Coffee exports for the current financial year may fall to 2.4-2.5 lakh tonnes from 2.94 lakh tonnes in the previous year, said Coffee Board Chairman, Mr Jawaid Akhtar. The projected decline of 15-18 per cent is mainly on account of sluggish demand from the financial crisis hit Europe, a key destination for about two thirds of Indian exports.
“Last year was an exceptional year for exports and it is difficult to achieve that this year,” Mr Akhtar told reporters on the sidelines of launch of India International Coffee Festival, 2012. The Board has renewed its initiatives to boost exports to Japan and South Korea, sensing a huge potential in the Asian nations, Mr Akhtar said.
Exports for the April-December period have grown by 17 per cent to 2.30 lakh tonnes as against 1.97 lakh tonnes in the corresponding period previous year.
The Coffee Board has estimated the 2011-12 crop size at 3.21 lakh tonnes as against 3.012 lakh tonnes in the previous year, primarily led by a 10 per cent increase in the Arabica variety, Mr Akhtar. Arabica production is expected to be 1.04 lakh tonnes in 2011-12 as against 94,000 tonnes in the previous year. The Robusta output is projected to grow by 5 per cent to 2.17 lakh tonnes as against 2.07 lakh tonnes in the previous year.
The crop this year is backed by good rains across the main growing regions of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Besides, the expansion of crop in non-traditional areas of Andhra Pradesh and Orissa is adding up to the output, he said.