Weak prices, slower demand pull down coffee exports in 2012

However, the export realisation was better than 2011 mainly because of better global prices of robusta variety in the beginning of the year, it added. In 2011, the country had shipped 3,40,779 tonnes coffee.

"The shipments have come down this year for three reasons -- not so good demand for our coffee due to recession in some countries, falling prices in the global market and tight local stocks," a senior Coffee Board official told PTI.

There was hardly any old stock left in the country for export purpose this year because much of it was exhausted in the last two years when demand was at its peak and international prices were high, the official said.

Normally, India's coffee exports consist of 2-3 years' stocks. Also, global prices remained less lucrative for Indian coffee exporters as improved supplies from Brazil and Vietnam dented prices, the official added.

While rates of arabica variety remained lower throughout the year, prices of robusta variety, which were lucrative during the first half of the year, began to decline later.

Primarily on account of better robusta prices, the Coffee Board official said, the export realisation was slightly higher at Rs 1,52,038 per tonne in 2012 as compared to Rs 1,40,496 per tonne in 2011.

However, total exports in terms of value during

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