The Managing Director of the Italian coffee company IllyChristina Skotsia, said the company would be forced to raise its prices due to dictatorial that will impose this week by the government of US President Donald Trump.
The Managing Director also added that Illy would consider in the long run the possibility of a factory in the US if found in the eye of the cyclone, based on Trump’s plans to impose duties in all countries. “The duties will go to the final price (…) We, as I guess other companies, are trying to figure out what percentage,” he said in a telephone interview.
Industry’s profit margins are already limited due to the increase in the price of fresh coffee beans. Illy maintained its prices last year, despite the increase in Arabica’s price, but in 2025 increased by 4% in total, on average.
Slots said that some of the products sold in the US could possibly be produced in that country, but the rest of the production will remain in Italy, confirming that there will be an investment of 120m euros to double the production capacity. “We are studying feasibility at the moment, but for the construction of a factory (in the US) it will take time,” he added.
The US is the second largest market for Illy coffee. One fifth of the company’s revenue comes from that country.
The company was founded in Trieste in 1933 and controlled by the Ili family, which in 2021 sold 20% of its shares at American Rhone Capital.
Source: RES – EIA