Coffee exports from India saw a notable increase of 13.35 per cent to 1,25,631 tonnes during the January-March period of this year, attributed to heightened demand for Robusta coffee, as revealed by official data. This surge contrasts with the export figure of 1,10,830 tonnes during the same period in 2023.
India, recognized as Asia’s third-largest producer and exporter of coffee, cultivates both Arabica and Robusta varieties.
Arabica coffee, characterized by lower caffeine content compared to Robusta, boasts a sweeter and smoother flavor profile, while Robusta tends to be more bitter and robust in taste.
According to the latest data from the Coffee Board of India, the export of Robusta coffee beans surged by 18 per cent to 69,637 tonnes in the first quarter of the 2024 calendar year, up from 59,050 tonnes in the corresponding period last year. Conversely, the shipment of Arabica coffee beans declined to 13,419 tonnes from 15,468 tonnes in the same period.
Exports of instant coffee experienced an uptick to 16,218 tonnes during January-March of this year compared to 15,238 tonnes in the previous year, while re-exports of coffee also witnessed growth, rising to 26,239 tonnes from 20,952 tonnes during the same period.
In terms of value, total coffee exports reached Rs 3,644 crore during January-March of 2024, surpassing the Rs 2,604.44 crore achieved in the year-ago period. The unit value realization stood at Rs 2,90,057 per tonne.
Major export destinations for Indian coffee include Italy, Russia, the UAE, Germany, and Turkey.
In its post-blossom estimate, the Coffee Board projected India’s total coffee production for the 2023-24 marketing year (October-September) to be 3,74,200 tonnes, higher than the actual output of 3,52,000 tonnes in the previous year.
In the full 2023 calendar year, India’s coffee exports witnessed a decline of 5.4 per cent to 3.77 lakh tonnes.
