MUMBAI: India's coffee exports fell 23 per cent in Jan-Nov, as a crop shortage alongwith weak overseas demand continued to weigh, an official from the Coffee Board said.
Total exports were 143,625 tonnes during the first eleven months of 2009 compared with 187,061 tonnes a year ago. "The crop shortage continues to be the reason and overseas offtake is also weak," said the official, who did not wish to be identified.
Total arabica exports in Jan-Nov stood at 27,343 tonnes and total robusta exports stood at 91,681 tonnes. Arabica is mainly used in premium coffees, while robusta, which makes up 70 per cent of the country's output, is typically blended with arabica beans for a lower-cost option for brewed coffee, or processed into instant coffee.
Instant coffee exports in the eleven months stood at 24,376 tonnes from 36,163 tonnes in the same period a year earlier.
The country produces only 4.5 per cent of the world's coffee, but exports 70-80 per cent of its output. Italy, Germany and Russia are the top three buyers of Indian coffee.
Italy accounts for about 25 per cent of the country's coffee exports, followed by the Russian Federation and Germany at nine per cent and 7.8 per cent respectively.
India's coffee exports fell to 219,583 tonnes in 2008 from 220,100 tonnes a year ago.
Source : The Economic Times