Coffee exports up 38% in Apr-July on strong global demand

India’s coffee exports rose sharply, by 38 per cent, to 145,505 tonnes till July of the current financial year on the back of strong global demand and high international prices, according to the Coffee Board of India.

The country had shipped 105,345 tonnes during April-July last year, the official data showed.

“Coffee exports have risen so far, both in volumes and value terms. Sluggish global supply and a peak rise in international prices have been of good advantage for Indian coffee exporters,” a senior Coffee Board official said.

In value terms, coffee exports had increased to Rs 1,977 crore during April-July this financial year, as against Rs 1,031 crore in the period a year ago, he said.

The official said domestic exporters had been able to fulfil the global orders because of higher domestic production, which stood at 302,000 tonnes in 2010-11 and is likely to jump to 322,250 tonnes this year.

Besides, global prices had remained firm due to tight supply-demand situation in Columbia and Brazil. As a result, unit value realisation for Indian exporters had been much better than last year, the official noted.

The data showed that exporters were able to ship a tonne of coffee at an average price of Rs 1,35,897 in April-July of this financial year, as against Rs 97,922 tonnes in the same period last year.

The board also said the country's total coffee exports rose to 311,798 tonnes in the first 10 months of the 2010-11 coffee year ending September, as against 220,358 tonnes in the period a year ago.

India largely exports coffee to Italy, Germany, Belgium, the Russian Federation and Spain.