Classification
Product TypeProcessed Food
Product FormRoasted whole coffee beans
Industry PositionFood Manufacturing Product
Market
Roasted coffee in Israel is a mature consumer market supported by domestic roasting/packing operations and strong retail and away-from-home demand, including major players such as Strauss Coffee Israel (Elite Coffee). Israel also imports substantial volumes of roasted coffee (HS 090121), with 2023 imports reported at about US$98.949 million and 9.274 million kg, led by Switzerland and Italy. Importers of plant-based foods must follow Ministry of Health National Food Services requirements (importer registration, declarations, and shipment release via quarantine stations at ports/airport/land crossings). Current trade viability is sensitive to maritime route disruptions (including Red Sea/Suez-related rerouting) that can increase transit times and freight costs.
Market RoleNet importer with domestic roasting industry
Domestic RoleLarge domestic roasters supply retail and away-from-home coffee channels alongside imported roasted coffee brands.
Risks
Logistics HighMaritime security disruptions and chokepoint congestion (including Red Sea/Suez-related rerouting) can materially delay shipments and increase freight and insurance costs for imported roasted coffee into Israel, raising landed cost volatility and service-level risk.Diversify origins and routing (where feasible), increase safety stock for key SKUs, and contract freight with contingency clauses for rerouting and surcharges.
Price Volatility MediumGlobal coffee price volatility (including periods of elevated robusta prices) can transmit quickly into roasted coffee procurement costs for Israeli importers and roasters, affecting retail pricing and margins.Use staged buying/hedging policies where commercially feasible, and maintain flexible product mix (blend/roast profile) to manage green-bean cost swings.
Regulatory Compliance MediumNon-compliance with Ministry of Health National Food Services import processes (importer registration, declarations, and quarantine-station release requirements) can cause shipment holds, sampling delays, or release refusals.Maintain a product-by-product document checklist aligned to the chosen import track (regular vs sensitive), and pre-validate labeling and records before shipment arrival.
Religious And Label Integrity MediumKosher certification expectations in Israel can create market-access and reputational risk if kashrut markings are missing, disputed, or inconsistent with the applicable approval pathway for imported foods.If selling into kosher channels, align kashrut labeling and supporting approvals with the Chief Rabbinate import-related requirements and keep auditable documentation for each lot/SKU.
Labor & Social- Kosher-market access risk: products marketed into kosher-certified channels may face additional certification expectations and enforcement attention related to kashrut approvals and labeling integrity.
FAQ
Which government body oversees approvals for importing roasted coffee into Israel?Food imports into Israel are overseen through the Ministry of Health’s National Food Services (including the Supervision of Imported Food Unit), which manages importer registration, declarations/approvals, and shipment inspection and release at quarantine stations.
Where did Israel source most of its roasted coffee imports (HS 090121) in 2023?UN Comtrade data presented via the World Bank WITS portal shows Israel’s 2023 roasted coffee (not decaffeinated, HS 090121) imports were led by Switzerland and Italy, followed by France, Spain, and Portugal.
What is the biggest trade disruption risk for roasted coffee into Israel right now?The biggest disruption risk is logistics: maritime route disruptions and rerouting around affected chokepoints (including Red Sea/Suez impacts) can raise freight costs and extend transit times, increasing landed-cost volatility and delivery delays.