Coffee exports jump 49% in first half of 2009

India's coffee exports surged 49 per cent in the first six months of the year to 1.53 lakh tonnes on the back of higher domestic output, according to Coffee Board data. The country had exported 1.03 lakh tonnes in the same period last year.

Out of the total exports during January-June period of 2009, normal exports accounted for 1.29 lakh, while 24,671 tonnes were re-exports. In the year-ago period, normal exports comprised 95,061 tonnes and re-exports 8,002 tonnes.

"The shipments have risen sharply in the first half of this year on account of higher domestic output in 2009-10 crop year (October-September," a Coffee Board official said.

The country's coffee output has increased to 2.89 lakh tonnes in the current year against 2.62 lakh tonnes in the previous year.

In the next crop year, starting October this year, coffee output is estimated to rise 6 per cent to 3.08 lakh tonnes, out of which 2.08 lakh tonnes would be Robusta variety and the remaining Arabica.

"The maximum rise in production of coffee this year is expected in Karnataka, followed by Kerala -- where good rain last year helped healthy blossoming and fruit bearing," a senior official had said yesterday. 

The board hopes that the Chikmagalur, Kodagu and Hassan districts of Karnataka would produce 6,000 tonnes more coffee next year at 2.19 lakh tonnes, while Kerala would produce 65,775 tonnes in 2010-11.

Tamil Nadu is expected to produce 16,500 tonnes of coffee during the ensuing crop year, the Board said, adding that non-traditional coffee-producing areas like Andhra Pradesh and Orissa would produce 6,100 tonnes, up from 5,300 tonnes in the last crop year.

India is the fifth-largest coffee producer in the world and the third-largest in Asia.