Coffee edges higher as export demand rises

Indian coffee prices edged higher at the last week's auction on strong demand from exporters. Of the total 277,339 kg offered for sale, about 119,000 kg were sold, which consisted of 137,880 kg of arabica coffee, and robusta coffee stood at 139,459 kg.

Arabica plantation grades were quoted Rs 50-250 per 50 kg, higher compared with the last auction, while robusta parchment was higher by Rs 100 per 50 kg. Coffee exports were almost steady at 197,304 tonnes from October 1 to

May 17, data from the state-run Coffee Board showed.

India's state-run Coffee Board has cut the country's coffee output estimate to 315,500 tonnes for the crop year to September 2013, down three per cent from an earlier projection.