Burundi coffee is evaluated during a cupping session in June (ODECA)

In what is a great news for those engage in the coffee sector, the government of Burundi and the Chinese embassy in Bujumbura recently announced the commencement of exports of Burundian coffee to China. The first consignment of 38 tonnes of green coffee has already been shipped to China. This will further strengthen the economic and trade relations between the two countries. China Henan International Cooperation Group (CHICO) will be responsible for selling Burundian coffee in China. 

Chinese Ambassador to Burundi Zhao Jiangping said that this success was the culmination of many months of talks between the two countries. A plan for the export was agreed upon during the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Beijing last September. 

Zhang Yafei, sales manager at CHICO, confirmed the group’s commitment to increasing the volume of Burundian exports to China. “We hope to increase these quantities very soon. Coffee is not the only thing that my company is interested in; we would like other products to be able to access the Chinese market as well.” 

Prized quality 

Burundian coffee is highly regarded for its rich flavour and consistent quality. It regularly wins awards at international competitions and is a top performer in the specialty coffee category. This new trade agreement is expected to revitalise the coffee sector and, at a time when Burundi is facing significant pressure on its foreign exchange reserves (currently covering only 1.4 months of imports), it could provide a much-needed boost to national earnings. 

Zhao expressed confidence in the success of Burundian coffee in China. “In November 2024, at the China International Import Expo in Shanghai, Chinese visitors were won over by the high quality, refined aroma and unique flavour of Burundian coffee,” she said. 

For the current harvest season, Burundi’s Office for the Development of Coffee (ODECA) has already collected 12,000 tonnes of green coffee, representing 92 percent of its annual target. “The doors remain wide open to other potential buyers,” said Oscar Uwikunda, director general of ODECA. 

The Burundian authorities are implementing a series of macroeconomic reforms to ensure national stability. One of the government’s key priorities is to diversify exports by rolling out programmes that promote cash crops - particularly tea, coffee, and horticultural products. Emmanuel Niyungeko, director general for planning at the Ministry of Environment, Agriculture and Livestock, said that direct access to international markets such as China will enable Burundi to guarantee fair and equitable remuneration for coffee farmers, while reducing the number of intermediaries throughout the value chain. 

Until now, the export process has involved numerous players, including producers, roasters, pulpers, traders, and washing station managers. Each one is operated independently, which means producers often receive only a fraction of the profits. This imbalance has led many to abandon coffee farming altogether. 

Impact of zero tariff 

Burundi is one of the countries set to benefit from the tax relaxation policy applied to least developed countries. With zero customs duties on 100 percent of selected categories of African products, this measure aims to stimulate exports from Africa to China. The Burundian authorities have successfully added coffee to the list of products approved by Chinese customs since May, thereby facilitating access to a market of over 1 billion consumers. “We can now sell our coffee without difficulty, while of course strictly complying with international trade rules,” said Télesphore Irambona, Burundi’s ambassador to China. 

He believes the Chinese market is full of opportunities. “There are no limits - any quality product that meets the standards is eligible. We must take this chance to increase what we sell to other countries. We want companies to produce more so they can sell to this market,” Irambona told ChinAfrica in an exclusive interview in June. 

China is Burundi’s largest trading partner. Burundi’s exports to China stand at nearly $7 million, while its imports from China exceed $80 million.