Classification
Product TypeRaw Material
Product FormGreen (Unroasted, Dried Beans)
Industry PositionPrimary Agricultural Product
Raw Material
Market
Green (unroasted) coffee beans in Greece are predominantly imported and used as an input for domestic roasting and downstream coffee products supplied to retail and the Ho.Re.Ca. channel. UN Comtrade data via the World Bank WITS platform shows Greece imported HS 090111 (coffee, not roasted, not decaffeinated) at about USD 183.2 million (≈39.8 thousand tonnes) in 2023, with Brazil as the largest supplier by value. The applied EU tariff for TARIC 0901110000 is 0%, so trade frictions are driven more by quality specifications, food-safety compliance, and customs formalities than by duties. A major upcoming market-access/compliance inflection for coffee placed on the EU market (including Greece) is the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), with main obligations applying from 30 December 2026 for large and medium operators.
Market RoleImport-dependent processing and consumption market (net importer of green coffee beans; domestic roasting industry)
Domestic RoleIndustrial and specialty input for domestic roasting, blending, grinding and packaging for retail and Ho.Re.Ca. supply
SeasonalityYear-round import availability; procurement cycles follow origin-country harvest and shipping schedules rather than Greek seasonality.
Specification
Physical Attributes- Buyer specifications commonly focus on moisture/quality stability, defect/foreign matter levels, and sensory suitability for intended roast profile.
- Industrial processors in Greece may use green coffee pre-cleaning and structured quality-control workflows (including cupping) prior to roasting/packaging.
Compositional Metrics- Not decaffeinated (HS 090111 / TARIC 0901110000); decaffeinated green coffee is classified separately (e.g., 090112).
Grades- Contract specifications may reference green coffee grading/defect frameworks and cupping-based acceptance criteria (e.g., specialty vs commercial lots).
Packaging- Common shipment formats include jute/sisal sacks; quality-protection formats may include hermetic inner liners (e.g., GrainPro-type liners) to reduce moisture ingress and quality loss during sea freight and storage.
Supply Chain
Value Chain- Origin production & primary processing → export milling/grading → containerized sea freight → EU entry & customs clearance in Greece → dry, pest-controlled warehousing → roasting/grinding/packaging in Greece → distribution to retail and Ho.Re.Ca.
Temperature- Storage and transport emphasize keeping green coffee dry and avoiding condensation events that can accelerate quality degradation and mold risk.
Atmosphere Control- Odor-taint prevention and ventilation/moisture management are important in containerized transport and warehousing for green coffee.
Shelf Life- Quality stability is sensitive to humidity and storage conditions; hermetic liners are used in some supply chains to reduce moisture ingress and related spoilage/quality loss risks.
Freight IntensityMedium
Transport ModeSea
Risks
Regulatory Compliance HighEU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) compliance readiness is a potential deal-breaker for placing coffee on the EU market: from 30 December 2026 (large/medium operators), failures in due diligence, traceability, or substantiating deforestation-free sourcing can block market access in Greece/EU.Build an EUDR-ready due diligence system ahead of 30 Dec 2026: map suppliers and plots, collect geolocation/traceability evidence, align contracts on data provision, and validate documentation before purchase/shipment.
Food Safety MediumNon-compliance with EU food-safety requirements (including pesticide residue MRLs and other contaminant controls) can trigger enforcement actions, delays, or rejection during official controls for consignments entering or placed on the Greek/EU market.Implement risk-based sampling/testing, require supplier COAs aligned to EU limits, and maintain full traceability for rapid investigation/withdrawal if needed.
Logistics MediumContainerized sea freight disruptions and poor in-transit moisture management (condensation, wetting) can degrade green coffee quality and cause commercial losses or disputes upon arrival in Greece.Use moisture-control practices (dry, clean containers; liners where appropriate; humidity monitoring) and contract clear quality/claims protocols tied to arrival inspection.
Labor And Human Rights MediumCoffee is identified in public risk listings for child labor or forced labor in some producing countries; additionally, the EU forced-labour product ban (application from 14 December 2027) elevates the risk of market exclusion if upstream abuses are substantiated in the supply chain feeding the Greek/EU market.Apply origin- and supplier-specific labor risk screening, require credible third-party audits or verified programs, and maintain documented remediation/escalation procedures for high-risk sourcing.
Sustainability- Deforestation/forest-degradation due diligence for coffee placed on the EU market (EUDR) requiring traceability and substantiation of deforestation-free status
- Supply-chain traceability and documentation retention aligned to EU due diligence expectations
Labor & Social- Child labor/forced labor risk exposure in parts of global coffee supply chains (origin-dependent), requiring strengthened supplier due diligence for Greece-based importers/roasters placing products on the EU market
- EU forced-labour product ban (application from 14 December 2027) increases consequences of labor-rights non-compliance in upstream coffee production
FAQ
What is the single biggest near-term regulatory risk for green coffee beans placed on the Greek (EU) market?Preparing for the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) is the biggest near-term risk: coffee placed on the EU market must meet deforestation-free and due diligence requirements, with main obligations applying from 30 December 2026 for large and medium operators.
How much green, non-decaffeinated coffee did Greece import recently under HS 090111?UN Comtrade data via the World Bank WITS platform reports that in 2023 Greece imported HS 090111 (coffee, not roasted, not decaffeinated) worth about USD 183.2 million, totaling approximately 39.8 million kg, with Brazil as the largest supplier by value in that dataset.
Which customs systems and filings are relevant for importing goods into Greece from non-EU countries?Greek customs processes third-country imports through the ICISnet Imports Subsystem (including the import SAD workflow). For maritime containerized cargo, an Entry Summary Declaration (ENS) must be lodged within the required pre-arrival time limits set by EU legislation and implemented in Greece via ICISnet.
What food-safety certifications are commonly used by Greek coffee processors/roasters as private standards?Private food-safety management certifications used by coffee processors/roasters in Greece can include ISO 22000 and IFS Food (for example, KAFEA TERRA publicly references both standards within its quality/certifications information).