Vietnam is countries export coffee top 2 world after Brazil with trade volume record ~5,5 billion USD year 2024. Middle East (UAE + Saudi Arabia + Qatar) currently becomes market niche boom, especially with instant coffee. Vietnam-UAE CEPA sign 10/2024 add duty import UAE about 0% for 99% trade volume. Tuy natural route deep-sea VN-Middle East must face Houthi crisis Red Sea: carrier yes able transfer routing Cape route +10-15 day + rates +30-50%. Articles total combined: rates from HCM-Jebel Ali/Dammam/Jeddah, ICO + Halal + SFDA Saudi, Suez vs Cape route routing, 5 pain case + 8 FAQ.
Holds ~18-19 tons (300+ bao jute 60kg). 40'HC for instant coffee canned/packaged.
Coffee green: jute 60kg lining GrainPro moisture-resistant + anti- light. Instant coffee: boxes/carton.
Impact flavor (especially Arabica). Coffee specialty premium recommend 40'RF set 18-22°C.
Require carrier place cont in-hold, no deck sun exposure. Transit long Cape route route → moisture higher than.
Detailed per lot, grade, screen size. Match ICO Cert.
Transit long 22-37 day depending on routing Suez/Cape route. Yes able Through B/L for transship Saudi/Qatar.
Vietnam-UAE CEPA 10/2024 → 0% duty. Form usually (no CEPA) loses 5%. Check effect latest MOIT.
Grade via VICOFA. Required for green coffee exporting (no mandatory instant coffee, other HS). Fee low 1-2 day.
Required for instant coffee into UAE/GCC (holds creamer/sugar/spices). HCA Vietnam, TQA. 4-6 week register.
Saudi: SFDA registration 3-6 month + Saudi license number on label. UAE: ESMA/ECAS conformity. Label language Arabic mandatory.
UAE Customs (Dubai/Abu Dhabi): Inspection HS, CO, Halal cert. Speed throughn fast if documentation complete.
ESMA (UAE Authority for Standardization): Management quality. Instant coffee requires ECAS conformity.
SFDA (Saudi Food & Drug Authority): Strict more than UAE. a company exporting must register with SFDA + Saudi license number on label. Process 3-6 month.
Labeling Arabic: Required — ingredients, NSX, HSD, guidance use must yes language Arabic.
Halal: 100% mandatory for instant coffee (creamer, sugar, spices requires Halal). Pure green coffee sometimes exempt but recommend have ready.
| Route | Container | Market rates (USD) | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| HCM (Cai Mep) → Jebel Ali (Dubai) | 20'GP | $700 – $1.500 | ⭐ Coffee green Robusta — hub GCC |
| HCM → Jebel Ali | 40'HC | $1.300 – $2.700 | Instant coffee |
| HCM → Dammam (Saudi) | 20'GP | $900 – $1.800 | Coffee green cho Riyadh (~400km) |
| HCM → Jeddah (Saudi) | 20'GP | $1.000 – $2.000 | Coffee cho Mecca, Medina |
⚠️ Indicative rates, subject to BAF fluctuation/CAF/peak season. Accurate quote — contact ShipAsia.
| Step | Task | Timing | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Other book + verify routing (Suez/Cape route due to Houthi) | T-21 day | Sales |
| 2 | Confirm space + report rates (yes war risk surcharge) + schedules | T-19 day | ShipAsia |
| 3 | Other prepare: ICO (VICOFA) + Phyto (BVTV) + Halal (if instant) | T-14 → T-7 | Other + consulting |
| 4 | Packing coffee into bao jute 60kg + GrainPro liner | T-5 day | Factory / warehouse |
| 5 | Truck cont ra Cai Mep | T-3 day | Trucking |
| 6 | Cut-off SI/VGM/CO + payment | T-2 day | ShipAsia |
| 7 | Load onto vessel | T0 (ETD) | Port + carrier |
| 8a | Transit HCM-Jebel Ali (Suez route NORMAL) | 22-25 day | Carrier |
| 8b | Transit Cape route route (if Houthi crisis) | 32-37 day | Carrier |
| 9 | Calls at Jebel Ali, broker UAE throughn | T+25 → T+27 | Broker UAE |
| 10 | Trucking inland UAE (Dubai/Abu Dhabi) | T+27 → T+28 | Trucking UAE |
| 11 | Transship Saudi/Qatar (feeder/truck from Jebel Ali) | T+28 → T+32 | Trucking GCC |
a company instant coffee exporting 1 cont 40’HC HCM-Dammam, product yes creamer + spices but no yes Halal certificate. SFDA Saudi inspect at Dammam → reject the entire. a company must re- exporting about VN or destruction at port Saudi (cost destroy ~$3.000). Total loss ~$25.000 for shipment. Article study: Halal is cashew package first decide for food into GCC (UAE/Saudi/Qatar/Oman/Kuwait/Bahrain). Subscribe HCA Vietnam or TQA loses 4-6 week, cost $1.500-3.000/time.
Booking 5 cont 40’HC instant coffee HCM-Jebel Ali with rates $1.200/cont month 11/2025. After Houthi tons work Red Sea month 12, carrier transfer routing Cape route (around The Cape Of Good Hope) → rates real-world $1.800+/cont + transit additional 12 day. Other UAE rejection absorb difference. a company VN is forced bear $3.000 the difference + delay do client Holiday Islam missed. Article study: Contract shipping must yes clause war/security surcharge + client option mua insurance the difference rates. Quote short limit 7-14 day.
a company instant coffee exporting Saudi, yes Halal cert but label no yes information SFDA registration number + language Arabic only in name product (missing ingredients, NSX, HSD by Arabic). Is held at Dammam, a company must rent services affix label again at Saudi $500-800/cont + delay 1 week. Article study: Prepare label bilingual Anh-Arabic complete (ingredients, NSX, HSD, guidance use) + register SFDA before 3-6 month. UAE ESMA/ECAS more lenient more than Saudi.
Yes, almost mandatory. Instant coffee usually has additional ingredients (creamer, sugar, spices) → requires Halal cert. Subscribe via HCA Vietnam, TQA, or GCC-recognized organization. Process 4-6 week, fee $1.500-3.000. Pure green coffee (only coffee beans) sometimes exempt but recommend have ready.
CEPA sign 10/2024, currently rolling out. When yes effect comprehensive, coffee VN into UAE = 0% duty. Check latest MOIT updates + use corresponding CEPA form. Saved 5% duty vs form usually. CEPA commitment remove duty for 99% trade volume within 10 year.
3 reason due to main: (1) Houthi crisis Red Sea → carrier yes able transfer Cape route, +30-50% rates; (2) War risk surcharge fluctuating; (3) Demand peak vianh holiday Islam. Recommend quote short limit 7-14 day, routing updates regularly.
Riyadh at held by Saudi, near Dammam (~400km, side East) more than Jeddah (~950km, side West). If rates are similar, prefer Dammam. If client at region Mecca/Medina/Hajj → Jeddah (West). Trucking inland Saudi low-cost ~$0.10-0.15/km.
ICO (International Coffee Organization) certificate grade via VICOFA (Association Coffee Ca high VN) — certificate exporting origin + in quota ICO. Required for green coffee export (no mandatory for instant coffee because other HS). Fee low, do within 1-2 day.
~18-19 tons (300+ bao jute 60kg) depends on packaging. Green coffee moderate weight, usually leverage both weight and volume. Instant coffee canned/packaged typically uses 40’HC for volume.
HCM-Jebel Ali Suez route: 22-25 day. Cape route route (if Houthi): 32-37 day. Saudi (Dammam/Jeddah) usually +5-7 day vs Jebel Ali due to transship. Doha (Qatar): similar to Saudi. Total door-to-door door 25-40 day depending on routing + customs.
Recommend. Specialty Arabica coffee is temperature-sensitive. If yes able, use cont 40’RF set 18-22°C for specialty premium ($300-500 surcharge vs GP). Or minimum require carrier place cont in-hold (no sun exposure deck) — especially vian weight when Cape route route 32-37 day.
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