African coffee finds growing market in China

Africa's expanding trade with China, which is now one of the fastest growing markets for African coffee, was highlighted at the 22nd African Fine Coffees Conference and Exhibition in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa.

The three-day event, which closed on Friday, united stakeholders from the coffee value chain, including farmers, exporters, and international buyers, to discuss critical issues such as quality, sustainability, and market access.

China's consumption of African coffee is rapidly increasing, thanks to urban lifestyles and a burgeoning cafe culture.

Traders say Chinese consumers are showing a preference for specialty beans, particularly Ethiopian and East African varieties, which are gaining traction in cafes and retail outlets.

This exhibition has facilitated partnerships between Chinese buyers and African exporters in various areas, including logistics, roasting, and branding.

"Last year, we have like more than 400 containers from Ethiopian coffee to China to support the market in China, because everyone knows that the Chinese coffee industry is a boom there. More and more clients, they will pick Ethiopian coffee in their SOE (single origin espresso), in their recipe, in their signature drink. So more and more people fall in love with the Ethiopian coffee," said Annie Yip, a coffee trader.

This growth is not isolated to Ethiopia. Other African nations, such as Uganda, are also enhancing their coffee exports to China, boosted by government-led promotion and direct market engagement.

"The Chinese market is extremely important for Uganda. Coffee exports to China have increased by 270 percent in the past two years. Uganda has grown as a very big exporter of coffee to China, and we want this market to grow even farther. In fact, we have our office in China. It's promoting coffee," said Gerald Kyalo, Ugandan Ministry of Agriculture Commissioner.

Analysts said that the evolving Africa-China coffee trade signifies a broader economic shift towards stronger South-South cooperation, allowing African producers to view coffee as a strategic bridge in long-term trade partnerships.

African coffee finds growing market in China

The 24th Mawei-Matsu Lantern Festival, a national-level intangible cultural heritage event, opened on Wednesday in Fuzhou, capital city of east China's Fujian Province, to greet the Year of the Horse, which begins on Feb 17.

The festival is underway at a shipbuilding cultural park, where brilliant lantern installations are artfully integrated into the century-old remains of the former shipbuilding industry, creating a striking contrast that blends maritime heritage with festive light art.

Lanterns shaped like horses and the first steamship built by the shipyard, stand alongside a variety of intricate designs, blending holiday spirit with maritime history.

"This is my first visit here. I have seen lanterns shaped like fish and horses, and I like them very much," said a kid.

The festival originated from the Lantern Festival customs shared between Mawei and Mazu. It is the earliest and now most regularized two-way exchange activity between the two places, with the mutual presentation of lanterns serving as one of its most distinctive traditional features.

The celebration is recognized as China's first cross-Strait national intangible cultural heritage project. In 2024, it, along with the Chinese New Year, was added to the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Running till March 8, the 33-day celebration serves as a luminous bridge connecting Fuzhou's Mawei district and Matsu.

"I've been to the festival four or five times, and it has left a deep impression on me. The festival gets better every year, with very distinctive features. We hope to spend more time together with our compatriots from Matsu," said Zhao Ping, a visitor.

"We've incorporated elements of shipbuilding culture, the local culture, and maritime culture into the lantern design. We welcome everyone to Fuzhou and celebrate the Chinese New Year here," said Lin Hebin, deputy director of the Bureau of Culture, Sports and Tourism in Mawei District.

Mawei-Matsu Lantern Festival opens in east China, honoring cross-Strait cultural heritage

Mawei-Matsu Lantern Festival opens in east China, honoring cross-Strait cultural heritage