The first ever Hainan International Coffee Conference wrapped up in Haikou on August 23. Over two days, coffee folks from 16 producing countries and more than 500 people from across China came together to talk beans, trade, and where Hainan fits into the bigger picture.

The main theme was how Hainan can use its Free Trade Port status to connect better with global coffee resources. Some speakers looked at the logistics and policy side (easier importing, processing, and moving goods/people/equipment), while others focused on tech—like using AI to predict flavor profiles or digital tools to tighten up the supply chain.

Branding got a lot of attention too. There was plenty of talk about Hainan building its own identity in the coffee world, not just being “another Yunnan” or “another Taiwan.” Coconut coffee came up as a local highlight—apparently it’s been around since the early 90s and still sells incredibly well, with new twists being added.

Outside the talks, the vibe was a lot lighter: coffee tastings, latte art shows from world champs, and networking sessions kept things interesting.

All in all, it felt like a solid first step in putting Hainan on the coffee map.