India’s coffee exports rose by 26.6 percent to reach 1.74 lakh tonnes during the January–April period of 2026, compared to 1.37 lakh tonnes in the corresponding months of 2025. Data from the Government and the Coffee Board of India indicates that this surge was primarily driven by a 36 percent increase in Robusta shipments alongside expanded value-added instant coffee exports. In financial terms, the total export value increased to Rs 936.57 crore from Rs 757.07 crore last year, supported by an improvement in unit value realization to Rs 4,94,766 per tonne. Conversely, Arabica exports experienced a contraction of 58 percent during this four-month window due to shifting domestic production dynamics and global supply preferences.
Export Performance and Varietal Trends
The performance of Indian coffee exports highlights a distinct divergence between the two primary commercial coffee varieties, Arabica and Robusta, alongside steady expansions in processed categories.
Varietal Breakdown (January–April 2026)
- Robusta Raw Beans: Shipments jumped to 85,168 tonnes from 62,736.92 tonnes in 2025, reflecting a 36 percent volume growth. High international demand for blending and instant coffee manufacturing sustained this momentum.
- Arabica Raw Beans: Shipments declined to 30,589 tonnes against 72,479 tonnes in the previous year, marking a 58 percent contraction.
- Instant Coffee: Direct exports of locally manufactured instant coffee reached 20,332 tonnes, up from 17,504 tonnes in the same period of 2025.
- Processed Re-exports: Re-exports of processed coffee, derived from imported green beans upgraded within domestic free trade zones, increased to 38,169 tonnes from 30,274 tonnes.
Production Estimates and Crop Dynamics
The Coffee Board of India released its post-blossom crop forecast for the 2025–26 marketing year, projecting a record aggregate output. However, plantation-level weather disruptions introduce variable trends.
Crop Outlook for 2025–26
The post-blossom framework pegs total domestic production at a record 4,03,000 metric tonnes, representing an 11 percent increase over the final crop of the previous season.
| Coffee Variety | Estimated Output (Metric Tonnes) | Share of Total Production |
| Robusta | 2,84,875 | ~70.7% |
| Arabica | 1,18,125 | ~29.3% |
| Total Crop | 4,03,000 | 100.0% |
Agro-Climatic Risks
While the early-season flowering was favorable, extended monsoon patterns caused localized challenges. Planter associations noted berry-drop and the emergence of fungal infestations, specifically black rot in Arabica tracts and fruit rot in Robusta blocks across key growing districts.
Geographical Distribution of Production and Markets
Indian coffee cultivation is structurally concentrated in the southern peninsula, while the export destination matrix consists of traditional western nations and fast-growing Asian consumer bases.
Primary Producing States
- Karnataka: The largest producer, accounting for roughly 70 percent of India’s output. The state is projected to harvest 280,275 tonnes for 2025–26, led by the core districts of Kodagu, Chikkamagaluru, and Hassan.
- Kerala: The second-largest producer, with a 2025–26 forecast of 85,150 tonnes. Production is heavily skewed toward Robusta, concentrated in the Wayanad tract.
- Tamil Nadu: Forecast at 20,315 tonnes, maintaining a higher proportional specialization in Arabica cultivation across hill ranges like the Nilgiris and Shevaroys.
- Non-Traditional Areas: Regions including Andhra Pradesh (Araku Valley), Odisha, and the North-Eastern states combine for an estimated 17,050 tonnes.
Major Export Destinations
- European Union: Europe remains the largest consolidated buyer of Indian coffee, with Italy, Germany, and Belgium serving as the top three destinations for green beans.
- Emerging Markets: Consumption growth in Russia, the Middle East, Japan, and South Korea has driven an expansion in value-added instant coffee shipments from Indian processing facilities.
IASPOINT Booster Facts for UPSC
- Historical Origin: Coffee cultivation in India began in the 17th century when the Sufi saint Baba Budan smuggled seven fertile coffee beans from Yemen and planted them in the Chandragiri Hills of Chikkamagaluru, Karnataka.
- Shade-Grown Characteristics: Unlike major global producers like Brazil which practice open-sun farming, Indian coffee is almost entirely shade-grown under a two-tier canopy of evergreen trees. This prevents soil erosion and integrates coffee estates with Western Ghats biodiversity.
- The Coffee Board of India: Established as a statutory organization under the Coffee Act of 1942, it functions under the administrative control of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Its headquarters are located in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
- Agro-Climatic Requirements: Coffee requires a hot and humid climate with temperatures between 15°C and 28°C, annual rainfall ranging from 150 to 250 cm, and well-drained, deep friable loamy soils rich in humus. Sloping terrains are preferred to avoid water logging.
- Geographical Indication (GI) Tags: India possesses five distinct GI tags for regional coffee varieties: Coorg Arabica Coffee (Karnataka), Wayanad Robusta Coffee (Kerala), Chikmagalur Arabica Coffee (Karnataka), Araku Valley Arabica Coffee (Andhra Pradesh/Odisha), and Bababudangiris Arabica Coffee (Karnataka).
- Monsooned Malabar Coffee: A unique processed coffee variant from the Malabar coast holding a GI tag. Green beans are exposed to moisture-laden monsoon winds in open warehouses, causing them to swell, lose acidity, and acquire a distinct mellow flavor profile.