The Hongqiao International Coffee Harbor hosts a Brazil Coffee Day event. [Photo/WeChat ID: hongqiaoshangwuqu]
Shanghai's Hongqiao International Coffee Harbor is promoting Silk Road e-commerce by leveraging digital technology and fostering international collaboration.
As a key player in Shanghai's coffee industry, the harbor is reshaping coffee commerce through its comprehensive digital platform and blockchain innovations.
This hub for the coffee trade has gathered over 100 brands from 60 countries, including 47 Belt and Road partner countries and 15 Silk Road e-commerce partners.
It facilitates the trade of coffee beans from major producers like Brazil, Ethiopia, Kenya, Vietnam, Peru, and Jamaica, bringing the entire coffee lifecycle — from production to finance — under one roof.
The harbor's digital platform, launched in May last year, offers online services for the coffee industry, including supply-demand matchmaking, supply chain services, and industry news. With 109 companies and over 2,000 registered users, the platform boosts international trade and enhances industry transparency.
A standout feature is the blockchain project, which provides a traceability system for coffee beans, ensuring transparency and security throughout the supply chain. Coffee batches from Panama, Ethiopia, Colombia, Kenya, and Mexico have already been integrated into the blockchain, allowing stakeholders to trace their journey through the Hongqiao International Coffee Harbor Online Platform.
Beyond trade, Hongqiao International Coffee Harbor is nurturing talent and fostering cultural exchange. It has partnered with the Shanghai Municipal Human Resources and Social Security Bureau and major coffee brands to establish a national barista certification standard. Over 6,000 candidates have participated in certification exams, with plans to integrate blockchain for talent certification.
The Hongqiao International Coffee Harbor hosts the China-Latin America International Coffee Roasting Championship. [Photo/WeChat ID: hongqiaoshangwuqu]
