India’s coffee exports zoom 45% to record $1.68 billion in 2024 on high global prices, demand
Indian coffee exports in the 2024 calendar year saw a 45 per cent jump in dollar value terms at over $1.684 billion, a record high on increased demand from buyers in Europe such as Italy and Germany. In 2023, coffee exports were $1.160 billion.
In rupee/value terms, the shipments were up 47 per cent at ₹14,084 crore during calendar 2024 over previous year’s ₹9,585 crore, per the latest data from the State-run Coffee Board.
In volume terms, the shipments rose by about 7 per cent to cross the 4-lakh-tonne mark at 4,03,478 tonnes over 3,77,178 tonnes the previous year.
The unit value realised by Indian exporters during the year was up 37 per cent at ₹3,49,062.80 per tonne against ₹2,54,119.55 a year ago.
The growth in Indian coffee shipments was primarily driven by a surge in global prices, which touched an all-time high during the year. The surge in global coffee prices was driven by the poor weather impacting the production in the key coffee producing countries such as Brazil and Vietnam. India, the seventh largest producer of coffee, is the fifth largest exporter.
Italy, the largest buyer
Another factor that led to higher demand for Indian coffees was the proposed roll-out of the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) norms, which has now been deferred by a year. In the run-up to the proposed implementation of the EUDR norms, roasters and traders in Europe, which accounts for a major chunk of Indian exporters, bought coffees in advance during the year.
Exports of India-grown and produced coffee were up 9.2 per cent at 2,95,402 tonnes during 2024 . Re-exports during the year were up 2.4 per cent at 1,08,081 tonnes over 1,05,523 tonnes a year ago.
Italy continued to be the largest buyer of Indian coffees with volumes of 78,048, up 40 per cent over 55,565 tonnes in 2023. Germany was the second largest buyer with volumes of 42,587 tonnes, up 19 per cent over 35,877 tonnes. Russian Federation was the third largest buyer with 26,764 tonnes purchased, down 2.5 per cent from 27,455 tonnes. United Arab Emirates was the fourth largest buyer with volumes rising to 22,095 tonnes — up 21.62 per cent from 18.166 tonnes.
CCL Products India Ltd was the largest exporter with volumes of 40,665 tonnes, followed by NKG India Coffee Pvt Ltd at 29,957 tonnes. Olam Food Ingredients India Pvt Ltd was the third larget exporter with volumes of 29,005 tonnes. Vidya Herbs Pvt LTd was the fourth largest exporter with shipment volumes of 27,985 tonnes, followed by Louis Dreyfus Company India Pvt Ltd with volumes of 23,590 tonnes.
Among the top ten exporters were Tata Consumer Product Ltd (22,902 tonnes), Indus Coffee Pvt Ltd (21,778 tonnes), Sucden Coffee India Pvt Ltd (19,544 tonnes), ECOM Commodities India Pvt Ltd (19,443 tonnes) and ITC Ltd (12,881 tonnes).