News
China sees rapidly growing coffee market
By Wang Wenzheng
What would it be like when a post office turns into a coffee place?
In June this year, post provider China Post opened its first Post Coffee campus store in Southeast University, east China’s Jiangsu province. It soon became a photogenic spot for social media.
“The coffee’s great here, and so is the decoration,” said Li Wendong, a doctoral student of the university. He said the “crossover” cafe is interesting and students need such a place on campus where they can alleviate their pressure.
Post Coffee is only a miniature of “crossover” cafes. In China today, coffee shops are seen everywhere, such as gas stations, and even pharmacies. Many renowned enterprises have set foot in the coffee industry.
According to statistics, China is home to nearly 160,000 coffee-related enterprises, with an average of 20,000 emerging on an annual basis in the past five years. As of May 1 this year, a total of 117,300 coffee shops were operational across the country, and the number kept increasing despite impacts from COVID-19.
The involvement of renowned enterprises in the coffee industry mirrors the huge attractiveness of the Chinese coffee consumption market, which is like a tempting big cake.
Statistics indicate that the value of the Chinese coffee market was around 381.7 billion yuan ($56.53 billion) in 2021, and is expected to keep an annual growth of 20 percent in the next five years, which is way higher than the global average of 2 percent. The market value will be likely to hit 1 trillion yuan in 2025.
In recent years, coffee consumption has gradually grown into a habit among Chinese consumers. The group of coffee lovers with high consuming intention and brand loyalty is constantly expanding, represented by the middle- and high-income earners in urban areas.
Millennial Han Xiao is quite a fan of coffee who knows all the differences between coffee drinks, such as espresso, latte, mocha and cappuccino. For her, drinking coffee is not only for refreshing, but also a lifestyle.
“A coffee shop should be available within five minutes of walk from everywhere. Coffee shops are the ‘third space’ for me following home and office,” she said.
In addition, Chinese consumers’ demand for premium coffee products, such as fresh coffee, is rising rapidly as the group of middle-income earners expands.
Last year, China imported 122,700 tons of coffee beans, 74 percent more from a year ago. In particular, the import of raw coffee beans surged 87 percent to 106,000 tons, accounting for 86 percent of the total import.
Insiders estimate that China currently has a coffee consumer group of more than 300 million people.
Young consumers from both first-tier cities and lower-tier ones are shaping a consumption habit for fresh coffee. Many of them are fans of premium coffee beans and freshly-ground coffee, and want a fancy consumption environment. They even have purchased exquisite coffee ware and powerful coffee machines.
For instance, the sales of coffee machines on Tmall, an online retail platform under Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba, recorded growth for six months in a row in the first half of this year. The highest year-on-year growth exceeded 200 percent.
Last year, the per capita consumption of fresh coffee among adult consumers in Chinese mainland stood at 1.6 cups, and the figure among young consumers in first- and second-tier cities was 3.8. The market enjoys a huge potential though there’s still a gap between itself and mature markets in the U.S. and Europe. Bright prospects await the emerging business as coffee products are seeping into the daily life of the Chinese people.
The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to maintain the status quo in a dispute over the party’s candidates emerging from the Benue State APC primaries for the 2027 general election.
The order was made on Thursday by Justice Inyang Ekwo during proceedings in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1429/2026, filed by Engr. Sesugh Akaagba and other aggrieved APC candidates from Benue State against the APC and INEC.
The plaintiffs had, through an ex parte motion filed on July 5, 2026, sought six interim reliefs, including an order restraining the APC from substituting its validly nominated candidates in Benue State through its June 29, 2026 correspondence, or any subsequent communication, to INEC, pending determination of the substantive suit.
They also sought an order compelling the APC to immediately transmit to INEC the names of candidates validly nominated during the primaries monitored by the electoral commission.
When the matter first came up on July 8, 2026, the court declined to grant the interim application immediately, directing both APC and INEC to appear and respond before any decision was taken. The matter was adjourned to July 16.
At Thursday’s proceedings, counsel representing the APC and INEC were present in court, while the plaintiffs were represented by Mohammed Ndarani, SAN, alongside his legal team.
In his ruling, Justice Ekwo held that since issues had been joined by the parties particularly with INEC now before the court, the defendants were required by law to preserve the subject matter of the litigation pending determination of the substantive suit.
When counsel to the plaintiffs urged the court to caution APC and INEC against taking any further action that could affect the disputed list of candidates, the judge responded that it was “not a matter of advice but of law,” stressing that the defendants were bound to maintain the status quo.
The court consequently restrained APC and INEC from taking any action capable of altering the disputed list of candidates pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.
The defendants did not object to the restraining order.
At the commencement of proceedings, the court noted that all parties had voluntarily submitted to its jurisdiction by duly filing and exchanging their respective processes.
It held that there was no procedural or jurisdictional impediment to the expeditious determination of the substantive action, and directed that the matter be heard without further delay.
In furtherance of the objective of preserving the res and safeguarding the efficacy of the judicial process, the court ordered all parties to maintain the status quo pending the hearing and final determination of the substantive suit, restraining any act or omission capable of prejudicing the rights of the parties or rendering the proceedings nugatory.
The court further directed that INEC be served forthwith with the originating and all consequential processes.
The effect of the subsisting order is that INEC is restrained from tampering with the existing list of candidates pending final determination of the suit, and from receiving, recognising, or acting upon any purported substituted list of National Assembly candidates from Benue State submitted by the APC.
The matter was adjourned to July 21, 2026, for hearing of the substantive suit.
Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and former First Lady Patience Ibifaka Jonathan recently celebrated a significant family milestone as they attended the graduation ceremony of their son, Ariara Goodluck Jonathan, at Manchester Metropolitan University in the United Kingdom.
The proud parents joined family members and well-wishers to witness Ariara receive his degree, marking the successful completion of his academic programme. The occasion was filled with joy as the Jonathan family commemorated the achievement, highlighting the importance they place on education and personal development.
The graduation ceremony attracted warm congratulatory messages from friends, associates, and admirers, who wished the graduate continued success in his future endeavours.
The Following names joined the political family of Sen. Dr. George Akume today after leaving the sinking Alia ship .
Under the leadership of Barr. Emmanuel Jime .
The are ;
Chief Nelson Alapa
Douglas pepe SAN senatorial Aspirant zone A,
Engr Peter Ashiekaa
QS Clement Beetseh
Former commissioners
Joy Luga
Ann itodo
Barr martins Shaagee
Miss Dorcas
Prof Usar Joseh
Prof Cephas Tushima
Chief Patrick Idoko
Hon Patience Akor
Hon Fred Idoko
Hon Lawrence Ekpo Onoja Jnr
Hon Andrew Abah
Hon Agbo Innocent Ikwumonu
Hon Simon Omachoko
Hon David Egboja
Dr John Garba
Among together,
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