Yaounde, Aug 20 - Cameroon's arabica coffee exports dived in the first six months of this season, National Cocoa and Coffee Board (NCCB) statistics showed on Thursday, but a leading cooperative expected a pick-up in the second half.
NCCB data made available to Reuters showed exports of only 896 tonnes of arabica coffee between October and March against 1,023 tonnes for the same period in the previous season, a drop of some 12.4 percent.
"The timid take-off in 2008/2009 season was due to prolonged rainfall in the main production regions of the West and North-West which delayed the drying of produce," Christopher Mbah, general manager of the North-West Cooperative Association (NWCA) told Reuters.
However he added that when available, data for the full season was likely to show a strong pick-up.
"As you will see from statistics at the end of the season, exports have since March risen significantly and this year's total exports are likely going to be equal to those of the previous season if not more," he said.
The arabica coffee season in Cameroon runs from October to September. Last season it exported 3,122 tonnes of the crop from a total production of 5,198 tonnes, up from 4,717 tonnes in the 2006/2007 season.
Cameroon has a much larger robusta crop. Total harvest for the two this year is expected around 40,000 tonnes, up from 35,242 tonnes in 2007/09.
It is a minor grower but is seeking to boost its total output to 80,000 tonnes by 2015 and ultimately hit 120,000.