For the first time in history, Costa Rica exported more coffee to Europe than to the United States in 2024, according to data from the country’s Foreign Trade Promoter (PROCOMER). European countries imported 27,494 tons of Costa Rican coffee, accounting for 42.6% of total shipments, while the US received 25,759 tons, representing 40% of exports.
Although Costa Rica’s total coffee export volumes have declined slightly over the past four years, farmers are shifting their focus to higher-quality beans, responding to growing demand for premium and specialty coffee in Europe and Asia. Belgium, Switzerland, and Germany emerged as the leading European buyers, reinforcing the region’s increasing confidence in Costa Rican coffee.
San José-based PROCOMER and the Costa Rican Coffee Institute (ICAFE) see this shift as a sign of market adaptation ahead of the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), set to take effect on 30 December 2025. The law will require EU businesses importing coffee and other commodities linked to deforestation to verify that their supply chains comply with environmental standards.
ICAFE President Gustavo Jiménez welcomed the data, stating, “Last year, we sold more coffee to Europe than to the US, our main buyer historically. The increase in European purchases shows we’re ready for these changes in international trade.”
The EUDR, originally set for implementation in 2024, was postponed due to concerns about coffee producers’ readiness and the potential impact on supply chains. However, Costa Rica has taken proactive steps to ensure its coffee exports meet the new regulations.
In March 2024, the United Nations Development Program reported the first shipment of deforestation-free Costa Rican coffee to Europe, with exporter Exclusive Coffees delivering 275 60kg bags to Italy’s illycaffè. The following month, non-profit auditor Enveritas confirmed that Aquiares Estate, the largest Rainforest Alliance Certified coffee farm in Costa Rica, had exported EUDR-compliant coffee to Barcelona-based specialty roaster Nomad Coffee.
Coffee remains Costa Rica’s third-largest export after medical equipment and fruit, supporting over 27,300 family groups, with 85% of them being smallholder farmers. As European demand grows and regulatory changes reshape the global coffee trade, Costa Rica continues positioning itself as a leader in sustainable, high-quality coffee production.
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