costa Rica’s first shipment of deforestation-free coffee to Europe, with Exclusive Coffees sending 275 bags to illycaffè in Italy. Additionally, the following month, Enveritas confirmed that Aquiares Estate had exported EUDR-compliant coffee to Nomad Coffee in Barcelona.
Costa Rica hosts over 27,300 family groups involved in coffee production, 85% of which are smallholder farmers. Coffee remains the country’s third largest export after medical equipment and fruit.
Costa Rica’s recent achievement of exporting more coffee to Europe than the United States underscores the growing demand for its premium products. With the upcoming EUDR laws, the nation’s coffee sector is proactively ensuring compliance, thereby positioning itself favorably within international markets. This shift is critical for sustaining its smallholder farmers and the broader agricultural economy.
Original Source: www.worldcoffeeportal.com
