India's coffee exports marginally up 2.8% in FY14

The value of exports in Indian rupee terms stood at Rs 4,769 cr in FY14 as against Rs 4,639 cr

India’s coffee exports register a marginal growth of 2.88% to touch 313,035 tonnes for the year 2013-14 compared to 304,251 tonnes in the previous year. In value terms, the exporters earned $812 million, which is 7.6% lower than the previous year. In 2012-13, the value of coffee exports stood at $879 million. The decline in value is mainly due to the decline in the prices of coffee throughout the last fiscal.

However, in rupee terms, the value was almost same as last year due to the depreciation against dollar. The value of exports in Indian rupee terms stood at Rs 4,769 crore in FY14 as against Rs 4,639 crore, a marginal growth of 2.8%. The unit value realisation was flat at Rs 1,52,360 per tonne as against Rs 1,52,466 per tonne in 2012-13, according to Coffee Board of India.

During the fourth quarter of the fiscal ended March 2014, bean exports went up 1.71% to 97,279 tonnes compared to 96,279 tonnes in the corresponding quarter last year. The value of the exports in dollar terms was lower at $245.57 million as against $266.37 million. In rupee terms, the value was Rs 1,510.51 crore as against Rs 1,421 crore. The unit value realised was Rs 1,54,245 per tonne as against Rs 1,47,581 per tonne, a rise of 4.5% over the fourth quarter last year.

While the rupee depreciation helped exporters earn higher dollar revenues during the year, the lower prices in the international markets offset the gain. Over the last year, Arabica prices have slid 23% in 2013 following robust Brazilian production and a recovery in output in neighboring Colombia, the world's second-largest arabica grower.

However, In February alone, worries about this year’s Brazilian supplies pushed the price of arabica futures up 44%, the biggest monthly percentage increase in almost two decades. The dry weather afflicting Brazil's main coffee-growing region will lead to a 10% decline in coffee output this year, the country's National Coffee Council, said last week.

ICE Arabica coffee futures for May delivery, soared 7.3% to $1.9345 a pound, a nearly two-year high. March coffee jumped 7.1% to $1.9260 a pound, bringing year-to-date gains to 74%. LIFFE robusta coffee futures for May delivery settled up $55 at $2,098 per tonne.

Italy continued to be the main market for Indian coffee in 2013, accounting for more 25% of the total exports. It was followed by Germany, Belgium, Turkey and Russian Federation. CCL Products (India) Ltd, Allanasons Limited, ITC Limited, Ruchi Infrastructure Ltd and Amalgamated Bean Coffee were among the top five exporters of coffee during the year.