The Qingdao Area of the China (Shandong) Pilot Free Trade Zone (Qingdao FTZ) hosted an exchange event for Chinese and Brazilian coffee enterprises on March 27. This event marked the inauguration of two key facilities: the Brazilian Specialty Coffee China (Qingdao) Promotion Base and the Qingdao Free Trade Zone Coffee Industry International Expansion Base.

Qingdao FTZ and the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex-Brasil) organized the summit to promote specialty coffee and foster deeper industry cooperation. Participants included representatives from the Brazilian Specialty Coffee Association, 12 leading Brazilian coffee producers, and over 40 domestic industry organizations.

Qingdao FTZ sees the coffee industry as a key part of its modern light industry and consumer goods sector, aiming to build an integrated ecosystem that includes trade, processing, warehousing, culture, and branding.

Supporting this vision, the zone offers 1.1 million square meters of bonded storage and 3.5 million square meters of non-bonded storage, with advanced climate-controlled warehouses and cold-chain facilities for delicate commodities like coffee. Qingdao Port's extensive shipping network provides direct maritime links to major producers in South America and Africa, ensuring a reliable logistics network for bulk coffee trading.

In January, Qingdao opened its first bonded warehouse for green coffee beans within the zone. Imported beans can now be stored under bonded status, with customs clearance and taxes deferred until the transaction is completed. This model reduces capital pressures and logistics costs for enterprises while improving trade flexibility.

The newly established bases will leverage Qingdao FTZ's bonded policies and logistical advantages to become premier hubs for showcasing, distributing, and promoting Brazilian specialty coffee. They will also support Chinese coffee brands aiming to enter the Brazilian market, strengthening bilateral cooperation and advancing the China-Brazil coffee industry partnership.

The inauguration of the Brazilian Specialty Coffee China (Qingdao) Promotion Base and the Qingdao Free Trade Zone Coffee Industry International Expansion Base is held on March 27. [Photo/WeChat account: qingdaozimao]