Beijing, May 28: A significant opportunity has emerged for African agricultural products in China. According to a recent announcement by the Chinese Customs Administration, coffee beans from 53 African countries that have diplomatic relations with China will be permitted for export under specific conditions starting July 20, 2026.
On May 27, the head of the Animal and Plant Quarantine Department of the Chinese Customs Administration stated that China is expediting the quarantine process for African agricultural and food products while ensuring safety standards. Following dried chilies, coffee beans have become the second African agricultural product to receive full quarantine approval for export from countries with diplomatic ties to China.
Coffee beans are not only a major agricultural product for Africa but also a crucial economic foundation for several African nations. Currently, coffee beans from Ethiopia and Burundi have received quarantine approval. Meanwhile, Mauritius, Angola, Togo, Guinea, Liberia, and São Tomé and Príncipe have also applied to export coffee beans to China.
The official noted that based on relevant laws, regulations, and international standards, the Chinese Customs Administration conducted a comprehensive evaluation of the cultivation, production, and processing systems for coffee beans in African countries. The assessment found that pest and disease control measures and risk management systems for coffee beans are largely similar across most African nations.
Based on this, China has developed integrated import plant quarantine standards. These include management of cultivation areas, registration of processing units, export inspection and quarantine, and issuance of quarantine certificates. This means that African countries with diplomatic relations with China will be able to export their coffee beans, provided they meet the necessary standards.
The official also mentioned that the Chinese Customs Administration will continue to implement advanced “Green Channel” facilitation measures to ensure that safer and higher-quality African agricultural and food products reach the Chinese market. This initiative will not only share development opportunities with African nations but also provide Chinese consumers with more diverse and better options.
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