India's coffee exports - Jan to March(2009) - 15% down

India's coffee exports fell 15 percent in the first three months of 2009, on the back of a continued slump in European demand due to the ongoing global slowdown, an official from the Coffee Board said on Wednesday. Total exports were 50,743 tonnes during Jan-March, compared with 59,746 tonnes in the year-ago period, the official, who did not wish to be identified, told Reuters.

"The exports to the European Union have been hit because of the global slowdown," the Coffee Board official said.
The country produces only 4.5 percent of the world's coffee, but exports 70-80 percent of its output and about 65 percent is exported to European countries.
India exports coffee mainly to Italy, Germany and Russia.
Italy accounts for about 25 percent of the country's coffee exports, followed by the Russian Federation and Germany with 9 percent and 7.8 percent respectively. "Exports are expected to continue going down even in the coming months as there are no immediate signs of a revival in global demand," the official said.
Total arabica exports in Jan-March stood at 13,234 tonnes and robusta exports stood at 30,151 tonnes. Arabica is mainly used in premium coffees, while robusta, which makes up 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

Source : in.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idINBOM46303420090401