Enviro News Asia, San Diego – Indonesia reaffirmed its global coffee presence at the World of Coffee San Diego 2026, one of the world’s largest coffee exhibitions, which gathered around 15,000 participants from 90 countries across 650 booths.
The Indonesian pavilion stood out with its distinctive red-and-white theme, officially inaugurated on April 10 by Indroyono Soesilo, alongside Aida Budiman, Consul General Purnomo A Chandra, and Trade Attaché Ranitya Kusumadewi, as well as Indonesian coffee producers and exporters.
Indonesian coffee continues to shine as a leading non-oil export commodity. In 2025, exports reached approximately US$2 billion, with around US$400 million—nearly one-fifth—destined for the United States, making it Indonesia’s largest coffee market.
The opportunity is expanding further following the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART) signed in February 2026, which grants zero import tariffs on 1,819 Indonesian products, including coffee. This policy significantly enhances Indonesia’s competitiveness and opens room for better pricing for farmers and exporters.
Known for its exotic and complex flavor profiles, Indonesian coffee varieties—from Gayo, Toraja, Mandailing, Kintamani to Flores—continue to attract U.S. consumers and roasters. These coffees are often characterized by floral, chocolatey, spicy, and tropical fruit notes, distinguishing them in a competitive market dominated by Brazil, Colombia, and Vietnam.
The participation of Bank Indonesia highlights the success of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs, which support coffee farmers across the value chain—from cultivation and processing to export readiness. These initiatives are seen as scalable models for other state-owned and private enterprises.
With the U.S. coffee market valued at approximately US$85 billion and strong growth in the specialty segment, Indonesia is aiming to strengthen its image as a global hub for specialty coffee, expand trade partnerships with U.S. roasters and importers, and secure long-term contracts that benefit local farmers.
Chairman of the Indonesian Specialty Coffee Association, Daryanto Witarsa, expressed optimism: “With more than 1,500 member companies across the value chain, we are ready to accelerate Indonesian coffee exports to the U.S.”
Indonesia’s showcase at the exhibition covered the entire coffee ecosystem—from plantations and harvesting to processing, roasting, barista expertise, and even coffee machinery and paper cup production—demonstrating the country’s comprehensive strength in the global coffee industry. (*)
