Signature export
Specialty coffee
Heirloom Yemeni varieties sold through American specialty roasters at some of the highest prices in the global market.
Country Profile — Arab-America International Expo 2027
Profile content in preparationRepublic of Yemen
The origin of coffee.
Home to the world's first cultivated coffee, a strategic position on the Bab al-Mandab strait, and a young population with substantial long-term potential.
Country at a glance
- GDP
- Not reliably reported
- Population
- ≈ 34 million
- Currency
- Yemeni Rial (YER)
- Capital
- Sana'a
- Economic growth
- Not reliably reported
Statistics year: Latest verified estimates predate 2024
Yemeni national accounts have not been reliably published in recent years. No GDP or growth figures are presented here because verified current data is unavailable; only structural and sectoral information is shown.
Overview
Heritage crops and a strategic coastline
Yemen is where coffee cultivation began, and Yemeni heirloom varieties now command some of the highest specialty-coffee prices in the world.
Sidr honey, dried fruits and Red Sea and Arabian Sea fisheries are additional export categories with established premium positioning.
Yemen's coast sits on the Bab al-Mandab strait, one of the most important shipping chokepoints on earth, giving the country long-term logistics significance.
- Capital
- Sana'a
- Population
- ~34 million
- Language
- Arabic
- Currency
- Yemeni Rial (YER)
- Signature exports
- Specialty coffee, Sidr honey, fish, dried fruit
- Strategic position
- Bab al-Mandab strait and Gulf of Aden
Economy
Agriculture, fisheries and heritage exports
Yemen's export potential is concentrated in high-value agricultural products and fisheries that already reach premium global markets.
0K+
Coffee farming families
Smallholder heirloom production
0 km+
Coastline
Red Sea and Arabian Sea
0%
Population under 25
A very young population
0x
Specialty coffee premium
Versus commodity coffee prices
Specialty coffeeHeirloom varieties, global demand
FisheriesArabian Sea and Red Sea catch
Honey & dried fruitSidr honey commands premium prices
AgricultureTerraced highland farming
Logistics & portsAden and Mukalla
HandicraftsSilverwork, textiles, stonework
Priority sectors
Sectors with export potential
Categories where Yemeni producers already reach international specialty buyers.
Premium
Sidr honey
A globally recognised premium honey with strong demand across the Gulf and diaspora markets.
Growth
Fisheries & seafood
Arabian Sea catch with potential for processing, cold chain and export certification.
Agriculture
Dried fruit & agriculture
Highland terraced farming producing raisins, almonds and pomegranates.
Artisan
Handicrafts & silverwork
Distinctive traditional metalwork, textiles and architecture-linked crafts.
Strategic
Ports & logistics
Aden's natural harbour retains long-term significance on the Bab al-Mandab route.
Recovery & development
Rebuilding livelihoods through export agriculture
Development efforts focus on restoring agricultural livelihoods, improving processing quality and reconnecting producers to export markets.
- 15th c.
Coffee trade begins
Mocha becomes the world's first coffee export port.
- 2015
Economic disruption
Conflict severely disrupts production and export logistics.
- 2020
Specialty coffee revival
International roasters and Yemeni-American entrepreneurs rebuild premium export channels.
- 2030
Target horizon
Restored agricultural exports with modern processing and certification.
Major development projects
Development priorities
Programs that would unlock Yemen's export categories.
Coffee processing & certification
Washing stations, drying infrastructure and quality certification for export-grade lots.
Fisheries cold chain
Ice plants, cold storage and processing facilities along the Arabian Sea coast.
Port of Aden rehabilitation
Restoring container and bunkering capacity at a natural deep-water harbour.
Water & irrigation
Terrace restoration and efficient irrigation in the highlands.
US – Yemen trade
Premium exports through specialty channels
Yemeni coffee and honey reach American consumers through specialty roasters, importers and a strong Yemeni-American retail community.
Top exports to the world
CoffeeHighest-value export category
Honey
Fish & seafood
Dried fruit & agriculture
Top imports
Food & grain
Fuel & refined products
Medical supplies
Machinery & equipment
Leading products to the United States
- Specialty coffee
- Sidr honey
- Dried fruit
- Handicrafts
Leading products from the United States
- Wheat and grain
- Medical supplies
- Agricultural equipment
- Processed foods
- Yemeni-American entrepreneurs run some of the fastest-growing specialty coffee chains in the US
- Heirloom coffee varieties are among the most sought-after in the global specialty market
- A young population and a strategic maritime position underpin long-term potential
Bilateral goods trade — 2024
Trade with the United States
Verified full-year bilateral merchandise trade between Yemen and the United States, reported from Yemen's perspective.
Latest verified data available
Total U.S. goods trade
$320.0M
2024
Exports to the United States
$20.0M
2024
Imports from the United States
$300.0M
2024
Trade balance
$280.0M
Deficit for Yemen
2024
Exports vs. imports — 2024
Yemen exports to the United States$20.0M
Yemen imports from the United States$300.0M
Exports to the US Imports from the US
Bilateral goods trade is dominated by American wheat and humanitarian shipments, with Yemeni exports limited to specialty coffee and agricultural products. Conflict continues to constrain commercial trade.
Scope of these figures
Latest verified data available; conflict severely limits trade and statistical reporting. These figures represent merchandise trade only and do not include services.
Data source
- U.S. Census Bureau, Foreign Trade Division — country trade data (full year 2024)
- UN Comtrade Database
Statistical year: 2024
Leading exports to the United States
- Coffee
- Honey and agricultural products
- Handicrafts
Leading imports from the United States
- Wheat and cereals
- Humanitarian and food aid goods
- Machinery parts
- Medical supplies
Culture & tourism
Extraordinary architecture and island ecology
Ancient tower cities and one of the most biologically distinctive islands on earth.
Sana'a
Old City of Sana'a
A UNESCO World Heritage site of multi-storey tower houses in decorated earth and gypsum.
Hadhramaut
Shibam
The 'Manhattan of the Desert' — 16th-century mud-brick tower blocks.
Arabian Sea
Socotra
A UNESCO-listed island with hundreds of species found nowhere else on earth.
Why invest
Why the Yemen pavilion matters
The world's original coffee origin, presented directly to American buyers.
01
Coffee heritage
The origin of cultivated coffee, with heirloom genetics unavailable anywhere else.
02
Premium categories
Coffee and Sidr honey compete on quality, not price, in international markets.
03
Diaspora enterprise
Yemeni-American businesses already operate national retail and café networks.
04
Long-term logistics
Aden and the Bab al-Mandab retain permanent strategic importance.
At the Expo
Yemen at AAIX 2027
The Yemen pavilion introduces American specialty buyers to origin producers and diaspora enterprises.
- Specialty coffee cupping sessions with American roasters
- Sidr honey and dried-fruit buyer meetings
- Yemeni-American business network sessions
- Fisheries and processing partnership briefings
World heritage
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Yemen
Sites inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, a core part of the country's cultural and tourism offer.
Old Walled City of Shibam
16th-century mud-brick tower houses known as the 'Manhattan of the Desert'.
Old City of Sana'a
Multi-storey earthen tower houses decorated in white gypsum.
Historic Town of Zabid
A former capital and centre of Islamic learning.
Socotra Archipelago
An Indian Ocean archipelago with hundreds of endemic species.
Business opportunities
Opportunities for Arab and American companies
How companies from different markets can engage with Yemen through the Expo.
For American companies
Source origin specialty coffee and Sidr honey through established diaspora import channels.
For Arab companies
Fisheries, food processing and port services along the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
For international investors
Agricultural value chains and long-horizon port and logistics rehabilitation.
Represent Yemen at Arab-America International Expo 2027
Present your country's economy, industries, products, investment opportunities, tourism destinations and culture to the American and North American markets.
Reserve space in the Yemeni pavilion, or register as an American buyer to source origin coffee, honey and specialty goods.
Sources & data
- Yemen Central Statistical Organisation
- FAO Yemen agricultural assessments
- Specialty Coffee Association origin reports
- World Bank & IMF country data
- U.S. Census Bureau / USTR trade statistics
- UN Comtrade
Last updated: August 2026