According to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, India is now the seventh-largest coffee producer globally with exports reaching $1.29 billion in FY 2023-24, almost double the $719.42 million in 2020-21.
Exports and Global Demand
- Key Markets: India exported over 9,300 tonnes of coffee in the first half of January 2025, with Italy, Belgium, and Russia as top buyers.
- Product Profile: Approximately 75% of production comprises Arabica and Robusta beans, mainly exported as unroasted beans. However, value-added products like roasted and instant coffee are gaining traction.
Domestic Coffee Trends
- Consumption has risen from 84,000 tonnes in 2012 to 91,000 tonnes in 2023, signaling a cultural shift toward coffee as a daily staple.
Production in India
- Major Producers: Karnataka dominates production with 248,020 MT in 2022-23, followed by Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Coffee plantations in the Western and Eastern Ghats are vital to preserving biodiversity.
- Sustainability: Shaded plantations in these biodiversity hotspots help maintain ecological balance, blending agriculture with environmental conservation.
Key Initiatives
- The Coffee Board of India’s Integrated Coffee Development Project (ICDP) focuses on:
- Enhancing yields.
- Expanding cultivation in non-traditional areas.
- Promoting sustainable farming practices.
- Araku Valley Model: In collaboration with the Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA), nearly 150,000 tribal families have increased coffee production by 20%, showcasing the success of such initiatives.
Coffee Introduction in India
- India’s coffee story traces back to the 1600s when Baba Budan introduced Mocha seeds to Karnataka. His simple act of planting these seeds in the courtyard of his hermitage in Baba Budan Giri unknowingly set in motion the rise of India as one of the world’s prominent coffee producers.
- This blend of tradition, innovation, and sustainability has propelled India into the global spotlight, ensuring its coffee continues to charm markets worldwide
(Source: PIB)
