Market
Green (unroasted), non-decaffeinated coffee beans are an import-dependent agricultural input in Canada, supplying domestic roasters and other coffee manufacturers. Canada sources green coffee from multiple origins, and import values for HS 090111 are material in scale (UN Comtrade data via WITS can be used as a trade-value proxy). The CBSA Customs Tariff lists the MFN duty for tariff item 0901.11.00 as Free, supporting a trade model where value addition commonly happens in-market (roasting/packaging). Because Canada does not have meaningful domestic coffee cultivation, market availability and costs are highly exposed to global supply conditions and price volatility tracked by the International Coffee Organization.
Market RoleImport-dependent consumer and processing market (net importer of green coffee)
Domestic RoleIndustrial input for domestic roasting and branded coffee supply chains
Market GrowthGrowing (last decade)sustained import-market expansion in recent years
SeasonalityYear-round availability via imports; origin harvest calendars vary by producing country.
Risks
Price Volatility HighCanada is structurally dependent on imported green coffee, so global supply shocks and market volatility can directly disrupt procurement costs and availability. ICO market reporting tracks significant global green coffee price movements and export-flow shifts, which can translate into rapid landed-cost changes for Canadian importers/roasters.Diversify origin portfolio and suppliers; use forward contracting/hedging where appropriate; maintain buffer inventory and contingency blends.
Logistics MediumGreen coffee supply to Canada is containerized and sea-freight dependent; port congestion, container imbalances, or route disruptions can delay arrivals and increase landed costs for roasters.Use staggered shipping schedules, multiple origin ports/routes, and maintain safety stocks aligned to roast plans.
Regulatory Compliance MediumCFIA frameworks (SFCR/FDR) place responsibility on importers to ensure imported food meets Canadian safety and consumer protection requirements. Misalignment with compositional/identity standards (e.g., green vs decaffeinated definitions) or gaps in preventive controls/supplier verification can trigger compliance actions or shipment delays.Maintain an SFCR-aligned compliance checklist (licensing, preventive controls, supplier verification) and verify product descriptions against the Canadian Food Compositional Standards.
Labor Rights MediumCoffee is identified by the U.S. Department of Labor (ILAB) as a good associated with child labor or forced labor in certain source countries, creating elevated human-rights due diligence needs for Canadian supply chains and reporting pressure under Canada’s Supply Chains Act.Implement risk-based due diligence (supplier mapping, audits/assessments, remediation pathways) and maintain documentation suitable for annual reporting where applicable.
Sustainability MediumCoffee is explicitly in scope for the EU deforestation-free products regulation; Canadian firms supplying EU markets (directly or via customers) may need enhanced origin traceability and deforestation-risk screening to preserve market access for coffee-related products.Strengthen origin traceability and land-use risk screening; require suppliers to provide origin data sufficient for downstream due diligence needs.
Sustainability- Import dependence exposes Canada’s green coffee supply to climate-driven shocks in origin countries and associated global market volatility (tracked in ICO market reporting).
- Coffee is a commodity in scope for the EU’s deforestation-free products regulation; Canadian firms supplying EU-linked channels may face increased origin geolocation/deforestation-risk due diligence expectations.
Labor & Social- Forced labour and child labour risks have been documented for coffee in certain source countries in the U.S. Department of Labor (ILAB) List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor; this creates reputational and procurement due-diligence pressure for Canadian buyers.
- Canada’s Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act (in force January 1, 2024) creates transparency/reporting expectations for entities importing goods produced outside Canada.
FAQ
What is the Canadian MFN tariff rate for unroasted, non-decaffeinated green coffee (tariff item 0901.11.00)?The CBSA Customs Tariff (Chapter 9) lists the MFN duty for tariff item 0901.11.00 (coffee, not roasted, not decaffeinated) as Free.
How does Canada define “green/unroasted coffee” in its compositional standards?CFIA’s Canadian Food Compositional Standards define “Green Coffee, Raw Coffee or Unroasted Coffee” as the seed of Coffee arabica L., C. liberica Hiern, or C. robusta Chev., freed from all but a small portion of its spermoderm.
What are the core CFIA compliance expectations for importing coffee into Canada?CFIA guidance states importers are responsible for ensuring imported foods meet applicable SFCR and FDR requirements; in most cases an SFCR licence is required, and importers are expected to implement preventive controls and supplier verification to ensure imported food provides at least the same level of protection as food prepared in Canada.