Germany collects approximately one billion euros annually in taxes on products containing roasted coffee. These substantial revenues come from two main sources:
1. Import Duties on Roasted Coffee
Did you know? Imported, already roasted coffee is subject to an import duty to protect the domestic processing industry. Only imports of unprocessed green coffee from all countries are duty-free.
For roasted coffee and other coffee products, tariffs between 7.5% and 9% apply – a measure that has successfully protected the European coffee market for centuries.
In 2007, the European import tariff of previously 30% on roasted coffee for Ethiopia and other developing countries was abolished. For the first time, these countries could retain the entire value chain of their coffee within their own borders.
A successful example of so-called Direct Fairtrade is the Solino brand – read more about it.
2. Coffee Tax in Germany
The German state also benefits: Germany is one of the few EU countries that still levies a coffee tax. For domestic sales, an additional tax applies:
- €2.19 per kilogram of roasted coffee
- €4.78 per kilogram of instant coffee
