Papua New Guinea’s agricultural export sector marked a significant breakthrough in May 2025 with the country’s first-ever coffee shipment to Dubai. The landmark consignment—comprising 121 bags of premium green bean coffee and weighing 7.3 tonnes—was airlifted via Emirates SkyCargo from Lae, in Morobe Province, to the United Arab Emirates.
The shipment represents a major milestone for PNG’s coffee industry, which has long been recognised for the high quality and unique flavour profile of its beans but has struggled with inconsistent supply chains and limited international market access. The entry into the Middle Eastern market signals new growth potential and a broader effort to revitalise the country’s underperforming agricultural exports.
Prime Minister James Marape hailed the shipment as a pivotal moment in PNG’s economic transformation. “This is the start of commercialising agriculture in a way that delivers real value to our farmers and our economy,” he said. “We must now look beyond subsistence and traditional markets, and become competitive players in the global value chain.”
The export was coordinated through the Department of Agriculture and Livestock in collaboration with the Investment Promotion Authority. Local producer Protrade Pacific led the initiative in partnership with a UAE-based buyer, establishing a valuable trade link between PNG and the Gulf region. Officials say the deal was more than two years in the making, involving negotiations, quality certification, and logistics planning.
Coffee is PNG’s second-largest agricultural export after palm oil, yet much of it is sold in raw or semi-processed form to limited destinations. With this new route to Dubai, exporters hope to tap into one of the world’s fastest-growing premium coffee markets.
Agriculture Minister Aiye Tambua noted that the government is actively supporting efforts to diversify exports. “Following this success, we are looking at vanilla, cocoa, and other high-value commodities to follow a similar path,” he said.
Further shipments to Dubai and other destinations in the Middle East are already being planned, with exporters eyeing both retail and hospitality segments as promising targets. If sustained, the breakthrough could signal a turning point for smallholder coffee growers and PNG’s rural economy.
