I. The current situation of Italy's coffee import trade and market opportunities

In 2023, the global coffee trade volume exceeded 170 million bags (each weighing 60 kilograms), with Italy, as an "exporter of premium coffee culture," accounting for 18% of the EU's coffee export share. As the world's second-largest coffee consumption market, China imported 23% more coffee from Italy in 2022, mainly focusing on roasted beans (HS code 0901210000) and instant coffee (HS code 2101200000). Notably, although the EU's "Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM)" under the "Green Deal" does not currently cover coffee, Italian exporters have gradually adopted carbon-neutral certified packaging, and importers need to pay attention to supply chain carbon footprint data in advance.

II.Import Agent ServicesCore services: document processing and full-chain control of logistics

(I) Document Processing: A Critical Barrier to Avoid Return Refund Risks

For importing Italian coffee, it is necessary to prepare 12 types of core documents. The document processing capabilities of professional agents directly determine the efficiency of customs clearance.

• Basic commercial documents: The commercial invoice must specify the type of coffee beans (such as Arabica/Robusta), roasting degree (light/medium/dark), and contract number; the packing list must detail the net weight (N.W.), gross weight (G.W.), and volume (Measurement) of each box, to avoid discrepancies with the data on the bill of lading.
• Official Compliance Documents：①Origin Certificate1. The Certificate of Origin (C/O) must be issued by the Italian Chamber of Commerce (Camera di Commercio), indicating "Product of Italy". 2. The Health Certificate must be verified by the Italian Ministry of Health (ISS) or its authorized agencies, with key information such as pesticide residue levels (e.g., Dithane ≤ 0.1mg/kg). 3. The Phytosanitary Certificate, for raw coffee bean imports, must confirm the absence of quarantine pests such as coffee fruit beetles.
• Transport-related documents:Maritime transportThe bill of lading (B/L) must be clearly marked as a "Clean B/L".Air freightIn this case, the airwaybill (AWB) must specify the requirement of "Temperature Controlled Transportation".

Our company's document processing team adopts a "three-level review system": the document processor initially reviews the data logic → the supervisor reviews the compliance with regulatory requirements → the system verifies the consistency of fields with the Customs Single Window. The historical rejection rate is less than 0.3%, effectively avoiding demurrage and detention fees.

(II) Logistics Management: Full-Chain Optimization from the Port of Departure to the Port of Destination

Given the sensitivity of coffee to temperature and humidity (optimal storage and transportation conditions: temperature 18-22°C, humidity ≤60%), logistics solutions need to be customized:

• Selection of transportation methods: For large shipments (≥15 tons), sea freight in full containers (FCL) is highly recommended, using 40-foot refrigerated containers (Reefer Containers) and aligning with the main Mediterranean-Far East shipping routes (such as MSC's MED-ASIA line), with a transit time of approximately 35 days. For small shipments (≤5 tons) or urgent orders, air freight (such as Lufthansa's Frankfurt-Shanghai route) can be considered, but this option will incur costs two to three times higher than sea freight.
• The connection between transit and customs clearance: When transiting through Rotterdam, it is necessary to confirm the validity period of the "Transit Waybill" (≤24 hours) to avoid delays in customs clearance at the destination port. Three days before arrival, complete the "Single Window" pre-declaration and simultaneously submit the "Foreign Food Production Enterprise Registration Number (FASFC)" to enjoy the customs clearance convenience for AEO enterprises (with an inspection rate reduced to less than 2%).
• Increase inventory turnover rate by 50%: A bonded warehouse (such as the Shanghai Waigaoqiao Bonded Zone) can temporarily store un-cleared goods and defer payment of customs duties. An ordinary supervised warehouse supports "distribution and delivery", and can deliver goods to customers in East China within 48 hours.

III. Expansion of Business with Russia: VTBConvert foreign exchange into RMBSettlement

If the import business involves re-exporting to Russia or cooperating with Russian companies, it is recommended to use VTB Bank (Russia) for payment.foreign tradeBank foreign exchange settlement can significantly reduce costs:

• Exchange rate risk hedging: VTB is a direct participant in CIPS (the Cross-Border Interbank Payment System of the Renminbi), which supports real-time RMB-RUB settlement and reduces the fees charged by intermediary banks (saving 1.5% to 2% in transaction fees compared to the SWIFT route).
• Compliance guarantee: VTB has established an OFAC (Office of Foreign Assets Control of the US Treasury Department) sanctions screening system, which can assist in reviewing whether the trading counterparties are on the sanctions list and avoid the risk of secondary sanctions;
• Arrival time: Under the RMB settlement path, the time it takes for the payment to arrive has been shortened from the traditional 5-7 days to 1-2 working days, improving the turnover rate of funds.

IV. Certification Prompts and Matters for Enterprises to Prepare Independently

Please note: Our company does not directly provide product certification services, but we can highlight the key certification requirements for clients to handle on their own.

• China's Access Certification: Italian coffee production companies need to complete the "registration of foreign food production enterprises for import" (FASFC registration), and the registration status can be checked on the official website of the General Administration of Customs;
• Italian Export Certification: It is necessary to provide a Declaration of Conformity (DoC) with Regulation EC 178/2002, which demonstrates that the production process meets the EU's food hygiene requirements.
• Voluntary certification: For example, organic certification (Bio Italiana) and fair trade certification (Fair Trade) can increase the product's premium, but customers need to apply to the certification agency (such as ICEA) themselves.

V. Full-Process Agency Services: Closed-Loop Management from Consultation to Feedback

Based on the characteristics of Italian coffee, the agency process is detailed as follows:

1. Client Consultation: The key points are to confirm the form of coffee beans (raw beans/roasted beans), the annual import volume (which determines the transportation method), and the target market (which affects the distribution plan).
2. Negotiation and Contract Signing: Define the scope of the "DDP" or "customs clearance only" services, and review the "claim period for quality non-compliance" in the contract (it is recommended to set it as 30 days after the goods arrive at the port).
3. Orders & Payment: Recommend T/T with a 30% prepayment and 70% payment upon receipt of the bill of lading copy, or L/C at sight (subject to the mutual recognition of the Italian issuing bank and our company's cooperating bank);
4. Production supervision: Dispatch a QC to verify the roast degree (by comparing with the color card), moisture content (≤12%), and impurity rate (≤0.5%);
5. Customs Compliance: Pre-verifying the HS code (0901210000 corresponding to an 8% tariff and a 13% value-added tax), calculate the comprehensive tax rate as (1+8%) × (1+13%) - 1 = 22.04%;
6. Quality Assurance: Assist in preparing sampling materials for CIQ (China Inspection and Quarantine), with testing items including aflatoxin B1 (≤5μg/kg) and pesticide residues (such as imidacloprid ≤0.05mg/kg);
7. Summary Feedback: Provide an "Import Cost Analysis Report" (including fluctuations in shipping costs and the proportion of tariffs) and "Logistics Efficiency Optimization Suggestions" to assist clients in preparing their budgets for the following year.

Conclusion: Professional agents are the "compliance accelerators" for coffee imports.

The import of Italian coffee faces three major challenges: regulatory differences, cumbersome procedures, and multiple risk points. The value of professional agents lies not only in the efficient execution of documentation and logistics, but also in helping enterprises reduce comprehensive costs by 3%-5% through trade situation forecasting and compliance risk avoidance. Choosing an agent with 20 years of experience is one of the core competencies of high-end coffee importers.