Osaka, Japan – 19 June 2025. Indonesia reaffirmed its strong commitment to reviving coffee exports to Japan during the Business Forum “Comeback with Confidence – Reviving the Glory of Indonesian Coffee in Japan”, held at the Indonesia Pavilion, Expo 2025 Osaka. The forum brought together policymakers, coffee industry leaders, Japanese buyers, and representatives from education and empowerment initiatives.

Indonesia’s coffee potential and diversity

As the world’s fourth-largest coffee producer, Indonesia grows between 10–11 million bags annually (around 600,000 tons). It currently ranks seventh among global exporters, recording USD 1.64 billion in export earnings in 2024 — a 43% increase from the previous year.

From Arabica origins like Gayo, Toraja, Bali, Papua, and Bajawa to Robusta from Lampung, South Sumatra, and Bengkulu, Indonesia’s geography offers unmatched variety and year-round harvesting. Its long tradition of sustainable cultivation and traceability underscores its reputation for quality.

Meeting Japan’s market requirements

A major issue discussed at the forum was Japan’s Maximum Residue Limits (MRL) policy. In 2023, concerns over isoprocarb levels led to tighter import requirements.

Indonesia has since acted decisively. Farmers are being trained in Good Agricultural Practices and the responsible use of pesticides. Rigorous sampling and accredited laboratory testing are now in place to ensure every shipment meets Japan’s strict limit of 0.01 mg/kg.

At the same time, initiatives are ongoing to train younger farmers in modern techniques and promote intercropping systems to improve productivity and farmer livelihoods.

“We are committed to helping our farmers produce coffee more sustainably and effectively, ensuring that every bean meets the stringent requirements of destination countries such as Japan,” said Moelyono Soesilo, Indonesian Coffee Expert and Head of the Specialty Coffee & Industry Division of AEKI.

KAPPI Global: Education and empowerment at the center

KAPPI Global (The Indonesian Coffee Development Education Foundation) also took the spotlight at the forum, with its work in education and empowerment recognized as central to Indonesia’s coffee future.

“KAPPI Global is dedicated to educating and empowering Indonesia’s coffee sector. Our focus on education, capacity building, and standard compliance ensures that Indonesian coffee is ready for global markets, building a knowledgeable, empowered, and sustainable coffee community,” said Roby Wibisono, Representative of KAPPI Global.

This highlights the importance of human-centered investment: empowering farmers, training industry professionals, and strengthening standard compliance to prepare Indonesia’s coffee sector for global success.

Strengthening collaboration with Japan

Speakers at the forum underlined that collaboration with Japan goes beyond boosting exports—it is about building long-term trust, market confidence, and recognition of Indonesia’s coffee diversity. Japan has historically been one of Indonesia’s most loyal buyers, but maintaining and expanding this relationship requires stronger partnerships and clear commitments.

Representing the government, Merry Astrid Indriasari, Trade Attaché at the Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo, emphasized how this forum could serve as a bridge to reconnect Indonesia’s coffee origins with Japanese buyers.

“This forum marks a strategic step toward unlocking market potential through partnerships. We aim to strengthen collaboration and reintroduce Indonesia’s diverse coffee origins to the Japanese market,” she stated, noting that consistent promotion and regulatory alignment will be key to regaining Japan’s confidence.

From the national side, Dr. Rusman Heriawan, Chairman of the Indonesian Coffee Council, highlighted that Indonesia’s competitiveness must be reinforced from within.

“We are working hard on national initiatives to support our producers and exporters, ensuring their readiness for the global stage and sustainable growth,” he said, stressing that improvements in standards, traceability, and farmer capacity building are as vital as production volume in meeting Japan’s demands.

Japanese stakeholders echoed this dual perspective of opportunity and responsibility. Kato Takayoshi of UCC Japan underlined that while Indonesian coffee enjoys a strong reputation, sustainability is non-negotiable.

“The Japanese market greatly enjoys coffee from Indonesia; its varieties are unmatched. However, Japan needs a sustainable supply of good-quality coffee,” he remarked, underscoring that reliability and consistency are essential for long-term partnerships.

Adding to this, Yutaka Shibata, President of Key Coffee Inc. and the All Japan Coffee Association, reinforced the importance of predictability in trade.

“Indonesian Mandheling coffee is highly sought after. What matters most for the Japanese market is sustainable supply, value for money, and consistent quality,” he said, pointing out that even the most prized origins must deliver on quality assurance to maintain consumer trust.

A forward-looking agenda

The forum closed with a strong consensus: Indonesia and Japan must move beyond dialogue and into concrete action. Stakeholders agreed on a roadmap to translate commitments into measurable outcomes. This forward-looking agenda includes:

• Plantation tours for Japanese stakeholders to directly experience Indonesia’s coffee origins.

• Promotional campaigns designed to reintroduce Indonesian coffee to Japanese consumers with a focus on diversity and quality.

• Strengthened dialogue between exporters and Japanese buyers to improve transparency and build market confidence.

• Joint trade missions and business matchmaking to expand opportunities for collaboration.

• Regulatory alignment and targeted branding to position Indonesian coffee more effectively in Japan’s competitive market.