Saudi coffee trade nears SAR 7 billion as imports and exports jump

Saudi Arabia’s coffee market is scaling fast, with combined coffee and tea imports projected to reach SAR 6.99 billion in 2025 and exports rising as the Kingdom develops into a regional processing hub. Roasting House says the shift is being driven by Ethiopian supply, re-exports to Egypt and new domestic micro-lot branding such as its Farasan release.

Why it matters: - Saudi Arabia is moving from a coffee importer to a more complete trade hub, with roasting, processing and re-exporting adding value inside the Kingdom. - The trend ties global supply chains to local heritage coffee from Jazan, giving Saudi producers a bigger role in both commercial trade and cultural branding. - The market is growing fast enough to support more specialty coffee shops and micro-roasteries across major Saudi cities.

What happened: - Osama Al-Awwam, co-founder and CEO of Roasting House, said Saudi Arabia’s combined coffee and tea imports are projected to reach SAR 6.99 billion in 2025. - He said just six countries account for 62% of the Kingdom’s overall trade volume. - Ethiopian imports into Saudi Arabia have climbed to SAR 1.62 billion. - Saudi coffee exports have reached SAR 115.5 million, with Egypt as a key destination. - Roasting House introduced a new coffee lot called Farasan.

The details: - Ethiopian beans are helping supply the rapid expansion of specialty coffee shops and local micro-roasteries. - Consumer demand in Saudi Arabia is shifting toward higher-quality, traceable single-origin coffee. - Saudi businesses are roasting, processing and re-exporting coffee rather than only importing raw materials. - That activity is creating a regional trade corridor linking African growers with coffee buyers in the Middle East and North Africa. - Khawlani Arabica production in Jazan remains an important part of Saudi Arabia’s domestic coffee identity. - Local farming traditions in Jazan are being carried forward by producers in the highland region. - Kathya, a Khawlani female farmer known as the “Daughter of Coffee Beans,” represents that heritage through family farming passed down from her father and grandfather. - The Farasan lot is named after the Farasan Islands off Saudi Arabia’s southern coast. - Roasting House said the release is meant to honor beans grown in the neighboring Jazan mountains. - The Farasan Islands are known for clear waters, coral reefs and marine life.

Between the lines: - Saudi Arabia’s coffee story is no longer just about consumption. It is also about adding value and selling into nearby markets. - The push into premium sourcing and local micro-lots suggests the Kingdom is trying to compete on both scale and identity. - The combination of Ethiopian imports and Jazan-grown coffee shows how imported and domestic supply can reinforce the same market.

What's next: - Continued growth in specialty coffee demand could deepen Saudi Arabia’s reliance on East African origins. - More local brands may use heritage-driven micro-lots to stand out in a crowded market. - Re-export activity could expand if Saudi roasting and processing capacity keeps growing. - The Kingdom’s coffee sector is likely to keep balancing global trade ambitions with preservation of local farming traditions.