India's Jan-Feb coffee exports up 15 pc on firm global prices

NEW DELHI: The country's total coffee exports rose over 15 per cent to 62,956 tonnes during the January-February period of this year on firm global prices, according to the Coffee Board.

Coffee shipments from India -- the world's fifth biggest exporter -- stood at 54,679 tonnes in the corresponding period of last year.

"Coffee exports have risen on account of improved price trend in the international market," a senior Coffee Board official told PTI.

In value terms also, coffee exports increased to Rs 937.13 crore in the first two months of this year, against Rs 824.35 crore in the year-ago period.

Maximum exports were to Italy (17,205 tonnes), followed by Germany (7,513 tonnes), Belgium (3,709 tonnes), Jordan (3,189 tonnes), Turkey (3,053 tonnes) and Russia (2,576 tonnes) in the same period, as per the Board's latest data.

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

On February 20, Arabica jumped to 177.50 US cents per pound, the highest level since October 2012 while Robusta touched a ten-month peak of USD 2,019, they added.

Of total coffee exports from India, the shipments of Arabica rose by 35.11 per cent to 19,856 tonnes from 14,696 tonnes in the year-ago period, while Robusta exports improved marginally by 7.2 per cent to 27,382 tonnes from 25,542 tonnes.

Instant coffee shipments more than doubled to 10,902 tonnes during the January-February period of 2014, from 3,918 tonnes in the year-ago period, the data showed.

However, re-exports declined to 4,754 tonnes from 10,495 tonnes in the corresponding period.

Top five exporters were Amalgamated Bean Coffee Trading Company Ltd, CCL Products India Ltd, Allanasons, ITC and Olam Agro India during the January-February period of this year.

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