India's FY14 coffee exports up 3.6%

The country's coffee exports rose 3.6% at 3.15 lakh tonnes in 2013-14 on account of a sharp increase in shipments during the fourth quarter buoyed by firm global prices, according to the Coffee Board.

Coffee shipments from India -- the world's fifth biggest exporter -- stood at 3.04 lakh tonnes in the 2012-13 fiscal.

"Overall, the export performance remained good in 2013- 14. There is a marginal increase in overall export volumes as compared to last year," a senior Coffee Board official said.

Exports during the third quarter of the year remained below 20,000 tonnes per month. With firming up of global prices, the shipments again picked up during the fourth quarter, the official added.

Of 3.15 lakh tonnes, export of robustas were 1.56 lakh tonnes, arabica at 62,852 tonnes, instant coffee at 95,084 tonnes in the 2013-14 fiscal, the Coffee Board data showed.

In value terms as well, India's total coffee exports increased slightly to Rs 4,800 crore in 2013-14, as against Rs 4,637 crore in the previous fiscal.

Maximum exports were to Italy, Germany, Belgium, Jordan, Turkey, and Russia during the review period.

According to experts, global coffee prices rose to the highest level in February, fuelled by fears over falling production in top producer Brazil.

The board has pegged the total output at 3,11,500 tonnes for 2013-14 crop year (October-September), down by 2.1% from 3,18,200 tonnes produced in 2012-13.