Total coffee shipments, including re-exports, rose to 318,287 tonnes by August 23, driven by robusta and instant coffee, even as rising inventories and Brazil’s harvest outlook pushed global prices lower
India’s coffee exports are running well ahead of last year’s pace, powered by strong shipments of robusta and a sharp increase in instant coffee re-exports. But the export momentum is unfolding against a more complicated backdrop: global coffee prices have started to retreat as expectations of a faster Brazilian harvest and rising robusta inventories weigh on the market. According to the Coffee Board’s Daily Coffee Market Report dated August 24, 2026, India’s total provisional coffee exports, including re-exports, reached 318,287 metric tonnes between January 1 and August 23, 2026, compared with 258,066 metric tonnes during the corresponding period last year. That represents an increase of roughly 23.3 per cent, highlighting the strong momentum in India’s coffee trade during the first eight months of the year.
Indian coffee exports alone, excluding re-exports, stood at 239,828 tonnes, up from 193,975 tonnes during the corresponding period last year. This translates into a growth of nearly 24 per cent, with robusta emerging as the largest contributor to the increase.
Robusta Leads the Export Charge
The biggest movement came from robusta cherry, where provisional exports climbed to 135,480 tonnes, compared with 105,223 tonnes a year earlier. That is an increase of nearly 29 per cent, making robusta cherry by far the largest category in India’s coffee export basket during the period. Arabica parchment exports rose to 39,380 tonnes, from 31,400 tonnes in the same period last year, while Arabica cherry shipments increased to 10,360 tonnes, compared with 8,715 tonnes. In contrast, robusta parchment exports slipped marginally to 18,896 tonnes from 19,230 tonnes. Roasted coffee seed exports rose to 72 tonnes, against 51 tonnes in the previous year, while roast and ground coffee increased to 343 tonnes from 290 tonnes.
The other major contributor was instant coffee. Provisional exports of Indian instant coffee rose to 35,297 tonnes, compared with 29,066 tonnes in the corresponding period last year. In addition, provisional instant coffee re-exports reached 78,459 tonnes, up from 64,090 tonnes a year earlier. This took total instant coffee shipments, including re-exports, to 113,756 tonnes, compared with 93,156 tonnes last year.
The numbers underline an important feature of India’s coffee trade. While green coffee continues to dominate exports, the role of value-added and re-exported instant coffee has become increasingly significant. Of the total 318,287 tonnes shipped during the period, instant coffee, including re-exports, accounted for more than one-third of the total export volume.
Global Coffee Prices Turn Lower
The export strength, however, is coming at a time when international coffee markets are losing some of their recent momentum. According to the Coffee Board’s market analysis, coffee prices settled sharply lower in the latest trading session, with robusta falling to a one-week low. The market came under pressure on expectations that drier weather in Brazil could accelerate the country’s coffee harvest. At the same time, rising inventories added to concerns over robusta supply.
ICE robusta inventories climbed to an 8.75-month high of 4,732 lots, adding further pressure to the market. December Arabica futures declined by 2.02 per cent, or 6.65 US cents per pound, to close at 322.65 US cents per pound. September ICE robusta futures fell by 2.81 per cent, or $104 per tonne, to settle at $3,598 per tonne. The futures curve also reflected a softer price outlook across later contracts. Arabica futures for September 2026 were quoted at 358.75 US cents per pound, equivalent to about Rs 757.06 per kg, while the December 2026 contract stood at 322.65 US cents per pound, or approximately Rs 680.88 per kg. The March 2027 contract was lower at 309.75 US cents per pound, equivalent to around Rs 653.65 per kg.
Robusta futures showed a similar pattern. September 2026 robusta was quoted at $3,598 per tonne, equivalent to approximately Rs 344.40 per kg, while the November 2026 contract was at $3,618 per tonne, or around Rs 346.31 per kg. The January 2027 contract stood at $3,600 per tonne, equivalent to approximately Rs 344.59 per kg. The Coffee Board report used an exchange rate of Rs 95.72 per US dollar.
Indicator Prices Show a Wide Arabica-Robusta Gap
The International Coffee Organization’s group indicator prices also showed the continued premium commanded by Arabica.
Other Mild Arabica was quoted at 370.78 US cents per pound, or approximately Rs 782.44 per kg, compared with 370.03 US cents per pound in the previous reading. Robusta, meanwhile, was quoted at 182.18 US cents per pound, or about Rs 384.45 per kg, marginally lower than the previous level of 182.20 US cents per pound. The difference between Arabica and robusta prices remains substantial, although the global market is increasingly being shaped by expectations around supply conditions, particularly in Brazil, and the movement of exchange-traded inventories.
Karnataka Prices Remain Firm
Despite the correction in international futures, raw coffee prices in Karnataka remained firm as of August 23.
Arabica parchment was quoted between Rs 25,000 and Rs 25,500 per 50 kg, while Arabica cherry traded in the range of Rs 13,700 to Rs 15,000 per 50 kg. Robusta parchment was priced between Rs 18,000 and Rs 18,500 per 50 kg, while robusta cherry was quoted at Rs 10,000 to Rs 11,000 per 50 kg. At the auction level, Arabica Plantation PB was quoted at Rs 708 per kg, while the AA grade stood at Rs 700 per kg. Grade A was priced at Rs 671 per kg, BBB at Rs 574 per kg, and C at Rs 416.50 per kg.
In the robusta segment, Robusta Parchment AA was quoted at Rs 450 per kg, while BBB was priced at Rs 395 per kg and AAA at Rs 381 per kg. Robusta Cherry AB was quoted at Rs 406 per kg, with BBB at Rs 393 per kg and AAA at Rs 379 per kg. The Coffee Board data also showed differentials across coffee categories. Arabica Plantation A was quoted at New York +15 to +18, while Arabica Cherry AB was at New York -25 to -30. Robusta Parchment AB carried a differential of LIFFE +1,300 to +1,500, while Robusta Cherry AB was quoted at LIFFE +350 to +415.
Export Growth Meets a More Difficult Pricing Environment
The bigger question for India’s coffee sector is whether the strong volume performance can continue if global prices remain under pressure.
The Coffee Board’s latest report points to two forces working in opposite directions. On one side, Indian exports are showing strong growth across several categories, with robusta cherry and instant coffee emerging as the biggest drivers. On the other, expectations of faster harvesting in Brazil and a build-up in robusta inventories are beginning to weigh on international benchmark prices. For exporters, that could mean a shift from a market defined largely by strong volumes to one where realisations become increasingly important. Higher shipments do not automatically translate into proportionately higher export earnings if benchmark prices continue to soften.
For now, India’s coffee industry has a substantial volume cushion. Total shipments have already crossed 318,000 tonnes before the end of August, while Indian-origin coffee exports alone are approaching 240,000 tonnes. Robusta cherry has consolidated its position as the dominant export category, while instant coffee continues to strengthen India’s presence in the higher-value segment of the trade.
The months ahead will determine whether this export momentum can be sustained in a changing global market. Brazil’s harvest progress, global inventory levels, currency movements and the direction of Arabica and robusta futures will all influence the price Indian exporters can command. The current numbers, however, leave little doubt about one thing: India is shipping significantly more coffee into the global market than it did a year ago. The next challenge will be to ensure that volume growth is matched by sustainable realisations.
— Suchetana Choudhury (suchetana.choudhuri@agrospectrumindia.com)
source: http://www.agrospectrumindia.com / Agro Spectrum / Home> Allied Industries> News / by / Suchetana Choudhury /August 27th, 2026
