Global coffee output rises 14%

Production in Brazil rises 29 per cent, India records 4 per cent increase.

The global coffee production in the crop year 2006-07 increased by 14 per cent to 125 million bags compared with 110 million bags in the previous year. The worldwide exports for the year also went up by 9.6 per cent to 96.7 million bags against 88.2 million bags in 2005-06.

"A relatively high level of prices in recent years and good weather conditions contributed to this rise," said the International Coffee Organisation (ICO) in its annual review 2006-07.

The increase in exports was significant in the case of Robustas (14.3 per cent). Arabica exports, meanwhile, rose by 7.3 per cent. With the recovery in prices, the total value of exports in 2006-07 is estimated at $12.3 billion against $10.1 billion in 2005-06.

The share of Robustas in total production was down from 38.5 per cent in 2005-06 to 36.7 per cent in 2006-07 as a result of an increase in Arabica production, the share of which went up from 61.5 per cent to 63.3 per cent.

The ICO report said, "In Asia/Oceania, the production level rose to 32 million bags compared with 29.2 million bags in the previous year. Increased output in Vietnam (35.8 per cent) and India (4 per cent) offset the decline in Indonesia (23.2 per cent) and Papua New Guinea (36.4 per cent). However, the region's share in the world production fell from 26.6 per cent in 2005-06 to 25.6 per cent in 2006-07.

In South America, Brazil recorded an increase of 29 per cent in production to 42.5 million bags against 32.9 million bags previous year.

The production in Colombia increased from 12.3 million bags in 2005-06 to 12.8 million bags in 2006-07. The region's share in world production rose from 45.3 per cent to 49.3 per cent.

In Central America, Mexico recorded slight decline in production from 17.4 million bags to 17.1 million bags in 2006-07. Output in other countries of the region including Costa Rica, El Salvador and Nicaragua have also fallen.

This fall was partially offset by an increase in production in Guatemala and Honduras. The region's share in the world production, however, dipped to 13.6 per cent in 2006-07 against 15.8 per cent in 2005-06.

The opening stocks in producing countries for crop year 2006-07 were estimated at around 29 million bags. At the end of September 2007, the stocks in importing countries were estimated at 22.6 million bags.