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In Son La, coffee was first planted in the late 1990s, involving hundreds of thousands of smallholder farmers, cooperatives, and processing businesses connected to global markets. The sector grew rapidly, driven largely by export opportunities. This policy brief examined the state of Sơn La’s coffee industry, its preparedness for EUDR compliance, the opportunities and risks it faced, and the steps stakeholders took to help both Sơn La and Vietnam’s coffee sector meet EUDR requirements effectively.

During September 29–October 6, 2026, Vietnam’s exports of wood and wood products reached USD 425.1 million, down 4.5% from the previous week, while imports of raw wood rose 12.3% to USD 70.5 million. Notably, exports of wood and wood products to the EU totaled USD 689 million in the first nine months of 2026, up 53.6% year-on-year, with the Netherlands and Belgium remaining the two leading markets.

In the first nine months of 2026, Vietnam exported 1.45 million tonnes of coffee worth USD 6.57 billion, up 16.3% in volume but down 6.9% in value compared to the same period in 2025. Domestic coffee prices declined in early October due to supply pressures, while South Korea remained an important export market, with Vietnam ranking as its second-largest coffee supplier, accounting for 16.3% of the country's total coffee imports in the first eight months of the year.

From September 29 to October 6, 2026, Vietnam exported 71,833 tonnes of rubber worth nearly USD 164 million, down 6.7% in volume and 4.4% in value compared to the previous period. China remained the largest export market, accounting for 54.8% of total export volume, while the average export price rose 2.4% to USD 2,283 per tonne amid rising global rubber prices driven by adverse weather conditions and supply disruptions.

During September 22–29, 2026, Vietnam’s exports of timber and wood products reached USD 445 million, up 9.6% from the previous week, of which wooden furniture exports accounted for USD 255.1 million. Meanwhile, imports of raw wood materials totaled USD 62.8 million, down 2.1%; pine wood imports in the first nine months of 2026 were estimated at USD 185.2 million, up 18.9% year-on-year.

During September 24–October 1, 2026, global Robusta and Arabica coffee prices rose by 3.9% and 5.4%, respectively, driving domestic coffee prices in Vietnam up by approximately VND 1,800/kg. In the first nine months of 2026, Vietnam’s coffee exports were estimated at 1.45 million tonnes, valued at USD 6.59 billion, up 16.2% in volume but down 6.7% in value year-on-year, with China remaining a notable growth market.

During the week of September 24–October 1, 2026, rubber prices rose in Japan, Thailand, and China amid concerns over supply disruptions and declining inventories. In the first nine months of 2026, Vietnam’s rubber exports were estimated at 1.09 million tonnes, valued at USD 2.2 billion, down 15.7% in volume and 3.6% in value year-on-year, while exports to Indonesia recorded strong growth.

In the first eight months of 2026, wooden-framed chairs remained Vietnam’s leading wood and wood product export category, reaching USD 2.72 billion, up 9.4% year-on-year. The US was the largest export market at USD 5.91 billion, followed by China (USD 1.77 billion) and Japan (USD 1.48 billion). Meanwhile, Vietnam imported 4.9 million m³ of raw wood materials worth USD 1.7 billion, up 7.2% in volume and 17.3% in value year-on-year, with the US remaining the largest supplier, accounting for 24.2% of total import volume.

During September 17–24, 2026, coffee prices declined in both global and Vietnamese markets amid oversupply pressures, with Robusta prices on the London exchange falling 3.3% and Arabica prices on the New York exchange dropping 2% week-on-week. In the first eight months of 2026, Vietnam’s Robusta coffee exports reached nearly 1.12 million tonnes, worth USD 4.42 billion, up 15.4% in volume but down 11.8% in value year-on-year due to lower export prices.

During September 17–24, 2026, global rubber prices rose in major markets, including Japan, Thailand, and China, amid tightening supply and increasing weather-related risks. In the first eight months of 2026, mixtures of natural and synthetic rubber remained Vietnam’s largest rubber export category, accounting for 54.6% of total export volume, reaching 522,108 tonnes worth USD 1.06 billion, down 20% in volume and 10.5% in value year-on-year.

In the first eight months of 2026, Vietnam exported 1.33 million tonnes of coffee worth USD 6.03 billion, up 13.7% in volume but down 8.6% in value year-on-year due to a sharp decline in average export prices. Export volumes to all major markets increased, with the EU accounting for 40.7% of total export value, while global and domestic coffee prices came under downward pressure from rising supply.

In the first eight months of 2026, Vietnam exported 944,891 tonnes of rubber worth USD 1.88 billion, down 15.4% in volume and 5.1% in value year-on-year, while the average export price rose 12.1% to USD 1,990 per tonne. China remained Vietnam’s largest rubber export market but recorded a sharp decline, while exports to Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea, and Mexico increased significantly, indicating shifts in demand across key export markets.

During the week of September 8–16, 2026, Vietnam’s exports of wood and wood products reached US$438.9 million, up 61.9% from the previous week. Wood furniture exports alone reached US$237.5 million, with the US remaining the leading market.

From September 3–10, 2026, global rubber prices showed mixed movements, rising in Japan and China but edging down in Thailand, amid market expectations related to El Niño, high oil prices, and adverse weather risks. In China, Vietnam remained the second-largest rubber supplier, accounting for 11.7% of the country’s total imports. However, in the first eight months of 2026, Vietnam’s rubber exports to China fell by 30.1% in volume and 20.8% in value year-on-year, while the average export price rose by 13.3% to USD 1,986 per tonne.

Global coffee prices moved in opposite directions during the week, with London Robusta rising 2% to USD 3,442/tonne, while New York Arabica fell 2.8% to 319.2 US cents/lb. The market was influenced by weather concerns in Vietnam and improved supply prospects in Brazil. Vietnam remained Thailand’s largest coffee supplier, accounting for 54.1% of its total coffee imports; however, Vietnam’s coffee exports to Thailand in the first seven months of 2026 reached 23,900 tonnes worth USD 178.4 million, down 3.9% in volume and 7% in value year-on-year.

From 27 August to 4 September 2026, rubber prices showed mixed movements across major markets: RSS3 futures fell 1.9% in Japan, while prices rose 0.6% in Thailand and 2.6% in China, supported partly by higher oil prices. In the first eight months of 2026, Vietnam exported 947,000 tonnes of rubber worth USD 1.88 billion, down 15.2% in volume and 5.1% in value year-on-year; meanwhile, Malaysia emerged as Vietnam’s fourth-largest rubber export market, with exports rising strongly in the first seven months.

In the first eight months of 2026, Vietnam’s exports of wood and wood products reached USD 11.8 billion, up 6% year-on-year. Exports to Japan alone totaled USD 1.48 billion, up 5.3%, with wood pellets remaining the largest export item at USD 534.5 million. On the import side, Vietnam’s imports of raw wood during September 1–8, 2026 were valued at USD 88 million, down 3.7% from the previous week. In the first seven months of 2026, oak imports reached 397,400 m³ worth USD 238.4 million, up 30.4% in volume and 39.3% in value year-on-year, with the United States remaining the largest supplier.

From 27 August to 3 September 2026, global coffee prices fell sharply, with Robusta down 5.9% to USD 3,376/tonne and Arabica down 8.2% to 328.4 US cents/lb, mainly due to increased supply from Brazil and stronger exports from Vietnam. In the first eight months of 2026, Vietnam exported 1.33 million tonnes of coffee worth USD 6.03 billion, up 13.7% in volume but down 8.6% in value; exports to the U.S. in the first seven months reached 84,900 tonnes worth USD 364.4 million, up 36.4% and 5.9%, respectively, year-on-year.

From 25 August to 3 September 2026, Vietnam’s exports of wood and wood products reached USD 465.7 million, up 3.6% from the previous week; notably, exports to the Netherlands reached USD 124.5 million in the first eight months of 2026, up 110% year-on-year. On the import side, Vietnam’s imports of wood raw materials totaled USD 91.38 million, down 4.6% from the previous week; imports from the U.S. in the first eight months reached 1.35 million m³, valued at USD 538 million, up 53.6% in volume and 45.5% in value year-on-year.