Mumbai, Feb 2, 2009 - India's coffee exports fell 3.2 percent in January on the back of falling demand from European countries due to the global financial crisis, industry officials said on Monday.
Total exports were 9,795 tonnes during the first month compared with 10,121 tonnes in the year-ago period, a Coffee Board official, who did not wish to be identified, told Reuters.
Total arabica coffee exports in January stood at 3,655 tonnes and robusta exports stood at 4,274 tonnes, he said.
Arabica is mainly used in premium coffees, while robusta, which constitutes 70 percent of the country's output, is typically blended with arabica beans for a lower-cost option for brewed coffee, or processed into instant coffee.
"Reduced offtake from European markets is hurting Indian exports," said Ramesh Rajah, president of Coffee Exporters Association of India.
India exports about 65 percent of its coffee to European countries.
India's coffee exports fell marginally in 2008 to 219,583 tonnes from 220,010 tonnes a year ago.
The country produces only 4.5 percent of the world's coffee, but exports 70-80 percent of its output.