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MILAN – South Korea ‘s coffee imports totalled $1.86 billion in 2025, marking a 35% increase in value compared to 2024, primarily due to sharp rises in the price of raw material. This is against an import volume of 215,792 tonnes, which is more or less in line with the previous year.
The increase in local currency terms was even greater (+41%), due to the weakening of the won against the dollar. These figures were released yesterday (Sunday, 25 January 2026) by the Korea Agro-Fisheries and Food Trade Corporation.
Faced with higher green coffee costs, roasters and coffee shop chains in South Korea had to raise prices several times during the year.
Some competitors, including Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf and Nespresso, implemented further price increases at the beginning of 2026.
Industry officials say additional increases are possible, as the timing of any stabilization in bean prices remains uncertain.
According to a recent survey by the Korea National Council of Consumer Organizations’ price monitoring center, the average price of coffee mix products, converted to a 180-stick pack, increased by 16.5% to 32,262 won ($22.3) in the last quarter of 2025, up from 27,683 won in the same period of 2024.
