The Hindu Business Line : Specialty coffee exports stage recovery

Shipments of specialty and value-added coffees till November 30 totalled 51,466.7 tonnes valued at Rs 439.07 crore. Against this, the whole of 2005 the exports were 45,694.2 tonnes valued at Rs 474.16 crore, according to data put out by the Coffee Board.

Remarkable

In fact, the exports have made a remarkable recovery after being down marginally in the first half of the year.

Specialty coffees are high quality coffees that differ from normal coffee with relevance to visual quality or cup or both. Specialty coffees are getting increasingly popular in the global coffee market. India markets several varieties of these specialty coffees. The Monsooned coffee, which is popular in Scandinavian countries, is one such. The coffee which has a mellow but unique taste was found by accident in the deep of sailing ships - a shipload of coffee bound for Europe acquired the taste en route, with the coffee beans "swelling" due to the moisture in the air. Today, the coffee is prepared by the exposing the beans to sea breeze. Then, there is Mysore Nuggets Extra Bold, which is a premium coffee that represents the best quality coffee from the country.

Of significance is fact that the efforts of the Coffee Board and industry in promoting the specialty coffee are beginning to pay handsome dividends. For example, by November 30, exports of Mysore Nuggets had touched a record 1,164 tonnes against 577.5 tonnes last year. The highest exports of this coffee were in 2003 when 1,037.1 tonnes were shipped from the country. In terms of value, too, the exports fetched a record Rs 13.14 crore against Rs 9.48 in 2005.

Monsooned robusta AA is also projected to touch a record with 1,109 tonnes being exported till November-end against 763.5 tonnes in 2005. The best performance in this category has so far been 1,118.7 tonnes in 2004. In terms of value, the shipments have fetched the highest so far at Rs 8.32 crore.

Value-added ones

Monsooned Arabica Triage is another variety that is witnessing a sharp rise with shipments at 72 tonnes till November. The best performance of this was in 197 when 119.7 tonnes where shipped.

Among value-added coffees, exports of roasted seeds are gaining flavour again after eight years. Shipments of the seeds have increased by over three times from 2005 to 67.1 tonnes.

In terms of value, too, there has been an impressive rise to Rs 1.77 crore from a meagre Rs 31 lakh. The highest value fetched for this was in 1996, when the earnings totalled Rs 2.85 crore on a shipment of 270.4 tonnes.

Monsooned Basanally is another grade that is set for a record with shipments totalling 167 tonnes against 168.6 tonnes in 2005. Monsoon Robusta Triage shipments have also registered impressive gains at 60 tonnes valued at Rs 30 lakh against virtually nil shipments since 2001. Though instant coffee is projected marginally down, ground coffees have begun to gain ground. They have already registered a record at 57.3 tonnes valued at Rs 78.90 lakh.

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