ICO pegs global coffee output at about 148 mn bags this season

NEW DELHI: Global coffee production is expected to rise by 10 per cent to about 148 million bags in the current coffee year, which began last month, International Coffee Organisation ( ICO) has said.

The world had produced 134.5 million bags (of 60 kg each) of the brew in the 2011-12 coffee year (October-September).

"Crop year 2012-13 is now in progress. On the basis of available information from member countries, early indications are that total production is estimated to be around 146 to 148 million bags," ICO said.

Crop year 2011-12, which ended in September, is estimated to have produced 134.5 million bags, a 0.8 per cent increase on the previous year. The drop in output associated with the Brazilian biennial cycle was offset by strong increases in Vietnam, Honduras and Peru, among others, it added.

The global body pegs higher output in the 2012-13 crop year on expected rise in Arabica coffee production in Brazil.

Strong performances are also expected in several other exporting countries, it said.

According to ICO, global coffee exports rose by 3 per cent to 107.8 million bags in 2011-12 coffee year compared to 104.7 million bags in 2010-11 crop year on the back of increased shipments from Vietnam, Indonesia, Mexico among others.