Coffee exports decline 7.1% from Jan-Oct 2012

India's coffee exports declined 7.1% during the first 10 months of the year 2012 compared to the corresponding period last year. The exports stood at 283,045 tonnes between January and November 1, 2012 as against 304,737 tonnes exported in the same period last year.

In value terms, the exporters earned Rs 4,266 crore as against Rs 4,250 crore in the first ten months of last year. The average realisation per tonne was up 8% at Rs 150,719 per tonne, a Coffee Board statement said.

India is the seventh largest producer of coffee accounting for only 4% of the world's output. For the year 2011, India produced 5.3 million bags (each bag is 60 kgs), which is marginally lower than Peru. However, in terms of exports, India is the fifth largest exporter accounting for 5.6% of the world market. It exports about 70-80% of the total domestic production.

According to Coffee Exporters' Association of India, sluggish demand from Europe following the economic slump, reduced off take in plantation coffee and lower crop are the major reasons for the decline in exports during the year.

During the first seven months of the current fiscal (2012-13), the exports from India declined 11.4% to 182,978 tonnes valued at Rs 2,807 crore. During the corresponding period, India exported 206,584 tonnes valued at Rs 2,812 crore. The average realization during this period was Rs 153,406 per tonne as against Rs 136,101 per tonne, a rise of 12.7% over the corresponding period.

India exports coffee to Italy, Russian Federation, Germany, Belgium, Slovenia, Malaysia and Spain among others. Allanasons Limited, NKG Jayanti Coffee Pvt Ltd, CCL Products (India) Ltd, Amalgamated Bean Coffee and Tata Coffee Ltd are the top five exporters from India.