India’s April coffee exports up 48% at $203 million

Export volumes during April, based on the permits issued by the Coffee Board, were lower at 35,259 tonnes, down 11 per cent from same period last year’s 39,827 tonnes
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India’s coffee exports in value terms increased 48 per cent in April to $202.95 million due to high prices for the commodity, while volumes were a tad lower during the period. In April last year, the coffee exports stood at $137.27 million.

Export volumes during April, based on the permits issued by the Coffee Board, were lower at 35,259 tonnes, down 11 per cent from same period last year’s 39,827 tonnes.

In the current calendar year from Jan 1 to May 15, the volume of shipments was down 13 per cent at 1.54 lakh tonnes, from 1.77 lakh tonnes a year ago. Arabica shipments witnessed growth during the period, while robusta shipments declined.

Instant coffee down

Arabica parchment shipments were up during the period at 24,136 tonnes (16,795 tonnes in the same period last year). Similarly, the arabica cherry shipments also increase to 5,727 tonnes (3,657 tonnes). However, the shipments of robusta declined. Robusta parchment shipments were lower at 10,796 tonnes (12,059 tonnes), while robusta cherry shipments dipped to 60,321 tonnes (85183 tonnes).

The shipments of instant coffee were down at 19,122 tonnes (19,713 tonnes), while imports for re-exports were down at 34,160 tonnes (39,820 tonnes) during the Jan 1-May 15 period.

Ramesh Rajah, President, Coffee Exporters Association, said the increase in shipment value is on account of higher prices, while the volumes are down. Arabica shipments are higher because of the earlier orders, whereas the buyers are staying away from the pricey Indian robustas, Rajah said. The order book remains weak as the buyers are still buying on a need basis.

In the financial year ended March 2025, India had exported 3.89 lakh tonnes of coffee, valued at a record $1.82 billion.

Published on May 16, 2025