According to the Ministry of Commerce & Industry (MoC&I), India became the world’s 7th largest coffee producing country with exports reaching USD 1.29 billion in Financial Year 2023-24 (FY24), from USD 719.42 million recorded in FY21.
- The Ministry further revealed that India exported over 9,300 tonnes of coffee in the 1st half of January 2025, with top buyers including Italy, Belgium and Russia.
Note: Top 5 coffee producing countries: Brazil, Vietnam, Colombia, Indonesia, and Ethiopia.
Key Points:
i.Nearly 3/4th (75%) of India’s coffee production consists of Arabica and Robusta beans are exported as unroasted beans.
- However, there is a growing demand for value-added products like roasted and instant coffee, further boosting the export of coffee.
ii.As per MoC&I, domestic consumption of coffee has increased from 84,000 tonnes (in 2012) to 91,000 tonnes (in 2023).
iii.India’s coffee is primarily grown in the ecologically rich Western and Eastern Ghats. Karnataka topped in terms of coffee production, contributing 2,48,020 Metric Tonnes (MT) in 2022-23, followed by Kerala and Tamil Nadu (TN).
Government Initiatives:
i.MoC&I through the Integrated Coffee Development Project (ICDP) aimed at improving yields, expanding cultivation in non-traditional regions and ensuring the sustainability of coffee farming.
ii.A prime example of the success of India’s coffee industry is Araku Valley, where nearly 1.5 lakh tribal families in collaboration with the Coffee Board of India (CBoI) and the Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) have increased coffee production by 20%.
- This achievement is supported by loans from the Girijan Co-operative Corporation (GCC).
Key Facts about Coffee:
- Coffee plant originated in Ethiopia and spread to the Middle East before making its way to Europe in the 15th Century.
- Coffee is the world’s 2nd most traded commodity after oil.
- International Coffee Day (ICD), is annually observed across the world on October 01.
About Coffee Board of India (CBoI):
It is a statutory body established under Section 4 of the Coffee Act, 1942. The Board has a Central Coffee Research Institute (CCRI) at Balehonnur, Karnataka with a sub-station at Chettalli, Karnataka.
Chairman- M.J. Dinesh
Headquarters -Bengaluru, Karnataka
Established- 1942
