ĐẮK LẮK—The Central Highlands province of Đắk Lắk on Wednesday exported nearly 3.5 tonnes of speciality coffee worth about US$120,000 to the US through official channels, marking a step towards expanding the presence of Vietnamese coffee in the US market.

The shipment was launched at a ceremony held the same day by the People's Committee of Ea Kao Ward in coordination with the province-based Aeroco Coffee Co.

Lê Đình Tư, director of Aeroco Coffee, said the company described the shipment as an important milestone in bringing Buôn Ma Thuột speciality coffee further into global trade networks and building a Vietnamese coffee brand based on product quality and value.

The company plans to step up trade promotion activities in Chicago, Florida, Texas and California to expand its US market presence, he said.

Aeroco Coffee will also continue investing in production and processing capacity, working with coffee farmers to expand raw material areas and developing export markets, Tư added.

Đỗ Đức Hà, chairman of the Ea Kao Ward People's Committee, said the shipment would provide a practical example for local coffee businesses and cooperatives seeking to improve product quality and meet international standards.

The local authorities would work with businesses and supporting organisations to address obstacles and create a transparent business environment, enabling stronger links between companies and farmers, he said.

Petko Andreev, director of Aeroco USA LLC, said the company's Fine Robusta products have significant potential among different consumer groups in the US.

Introducing Aeroco Coffee products into US distribution channels would help the company assess market demand, reach consumers and build a customer base, he said.

The next phase would focus on marketing, distribution, customer development and increasing sales volumes, Andreev added.

The shipment marks a transition from product assessment to commercial operations in the US market, the company said. — BIZHUB/VNS