Tanzania 2026 Harvest Update for Arabica and Robusta

This article at a glance 

• Tanzania’s 2026 crop is expected to be 4–5% larger than last season, as new plantations enter production and established farms improve yields.  
• The Arabica harvest is around 40% complete, while Robusta is at 80–90% completion, with quality remaining consistent with last season. 
• Sucafina partners with AMCOS through our Loyalty Program in Tanzania, strengthening cooperative capacity and promoting community wellbeing. 

Arabica Outlook

Tanzania’s Arabica harvest is currently around 40% complete, with most farms approaching peak picking over the next two to three weeks.

Volumes are tracking slightly above last season, with overall production expected to increase by 4–5%, in line with our forecast. This growth reflects both new plantations reaching their first and second harvests, and improved yields from older farms over the past three years as the market rally incentivized better farm management.

Early quality assessments suggest a profile consistent with expectations. “What we've analyzed so far looks similar to last season's. There are no red flags, and we expect the crop to deliver decent quality overall,” says Kihara Victor, Trading Manager at Cotacof (Sucafina in Tanzania).

Robusta Outlook  

The Robusta harvest is more advanced, with 80–90% of cherry picked, though only 25–30% has been commercialized so far. The main focus now is on drying the coffee to be ready for auctions.

Quality is expected to remain consistent with last year, provided that processing timelines are maintained and drying capacity keeps pace with incoming cherry.

Processing Capacity: Challenges and Opportunities

Higher volumes are creating pressure across the supply chain. While producers face labor shortages during peak harvest, processors are running washing stations around the clock and building more drying tables.

“The standout of this year’s harvest is the scale,” Kihara says. “Cooperatives are running washing stations at full capacity – and some are over capacity. This is something we haven’t seen to this extent in Tanzania before, even with steady volume growth in recent years. It reflects the combined impact of new plantations coming online, alongside improving yields on older farms.”

Support from the Tanzania Coffee Board and exporters is enabling cooperatives to expand their drying capacity, manage throughput and maintain quality. “It's a real signal that infrastructure investment will need to keep pace with production growth in coming seasons,” Kihara notes. 

Strengthening Resilience in Coffee Communities

Sucafina continues to invest in projects that help farmers, cooperatives and communities in Tanzania build resilience. We are now working with 15 AMCOS (Agricultural Marketing Cooperative Societies) through our Loyalty Program, which incentivizes improvements in yield, quality and farming practices. 

With a partner, we launched a new pilot project to support four AMCOS with prefinancing for inputs and working capital during the season. “The aim is to help cooperatives strengthen their operations, improve access to finance and ensure they can continue to purchase coffee from farmers and run washing stations to the highest standards,” Kihara explains. “The funds are already being distributed, and we plan to expand this project.” 

In 2026, we also partnered with five AMCOS in the Loyalty Program to fund key community projects. These initiatives include upgrades to hospital beds and improvements to local schools, including building bathrooms, all helping to enhance community wellbeing. 

To ensure continued access to responsibly sourced coffees, we expect to complete IMPACT re-verification this year, as well as Rainforest Alliance and C.A.F.E. Practices verification. 

Tanzania’s 2026 harvest reflects a sector in transition. While rising production is placing demands on supply chain infrastructure, early indications suggest these challenges are being managed effectively, with quality expected to remain stable.

If you’re planning to book coffees from Tanzania or support our sustainability initiatives, now is a good time to reach out to your trader to discuss availability and booking options.