Classification
Product TypeRaw Material
Product FormGreen (Unroasted, Not Decaffeinated)
Industry PositionPrimary Agricultural Product
Raw Material
Market
Green coffee beans (not decaffeinated) in Sri Lanka are supplied from small-scale Arabica and Robusta cultivation supported under the country’s export agriculture crop portfolio. Government guidance identifies distinct highland Arabica and mid/low-elevation Robusta growing districts, and describes both dry and wet post-harvest processing pathways used to produce green coffee forms. Sri Lanka participates in international trade for HS 090111, with UN Comtrade extracts showing both exports and imports (typically small reported quantities, depending on year and reporting source). A major structural vulnerability is plant health risk—especially coffee leaf rust—which has historically disrupted Sri Lanka’s coffee sector and remains a material production and quality threat.
Market RoleSmall producer and niche exporter with limited import trade (HS 090111)
Domestic RoleExport agriculture crop with limited domestic supply; some domestic roasting/processing uses imported and local beans
SeasonalityCoffee in Sri Lanka is described as having a continuous cycle where flowers, green fruit, and ripe fruit may be present simultaneously; harvesting is selective, with post-harvest processing done via wet or dry methods.
Specification
Secondary Variety- Coffea arabica (Arabica)
- Coffea canephora (Robusta)
Physical Attributes- Cherry coffee: dried whole berries with pericarp removed after drying (dry method).
- Parchment coffee: pulped and fermented coffee seeds dried after washing (wet method).
Grades- Cherry coffee (dry-processed green coffee form)
- Parchment coffee (wet-processed green coffee form)
Supply Chain
Value Chain- Selective harvest of ripe coffee berries → sorting/removal of damaged berries → (Dry method) sun-drying → pericarp removal → cherry coffee
- Selective harvest of ripe coffee berries → pulping within ~10 hours → fermentation ~24–48 hours → washing → sun-drying → parchment coffee
Freight IntensityMedium
Transport ModeSea
Risks
Plant Disease HighCoffee leaf rust is identified in Sri Lanka agronomic guidance as a severe historical disease that previously devastated national coffee cultivation; renewed outbreaks or inadequate control can sharply reduce green-bean supply and quality consistency.Prioritize rust-tolerant varieties referenced in Sri Lanka guidance, maintain field sanitation and monitoring, and apply recommended disease-management practices (e.g., Bordeaux mixture guidance) under agronomic supervision.
Pest MediumCoffee berry borer is identified in Sri Lanka agronomic guidance as a key pest that damages berries and can create quality loss during harvest and storage, raising buyer rejection risk for green coffee lots.Use field sanitation (remove/destroy leftover and fallen berries), manage shade as recommended, and align harvest frequency and spacing to pest-management guidance.
Regulatory Compliance MediumNPQS procedures state that document errors, missing additional declarations, or pest contamination can trigger detention and potential destruction or re-export of plant/plant-product consignments, creating severe delay and cost risk for cross-border shipments.Run a pre-shipment document and permit-condition audit; ensure phytosanitary certificate, origin documents, and any required treatments match NPQS and importing-country requirements.
Logistics MediumFor low-volume green coffee programs, freight-rate volatility and scheduling disruptions can materially affect landed cost and delivery reliability, potentially undermining competitiveness versus larger-origin suppliers.Contract freight early for peak seasons, consolidate shipments where feasible, and maintain buffer inventory for key buyers.
Sustainability- Shade-management choices (shade vs. full sun) and associated tree species selection are integral to Sri Lanka’s recommended production practices and influence biodiversity and farm-system resilience.
- Mixed-cropping systems (coffee with other perennial crops) are described in Sri Lanka agronomic guidance and can affect land-use outcomes and farm income stability.
FAQ
Where are the main coffee growing areas in Sri Lanka for Arabica vs. Robusta?Sri Lanka’s Department of Export Agriculture notes that Arabica is mostly grown in higher-elevation wet and intermediate zones (e.g., Nuwara Eliya, Kandy, Matale, and Badulla), while Robusta is mainly grown at lower elevations (e.g., Kegalle, Kurunegala, Kandy, and Matale).
What post-harvest processing methods are described for producing Sri Lankan green coffee forms?Sri Lanka’s Department of Export Agriculture describes two approaches: a dry method where fully ripe berries are sun-dried and the pericarp is removed to produce “cherry coffee,” and a wet method where berries are pulped within about 10 hours, fermented for about 24–48 hours, then washed and sun-dried to produce “parchment coffee,” which is described as higher quality than cherry coffee.
What compliance steps and documents does Sri Lanka’s NPQS highlight for importing plant products (including coffee beans)?Sri Lanka’s National Plant Quarantine Service (NPQS) states that regulated plant and plant products must be imported under a plant import permit (issued under the Plant Protection Act framework) and cleared with documentation such as the import permit, original phytosanitary certificate, certificate of origin, invoice, packing list, and transport documents; NPQS also notes that document errors or pest findings can result in detention and possible re-export or destruction.