Green coffee is traded internationally as a differential — a fixed amount above or below the relevant ICE futures price. For Robusta coffees we use the ICE Robusta London contract (USD/MT), and for Arabica coffees we use the ICE 'C' New York contract (USC/lb). The differential is agreed at contract signing, but the final outright price is only fixed when the buyer "calls" the market — meaning they instruct us to fix against the prevailing futures price on a specific day. This gives buyers flexibility to fix when market conditions suit them.

These are delivery terms (basis) that define where cost and risk transfer from seller to buyer. FOT (Free on Truck) means the price is at origin — the buyer arranges and pays all freight from there. FOB (Free on Board) means the coffee is loaded onto a vessel at the export port — we include the cost of transport to Mombasa, Djibouti or Dar es Salaam depending on origin. CIF (Cost, Insurance, Freight) means we deliver to your named destination port — freight and insurance are included in the price. SPOT means the coffee is already physically available in a warehouse at the destination — no shipping wait, immediate delivery possible.

On FOT, FOB and CIF contracts, the fixing period is agreed at contract signing. All our contracts are based on the European Contract for Coffee (ECC) — please refer to the ECC for full fixing window terms and delivery conditions. You can download the ECC at: https://coffeetradelink.com/assets/docs/ecc.pdf. We will confirm the fix by email with the final outright price as soon as it is executed. For SPOT lots, we can offer a fixed outright price directly — contact us for details.

A positive differential (e.g. +45.00 USD/MT) means the coffee trades at a premium above the ICE price — typical for high-quality or scarce grades such as Uganda Screen 18 or Bugisu AA. A negative differential (e.g. -85.00 USD/MT) means the coffee trades at a discount below ICE — common for commercial grades such as Screen 12 or Triage. The outright price is always ICE + differential, so even a negative differential results in a positive price when added to the ICE futures level.

Differentials reflect supply, demand, quality and origin-specific market conditions. They can change weekly or even daily in volatile periods. The differentials shown on this portal are updated by our trading team and represent our current offer. We recommend using our Differential Calculator with the live ICE price to get an up-to-date outright indication, and contacting us directly for a firm offer before contracting.

No — all prices and differentials shown on this portal are indicative and subject to final confirmation. Market conditions and availability can change between the time you view the portal and the time we confirm a contract. Once you submit an inquiry, our team will revert with a firm offer valid for a defined period.

A standard 20-foot container (FCL — Full Container Load) holds approximately 275–333 bags of green coffee depending on bag weight and stacking method. For our standard 60kg bags, a 20ft container holds 333 bags — approximately 19.98 MT net weight. The availability calendar on our portal shows container slots per month per grade. We also offer part loads (less than FCL) for SPOT lots — contact us for pricing.

Each grade shows a 12-month availability strip running from June to May. A green cell shows the number of FCL container slots available in that month. A red cell means that month is sold out. The number in each green cell is the quantity of 20ft containers we can offer for that shipment month. Zero or red means no availability — please contact us as additional stock may become available.

Yes — for SPOT lots we offer coffee by the bag. A premium applies for sub-FCL quantities, reflecting additional handling costs. The premium tiers are shown on each SPOT lot: larger quantities attract a lower premium, and a full FCL (333 bags) carries no premium. Contact us for outright per-bag pricing on SPOT lots.

For FOT, FOB and CIF forward contracts the minimum is one FCL (333 bags / ~20 MT). For SPOT lots we can supply as few as 1 bag, subject to the applicable bag premium. We are happy to discuss multi-container programmes for buyers with regular volume requirements.

Our availability calendar shows positions up to 12 months forward. We can discuss forward programmes beyond 12 months — contact us to discuss your requirements. Early booking is recommended for high-demand grades such as Uganda Screen 18 and Bugisu AA, which sell out quickly.

Uganda and Kenya coffees ship from Mombasa port, Kenya. Ethiopian coffees ship from Djibouti port. Tanzanian coffees ship from Dar es Salaam port. Transit times to European destinations typically range from 17 to 22 days sea freight. US destinations take 26–40 days depending on the coast.

From FOT Kampala: allow 5–10 days overland to Mombasa (including customs clearance and port delays), then approximately 17–22 days sea freight to European ports, or 26–30 days to US East Coast ports. Total from order confirmation to arrival in Hamburg or Antwerp is typically 22–32 days. Our Shipment Timeline tool on each grade page gives estimated totals per destination.

Standard shipping documentation includes: Bill of Lading, Certificate of Origin, Phytosanitary Certificate, Weight Certificate, Coffee Export Certificate (Uganda Coffee Development Authority or equivalent), and insurance certificate (for CIF shipments). Additional documents such as ICO certificates, organic certificates, or specific quality analysis reports can be arranged on request.

For CIF shipments we deliver to the named port — import customs clearance at destination is the buyer's responsibility. We can recommend freight forwarders and customs agents at major European and US ports on request. For FOT and FOB shipments the buyer arranges all freight and customs from the named point.

We currently hold physical stock at bonded warehouses in Antwerp (Belgium), Hamburg (Germany) and Barcelona (Spain). SPOT availability at each location is shown on the portal. Additional locations may be added — contact us if you require stock at a specific port not currently listed.

Uganda Robusta is graded by screen size. Screen 18 (≥18/64 inch) is the premium grade — large, uniform beans with excellent roasting characteristics. Screen 15 is a mid-grade, and Screen 12 is the commercial lower grade. BHP 1199 refers to Black, Heat, and Primary defects not exceeding 1,199 per sample — a specific commercial specification. Black Bean is a mono-defect grade used in blending and industrial applications.

Drugar stands for Dry Uganda Arabica — a naturally processed (sun-dried) Arabica coffee from Uganda. Wugar stands for Washed Uganda Arabica — a wet-processed Arabica. Both originate primarily from the Mt. Elgon and Rwenzori regions. Drugar tends to have more fruit-forward and wine-like characteristics, while Wugar is cleaner and brighter. Drugar Premium is a higher-grade selection of naturally processed Uganda Arabica.

In washed (wet) processing, the coffee cherry's fruit is removed before drying — producing a cleaner, brighter cup with more defined acidity. In natural (dry) processing, the whole cherry is dried with the fruit intact — imparting heavier body, fruit sweetness and more complex or wine-like flavours. Natural coffees typically have a longer shelf life as the parchment acts as a protective layer during drying.

Yes — we can arrange pre-shipment samples (PSS) for evaluation before contract signing, and approval samples from specific lots before shipment. Sample availability varies by grade and season. Please contact us directly to request samples, specifying the grade, quantity and your preferred delivery address.

All coffees are shipped against agreed quality specifications confirmed in the contract. Phytosanitary certificates and official weight certificates accompany every shipment. In case of quality disputes, we follow the standard arbitration procedures of the European Coffee Federation (ECF) or the Green Coffee Association (GCA) as applicable to the contract terms.

Certification availability varies by origin, season and grade. Commonly available certifications include Organic (EU and USDA), Rainforest Alliance, UTZ, and Fair Trade. Please enquire at the time of contracting as certified lots are limited and priced at a premium to conventional. Some grades are available in conventional only.

Standard payment terms are discussed and agreed at contract signing. Common arrangements include payment against documents (CAD), letter of credit (LC) at sight, or wire transfer (TT) prior to or against shipping documents depending on the relationship and volume. First-time buyers are typically asked for payment in advance or LC. Established buyers may qualify for open account terms. Please contact us to discuss terms suitable for your business.

All contracts are denominated in US Dollars (USD). Robusta prices are expressed in USD per metric tonne (USD/MT). Arabica prices are expressed in US cents per pound (USC/lb), which is the standard for the ICE 'C' contract. We do not currently contract in EUR or other currencies, though we can discuss hedging arrangements for large volume buyers.

Our CIF and SPOT prices include a financing cost to reflect the cost of capital tied up between shipment and payment. This is expressed as a percentage per month and is applied to the FOB value (for CIF) or the full cost including storage (for SPOT). The current rate is shown on our Base Costs page and is factored into all CIF and SPOT differentials displayed on the portal and in the Differential Calculator.

The portal is for information and price discovery. To place an order: browse the current offer, use the "Request offer" button on any grade to send us your requirements, or contact us directly via WhatsApp, Telegram or email. Our team will revert with a firm offer. Once agreed, we issue a contract for countersigning. No purchase can be made directly through the portal — all contracts are concluded bilaterally between buyer and seller.

We aim to respond to all inquiries within one business day. For urgent requests or time-sensitive market conditions, WhatsApp or Telegram are the fastest channels. Email inquiries are typically answered within 24 hours on business days.

Yes — we supply buyers globally. We have experience shipping to Europe, the United States, the Middle East and Asia. CIF destinations shown on the portal cover major European and US ports, and we can quote additional destinations on request. Import regulations, tariffs and documentation requirements vary by country — our team can assist with guidance.

Origin visits can be arranged for established buyers or for buyers committing to significant volume. We have relationships with washing stations, mills and cooperatives in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Ethiopia and can facilitate farm and processing facility visits. Please contact us well in advance as arrangements require coordination with our origin partners.

The Buyer Portal at portal.coffeetradelink.com is a secure private platform available to contracted buyers. Once a purchase contract is signed, you receive a personal login that gives you access to your shipment tracker, trade documents, contract details and logistics information — all in one place. No more chasing documents by email or asking for shipment updates.

Access is by invitation only. Once your contract is confirmed, our trading team will create a portal account and send your login credentials by email. You will be prompted to set a new password on your first login. If you have not received your credentials or are having trouble accessing the portal, please contact us at trade@coffeetradelink.com.

Click the "Forgot your password?" link on the portal login page at portal.coffeetradelink.com. Enter your registered email address and we will send you a password reset link. The link is valid for one hour. If you do not receive the email, please check your spam folder or contact us directly.

The portal shows all your active and past shipments. For each shipment you can see: a visual shipment tracker showing the current stage (e.g. Coffee loaded, Vessel departed, In transit, Arrived), your contract details including grade, basis, delivery month, fixing month and agreed differential, vessel and logistics information including B/L number and estimated arrival dates, and all trade documents available for download.

Standard documents provided through the portal include: Contract, Bill of Lading, Certificate of Origin, Phytosanitary Certificate, Weight Certificate, Insurance Certificate (CIF shipments), ICO Certificate and Quality Analysis Report. Documents appear as pending until uploaded by our team, then become immediately available for one-click download. The exact document set depends on the basis and origin of your shipment.

Shipment status and logistics information is updated manually by our trading team as events occur. While we aim to keep the portal current, there may be a short delay between a real-world event and its reflection on the portal. For time-sensitive updates, please contact us directly via WhatsApp or Telegram for the fastest response.

Yes. The portal is served entirely over HTTPS with TLS encryption. Access is invitation-only — there is no public registration. Each buyer account is individual and can only access its own shipments and documents. Sessions expire automatically after 8 hours of inactivity. We recommend logging out when you have finished, particularly on shared devices.

Yes — the portal is fully responsive and works on smartphones and tablets as well as desktop computers. You can access it via any modern browser at portal.coffeetradelink.com. No app download is required.