The pick-up in coffee exports since October will help shipments in the current fiscal exceed last year’s levels, says the Coffee Board. Coffee exports in 2012-13 stood at 2.98 lakh tonnes.
“Exports have picked up since October and we expect total shipment in the current financial year to cross last year’s levels,” said Coffee Board Chairman Jawaid Akhtar.
He was speaking to reporters after announcing the launch of the fifth edition of the India International Coffee Festival to be held in Bangalore during January 21-25.
The stability in prices witnessed in recent months coupled with the rebound in demand from traditional buyers in Europe is seen aiding exports.
Since October, coffee exports are up 37 per cent at around 66,264 tonnes against last year’s 48,346 tonnes in the same period.
However, since April shipments in the current fiscal are up 6 per cent at 2.22 lakh tonnes against 2.09 lakh tonnes in corresponding last year.
“Exports of value-added and instant coffees have risen sharply in recent years, resulting in higher margins and realisations,” said J.S. Deepak, Additional Secretary, Commerce Ministry.
Re-export of coffee has also picked up and is likely to exceed last year’s level of 90,000 tonnes in 2013-14. Akhtar said domestic consumption continues to rise at 5-6 per cent annually, driven by both in-home and out-of-home consumption.
Domestic consumption is estimated at around 1.2 lakh tonnes. The rising popularity of chains such as Café Coffee Day, Barista Lavazza and Costa Coffee among the younger generation has made coffee drinking more fashionable.
Anil Bhandari, Chairman of the India Coffee Trust, said the coffee festival is expected to attract over 1,000 delegates, including from overseas. Every alternate edition of the bi-annual event would be organised in the producing region, mainly Bangalore, Bhandari said.
The previous edition of the coffee fest was held in Delhi in 2012.
vishwanath.kulkarni@thehindu.co.in