How to export coffee to Japan: green, roasted and instant

Green, roasted or instant? The tariff decides a lot

• Green (raw) coffee: ZERO tariff in Japan. That is why the vast majority of Brazilian coffee enters green and is roasted locally.
• Roasted coffee: WTO rate of 12% (the general rate is 20%). Worth it for own brands and specialty coffees with a story.
• Instant coffee: WTO rate of 8.8%.
• With no Brazil–Japan agreement in force, these WTO rates apply — while competitors with EPAs (e.g., Vietnam via CPTPP) ship roasted coffee at lower rates.

Green beans: the classic route

Raw beans are treated as a plant product: besides food rules, they go through Japanese plant quarantine (Plant Protection Act) on arrival, with pest inspection.

A Phytosanitary Certificate issued in Brazil (MAPA/Vigiagro) must accompany the cargo — without it, the shipment does not enter.

Green bean step-by-step

• 1. Registration as a coffee exporter and official grading of the lot (COB/Cecafé standards).
• 2. ICO (International Coffee Organization) certificate of origin and Phytosanitary Certificate (Vigiagro).
• 3. Contract and pre-shipment: the Japanese buyer usually approves a pre-shipment sample of the lot.
• 4. On arrival: plant quarantine + food import notification (Food Sanitation Act), with testing for pesticide residues and mycotoxins (e.g., ochratoxin A) under Japan's positive list.
• 5. Release and delivery to the roaster or trading company.

Roasted and instant: less quarantine, more labeling

Processed products (roasted, ground, instant, drip bags) are exempt from plant quarantine — they only go through the food notification. In exchange, they need full Japanese packaged-food labeling: ingredients, allergens, shelf life, storage instructions and importer details.

For branded specialty coffee, Japan is a valuable niche market: consumers pay for traceability, microlots, farm identity and cupping scores. Here, the 12% tariff fits inside a premium price.

Residues and quality: where lots fail

• Japan uses a positive list for pesticide residues — limits are often stricter than Brazil's. Order a multi-residue analysis of the lot BEFORE shipping.
• Mycotoxins (ochratoxin A) are monitored: watch drying and storage.
• Moisture and defects outside the contract lead to discounts or returns — official grading protects both sides.

Strategic tip

First-time exporters usually enter via a trading company established in Japan (less risk, less margin). Producers with awarded coffees or microlots can approach specialty roasters directly — trade shows like SCAJ (Specialty Coffee Association of Japan) are the sector's best point of contact.