Mondulkiri Coffee 2026: Variety Research, Supply Gap and Fine Robusta

Quick answer: Mondulkiri coffee news in 2026 has three threads: a research collaboration to identify coffee varieties suited to the province, provincial and NGO partnerships to strengthen the production chain, and renewed coverage of a CQI Fine Robusta classification first reported in 2024 for Mondulkiri Robusta processed by Kofi Company. The supply gap remains large. The Cambodia Coffee Association says the country needs about 20,000 tonnes of coffee a year while local production is just over 1,000 tonnes, so Mondulkiri lots remain small and each one needs individual evaluation.

What was reported

• 25 May 2026 (Khmer Times): Mondulkiri's provincial agriculture department joined development organisations and private-sector partners to strengthen the coffee production chain, with the stated aim of reducing Cambodia's heavy reliance on imported coffee. Agriculture experts quoted in the report said Robusta is more resilient and easier to grow under local conditions, while Arabica sells for more but thrives above about 800 metres.
• 29 May 2026 (Coffeefactz): Recapped the Phnom Penh Post's reporting that Mondulkiri Robusta was rated Fine Robusta by the Coffee Quality Institute. That Phnom Penh Post article dates from August 2024, not 2026: it reported that the province's Robusta beans were 'recently rated' Fine Robusta by CQI. Kofi Company, which processed the beans, described it as the first time a Cambodian coffee had received that classification and pointed to a CQI database listing. The rating therefore relates to Kofi-processed Mondulkiri beans, not to every lot in the province.
• June 2026 (ASEAN Now): Indigenous farmers in Busra commune were reported to have sold nearly 700 tonnes of coffee beans to Kiri Coffee, one of the country's largest roasters.
• 25 June 2026 (Khmer Times): The Cambodia Coffee Association and the Prek Leap National Institute of Agriculture launched a collaborative research initiative in Mondulkiri to study and develop coffee varieties suited to the region.

The numbers, with caveats

Khmer Times describes Mondulkiri as suitable for coffee because of a cooler climate, fertile volcanic soil and elevations of roughly 500 to 1,200 metres, supporting both Robusta and Arabica. It cites Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries figures of around 800 hectares of coffee as of last year with an average yield of 2.36 tonnes per hectare, and separately says Mondulkiri currently has more than 580 hectares.

Estimates differ by source and year. The 2024 Phnom Penh Post article reported that only 346 hectares were being harvested, at an average yield of 2.096 tonnes per hectare. Coffeefactz, citing a separate Phnom Penh Post report, gave 2023 figures of about 725 tonnes a year from 525 hectares with 365 farming families. These are not directly comparable: they come from different dates and sources, and the excerpts we could access do not say whether yields are green coffee or cherry, so they should not be multiplied into a production estimate. The same applies to comparing the Busra sale of nearly 700 tonnes with the 1,000-tonne supply figure, which may not use the same weight basis.

The demand side is clearer. The Cambodia Coffee Association's figure of about 20,000 tonnes of annual consumption against just over 1,000 tonnes of local supply means most coffee consumed in Cambodia is imported. That import dependence is the stated reason behind the provincial partnerships: the policy aim is to build a domestic high-value coffee industry, not only to serve export buyers.

Why variety research matters

Most of Mondulkiri's plantings are Robusta, as the Ministry has said since at least 2023. Variety choice influences yield, disease and drought tolerance, and cup profile, so a research programme aimed at region-suited varieties could affect how consistent and how scalable future lots are.

The realistic timeline is long. Coffee trees take several years to reach full production, so variety trials are multi-year efforts, and we found no published results yet. For now, the research is a signal of direction, not a change to what a buyer can expect from this year's lots.

For a wider look at the harvest calendar that determines when lots are available, see When Is Coffee Harvested in Mondulkiri?.

What buyers should do with this news

1. Ask for lot-level facts. Variety, process, elevation, harvest date and moisture should come with each lot. A province name is an origin reference, not a quality guarantee.
2. Treat Fine Robusta as a lot claim. A classification for one company's beans does not mean every lot qualifies. Ask which lot was evaluated, by whom, when and with what score. For how the term is used, see Fine Robusta vs Arabica: What Buyers Should Understand.
3. Plan for small volumes. With supply this tight relative to demand, request pre-shipment samples early and expect limited quantities.
4. Watch for varietal changes. If new varieties enter commercial plantings, cup profiles may shift; keep a reference sample from each season.

Signals to watch over the next year

• Whether the Cambodia Coffee Association and Prek Leap National Institute of Agriculture publish trial design, varieties tested or first results.
• Whether further CQI or other lot-level ratings for Cambodian Robusta are published with lot counts, scores and grader details, so buyers can check them.
• Whether large domestic roasters continue buying at scale from Mondulkiri growers, which would keep more of the crop in the domestic market.
• Whether official hectare and tonnage statistics are updated, so that the mix of provincial, national and older figures can be reconciled.

Frequently asked questions

How much coffee does Mondulkiri produce?

Reports give different figures from different sources and years, from 346 harvested hectares in 2024 to more than 580 hectares in 2026 coverage. The excerpts we read do not give a clear provincial tonnage for 2026.

Is Mondulkiri coffee Fine Robusta?

In 2024 the Phnom Penh Post reported that Mondulkiri Robusta processed by Kofi Company was rated Fine Robusta by CQI. Fine Robusta is assessed per lot, so individual lots still need evaluation.

What is the new Mondulkiri coffee research about?

The Cambodia Coffee Association and the Prek Leap National Institute of Agriculture are studying and developing coffee varieties suited to the region.

Limitations

Khmer Times pages blocked automated access, so several 2026 figures here come from search excerpts and secondary summaries. We did not open the CQI database entry cited by Kofi, so we cannot state its score or date. Figures may differ from official statistics; verify with the Ministry or the Cambodia Coffee Association.

Sources

• Khmer Times, 'Mondulkiri pushes coffee potential through partnerships' (25 May 2026): https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501905093/mondulkiri-pushes-coffee-potential-through-partnerships/
• Khmer Times, 'New research initiative to boost Mondulkiri coffee' (25 June 2026): https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501926824/new-research-initiative-to-boost-mondulkiri-coffee/
• Phnom Penh Post, 'Mondulkiri coffee farmers urged to expand after Fine Robusta recognition' (16 August 2024): https://phnompenhpost.com/business/mondulkiri-coffee-farmers-urged-to-expand-after-fine-robusta-recognition/
• Kofi Company, 'Fine Robusta recognition from Coffee Quality Institute': https://kofi.com.kh/post/fine-robusta-recognition-from-coffee-quality-intistute
• Coffeefactz, 'Mondulkiri coffee partnerships aim to scale Fine Robusta' (29 May 2026): https://coffeefactz.com/mondulkiri-coffee-fine-robusta/
• ASEAN Now, 'Coffee boom lifts Mondulkiri farmers' (June 2026): https://aseannow.com/topic/1396243-coffee-boom-lifts-mondulkiri-farmers
• Phnom Penh Post, 'Agriculture ministry pushes robusta cultivation' (23 August 2023): https://phnompenhpost.com/business/agriculture-ministry-pushes-robusta-cultivation/