India has a successful coffee industry
When you think of a traditional Indian scene, coffee plantations may not be the first thing you think of. However, in modern times, the Indian coffee industry is going great guns – it seems that the world has woken up and smelled the coffee brewing in their country.
In particular, it seems that the global appetite for the Indian coffee bean is focussing on two varieties especially – the Arabica and the Robusta bean are proving rather attractive to the rest of the world.
The green bean is produced largely in Karnataka and there is a huge international interest in this product. Things have not always been this good – for around ten years, there were many peaks and troughs in the market under the World Trade Organisation. However, it seems that things are now on the up and up.
Shall we talk numbers for a moment? Published figures reveal that 302,000 tonnes of coffee beans were produced during the year 2010 – 2011 and this is a significant increase on the equivalent figures the year previously (289,000 tonnes). The exported amount of coffee was apparently a stunning 319,892 tonnes, which is an incredible 63% increase on the last year.
According to quotes published from the new president of the United Planters Association of Southern India, there was a successful outcome in three keys areas: ‘quantity exported, value realisation and unit value.’
As well as international exports, there have also been reports of increased demand in domestic auctions.
India, it would appear, knows its coffee beans.