Green coffee prices, supply chains, and sourcing strategies for roasters and distributors in the GCC and MENA in 2026. Practical guidance from a Dubai-based trader.
The Market Has Changed. Has Your Sourcing Strategy?
If you've been buying green coffee the same way for the past three years, 2026 is a good time to reassess. Between ongoing volatility in Arabica futures, Vietnam's Robusta supply dynamics, and freight disruptions affecting CIF pricing into Jebel Ali, the assumptions that worked in 2022 or 2023 don't all hold today.
This post breaks down what's actually happening in the green coffee market right now, and what it means practically for roasters and distributors buying into the GCC and MENA.
Arabica Prices: Still Elevated, But Watch for Corrections
Arabica futures have been trading at multi-year highs through late 2025 and into 2026, driven primarily by two consecutive below-average Brazil crops and strong institutional demand. However, early signals from Brazil's 2026/27 crop cycle suggest a potential recovery — which historically triggers sharp price corrections in the C-market.
What this means for buyers: if you're purchasing Colombian or Ethiopian Arabica for Q3 2026 and beyond, locking in prices now or building modest forward coverage could protect your margin. Waiting for the correction may save money short-term but risks supply gaps if the recovery crop underdelivers.
Robusta: The Practical Choice for Blenders
Vietnam SC18 Wet Polish Robusta remains one of the best value plays in the current market. While Robusta futures have also risen from their 2023 lows, the price differential versus Arabica is still significant — and for espresso blenders, the performance-to-cost ratio is hard to ignore.
At MRGT, we've seen increasing enquiries from UAE and Saudi roasters looking to increase their Robusta ratio in house blends — not to cut quality, but because well-sourced SC18 Wet Polish genuinely contributes body, crema, and consistency that supports a strong espresso. Done right, it's not a compromise.
Logistics Into GCC: What's Driving CIF Costs
Freight rates into Jebel Ali and King Abdullah Port have stabilised somewhat after the Red Sea disruptions of 2024, but they haven't returned to pre-2022 levels. For container buyers, this means:
• For Brazilian coffee, request a current shipment schedule to your agreed destination; timing depends on the lot, loading date and route.
• For Vietnamese coffee, confirm lot readiness and the carrier schedule before treating an origin shipment as an urgent-restocking option.
• For Ethiopian and Colombian coffee, confirm the shipment schedule and applicable export documentation for the proposed lot.
For buyers managing tight roasting schedules, compare confirmed lot readiness, available shipment windows and destination requirements. No origin should be assumed to offer faster replenishment without checking the specific route and shipment.
Practical Steps for Q3 2026 Purchasing
Based on current market conditions, here's what we're recommending to our container buyers:
• Arabica buyers: consider splitting your Q3 volume between a forward contract and a spot purchase — don't go 100% spot in this market
• Robusta buyers: ask about current Vietnam SC18 Wet Polish lot availability and specifications before planning replenishment.
• Mixed blenders: for a premium filter or single-origin programme, assess the proposed Ethiopian lot against your sensory requirements and sample approval.
• All buyers: request updated spec sheets with every lot — moisture content variation has been wider than usual this season
Talk to Us
Purchasing information updated 21 October 2026. The market commentary above reflects the original publication on 6 May 2026.
MRGT’s UAE operation supplies green coffee by the container. Contact our Dubai team with your preferred origin, grade, quantity and destination. For UAE orders, delivery ends at the agreed customs warehouse or port; discuss onward movement with your receiving team.
Current lot availability, quotations, timing and shipment responsibilities are confirmed for each order. Review our wholesale terms and logistics.
Send your current requirements directly on WhatsApp: wa.me/971569727635.
MRGT — Mehran Reisi General Trading L.L.C. | info@mrgt.co | mrgt.co
For buyers in the UAE and the GCC: see how MRGT works as a green coffee supplier in the UAE, from UAE stock or shipped from origin.
A sourcing brief your team can use
A useful sourcing brief connects the coffee specification with the receiving plan. Include your preferred origin and preparation, the role of the coffee in your roasting programme, container quantity, destination and required arrival window. Ask for the proposed lot's specification and discuss samples before confirming suitability. Make clear which documentation your receiving team needs so it can be checked before shipment is agreed.
MRGT's minimum order is one 20-foot container. For the origins listed in the catalogue, request confirmation of UAE availability rather than assuming stock is on hand. MRGT also books direct shipment from origin to the customer's destination, with route and terms confirmed for each order. Treat previous transit examples as historical context: ask for the actual shipment schedule, named delivery point and responsibilities for the route under discussion.
Build your green coffee container enquiry · Check origins and request UAE availability
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