New Delhi saw a notable uptick in coffee exports from India, marking a 13.35% increase to 125,631 tonnes during the January-March period of this year, driven by heightened demand for Robusta coffee, as per official data. Comparatively, the country exported 110,830 tonnes of coffee during the same period in 2023.
India, positioned as Asia’s third-largest producer and exporter, cultivates both Arabica and Robusta varieties of coffee.
Arabica coffee, known for its lower caffeine content, offers a sweeter and smoother taste profile, while Robusta tends to be more bitter and robust in flavor.
Data from the Coffee Board of India reveals that exports of Robusta coffee beans surged by 18% to 69,637 tonnes in the first quarter of the 2024 calendar year, up from 59,050 tonnes in the corresponding period last year. However, shipments of Arabica coffee beans declined to 13,419 tonnes from 15,468 tonnes during the same timeframe.
The export of instant coffee witnessed growth, reaching 16,218 tonnes during January-March 2024, compared to 15,238 tonnes in the previous year. Additionally, the re-export of coffee also saw an uptick, rising to 26,239 tonnes from 20,952 tonnes during the said period.
In terms of value, total coffee exports amounted to Rs 3,644 crore in January-March 2024, surpassing the Rs 2,604.44 crore achieved in the corresponding period of the previous year. The unit value realization stood at Rs 2,90,057 per tonne.
Key export destinations for Indian coffee include Italy, Russia, the UAE, Germany, and Turkey.
The board’s post-blossom estimate projects the country’s total coffee production for the 2023-24 marketing year (October-September) at 3,74,200 tonnes, an increase from the actual output of 3,52,000 tonnes in the previous year.
In the entirety of the 2023 calendar year, India witnessed a 5.4% decline in coffee exports, amounting to 3.77 lakh tonnes.
