Bolaven Coffee Cooperative Sees Significant Export Growth in 2025

Vientiane: The Bolaven Plateau Coffee Producers Cooperative (PCFC) exported 46 containers of coffee in 2025, comprising 40 containers of Arabica and six containers of Robusta, while also supplying the domestic market, according to sources from Champasak Province. According to Lao News Agency, for the 2025-2026 harvest season, the cooperative expects demand to reach 56 containers of Arabica and five containers of Robusta. Speaking at the cooperative's 19th Annual General Meeting for 2026, Sithong Phetlatsy, Chairman of PCFC, highlighted the organization's establishment on August 7, 2007. Initially known as the Bolaven Plateau Coffee Producers Association, it was created with the support of the Bolaven Plateau Agricultural Development Project (PAB), a joint initiative by the Lao and French governments. The cooperative was founded by smallholder coffee farmers committed to producing high-quality, chemical-free coffee across three districts of the Bolaven Plateau: Pakxong in Champasak Province, Laongam in Salav an Province, and Thateng in Sekong Province. PCFC is a 100 percent farmer-owned cooperative, and all of its coffee is certified under organic agriculture and Fair Trade standards. The cooperative also promotes sustainable farming by encouraging intercropping of coffee with fruit trees to preserve ecosystems and increase farmers' incomes. It currently has 484 member households, cultivating 1,611 hectares of Arabica and 371 hectares of Robusta coffee. PCFC operates its own coffee pulping centre, processing mill, organic fertilizer plant, and coffee roasting facility. It also works closely with domestic and international banks and financial institutions, enabling members to access stable markets and export coffee directly to roasters in Laos and overseas. Looking ahead, Sithong said the cooperative plans to expand its membership and production capacity while strengthening both domestic and international market access. It will also continue providing training, technical support, and knowledge-sharing to members , management, and staff to improve production standards and organizational capacity. He said the cooperative aims to contribute to building a self-reliant and resilient economy while increasing farmers' incomes and improving their quality of life, with the long-term goal of becoming a model cooperative at the local, national, and regional levels. Sithong also encouraged members to maintain high-quality production standards and work together to steadily increase productivity and income. For the current season, the cooperative is offering 125,000 kip per kilogram for Arabica green beans and 92,000 kip per kilogram for Robusta dry parchment.