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Processed food

Export coffee

Arabica and Robusta green beans, monsooned and instant coffee. Coffee Board registration and an export permit for every shipment.

Free to exportHS 0901.11
HS code
0901.11
Coffee, not roasted, not decaffeinated (green coffee). Roasted coffee is 0901.21; instant coffee is 2101.11.
Export policy
Free to export
Free under ITC(HS), but only a Coffee Board-registered exporter can ship, and each shipment needs an export permit (Form C) and ICO certificate of origin under Rule 44(2) of the Coffee Act, 1942. Post-shipment documents go to the Coffee Board within 45 days.
Registrations
4
IEC, GST and those below
India’s exports, 2025-26
US$ 1.41 bn
to 73 countries

What is exported

Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu grow most of India’s coffee, mostly Robusta. Exports go as green beans graded under Coffee Board standards (Plantation A, Robusta Cherry AB, Monsooned Malabar AA and others), and as instant coffee. Coffee Board’s last published country table (2020-21) shows Italy, Germany, Belgium and Russia as the largest buyers.

Varieties, grades and forms

  • Arabica Plantation A and ABWashed Arabica graded by bean size.
  • Robusta Cherry AB and ParchmentNatural (cherry) and washed (parchment) Robusta — the bulk of exports.
  • Monsooned Malabar AABeans exposed to monsoon winds on the west coast; mellow, low acidity; GI.
  • Mysore Nuggets Extra BoldLarge-bean premium Arabica.
  • Robusta Kaapi Royale and instant coffeePremium Robusta for espresso; instant coffee is a large value-added line (2101 11).

Where it is grown or made

  • KarnatakaLargest producer: Kodagu (Coorg), Chikkamagaluru, Bababudangiris, Hassan.
  • KeralaWayanad (Robusta) and Travancore.
  • Tamil NaduNilgiris, Anamalais and Shevaroys.
  • Andhra Pradesh and OdishaAraku Valley — tribal-grown Arabica.

Season

Harvest runs roughly November to February (Arabica first, then Robusta); curing works ship through the year.

Export packing

  • Green coffee in 60 kg jute bags; GrainPro-type hermetic liners for speciality lots.
  • Bulk container liners for large Robusta orders.
  • Instant coffee in bulk cartons or retail jars and sachets.

Who buys abroad

  • Roasters and green-coffee importers in Italy, Germany and Belgium
  • Importers in Russia and the UAE
  • Speciality roasters in the USA, Japan and Australia
  • Instant-coffee brands and private labels

The quality buyers ask for

Coffee Board grades
Arabica Plantation (washed) A/B/C, Arabica Cherry AB/PB, Robusta Parchment AB/PB, Robusta Cherry AB/PB/C, plus specialty grades such as Monsooned Malabar AA and Mysore Nuggets EB
Bean size
By screen size; PB means peaberry (single round bean)
Moisture
Buyers typically want about 10–12.5%, measured by the ISO 6673 method
Defects
Black, brown, broken and insect-damaged beans counted against ISO 10470 or the buyer’s defect chart
Cup quality
Cup-tested by the buyer; specialty lots are scored on the SCA scale

Certificates

  • Coffee Board registrationRequiredOnly a registered exporter can ship coffee.
  • Export permit and ICO certificate of originRequiredEach shipment needs a Coffee Board export permit and the ICO certificate of origin.
  • FSSAI licenceRequiredCentral licence from FSSAI for the premises where the food is packed or stored for export. Apply on FoSCoS.
  • EUDR due diligence (EU)Often askedThe EU Deforestation Regulation covers coffee: EU buyers need plot geolocation and proof of no deforestation. Its start date has been postponed more than once — confirm the current date with your buyer.
  • Rainforest Alliance / FairtradeOften askedSustainability certificates asked for by many roasters.
  • Organic (NPOP / NOP / EU)Often askedNeeded only if you sell the product as organic: NPOP certification by an accredited body, plus the buyer market’s own organic rules.

Shipping, storage and shelf life

Container load

Green coffee in 60 kg jute bags: a 20-ft container typically holds about 300–320 bags (about 18–19 tonnes). Specialty lots use hermetic liners.

How it travels

Sea freight from New Mangalore, Kochi, Chennai and Tuticorin.

Storage

Cool, dry, ventilated store; line containers against condensation, which causes mould and taints.

Shelf life

Green coffee keeps about a year in good storage; roasted coffee only weeks to months.

What goes on the pack and carton

  • Bags carry the ICO mark (country code, exporter code and lot number), grade, crop year and net weight.
  • Bulk bags and cartons: product and grade, crop year, lot number, net and gross weight, “Product of India”, exporter name and the buyer’s shipping marks, matching the invoice and packing list exactly.
  • EU retail packs (Regulation 1169/2011): name of the food, ingredients with allergens highlighted, net quantity, best-before date, storage conditions, the EU importer’s name and address, and origin where required — in the language of the country of sale.
  • USA (21 CFR 101): product name, net quantity in both US and metric units, ingredients, allergens, name and place of business of the packer or distributor, Nutrition Facts unless exempt; and “Product of India” marking (19 CFR 134).
Where to get it tested

The Coffee Board’s quality control division (Bengaluru) assesses quality and cupping; contact it through coffeeboard.gov.in. For residues, ochratoxin A or moisture tests, use an NABL-accredited lab (search nabl-india.org).

Benefits of exporting this product

Where to register

  • Coffee Board of IndiaExporter registration with RCMC (valid 3 years), applied through the National Single Window System, plus an export permit for each shipment.coffeeboard.gov.in ↗
  • FSSAIFood business licence. FSSAI rules put food exporters under the Central licence; apply on FoSCoS and keep it valid for the premises you pack from.foscos.fssai.gov.in ↗

Quality and checks

  • Grade and cup quality as per Coffee Board grading standards; the permit is issued only for listed types and grades.
  • Ochratoxin A and moisture; EU buyers test green coffee for ochratoxin.
  • EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR): EU buyers ask for plot geolocation and due-diligence data for coffee. Confirm the current application date with the buyer.
How to start small

Register with the Coffee Board, then buy a graded lot from a curing works in Chikkamagaluru, Hassan or Kodagu. Specialty or monsooned coffee in 60 kg bags to a roaster in Europe, or roasted coffee to Gulf cafés, is a realistic first shipment.

Where new exporters go wrong

  • Shipping without the export permit, or missing the 45-day post-shipment filing — the Coffee Board can de-register you.
  • No farm-level traceability for EU buyers who must meet deforestation due-diligence rules.

Documents this product needs

Schemes that apply

Sources (3)
  1. Coffee Board — Exporter registration, export permits and grades
  2. Coffee Board — Exports of coffee by country, 2020-21
  3. Coffee Board — Coffee statistics

Trade data

Indian coffee exports in numbers

From the Department of Commerce’s TradeStat, country by country. US$, Indian financial years (April–March).

Exports in 2025-26
US$ 1.41 bn
+24.5% a year on average, 2020-21 to 2025-26
Change from 2024-25
↑ +13%
US$ 1.24 bn → US$ 1.41 bn
Buyer countries
73
Average export price
US$ 5.71
per kg · 2,46,416 tonnes shipped · US$ 5.08 the year before
Italy: US$ 325 mnGermany: US$ 185 mnUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 74.4 mnKuwait: US$ 50 mnEgypt: US$ 44.1 mnSouth Korea: US$ 40.8 mnNetherlands: US$ 36.4 mnRussia: US$ 35 mnAustralia: US$ 30.4 mnFrance: US$ 26.6 mnSaudi Arabia: US$ 21.7 mnSpain: US$ 21.3 mnUnited States of America: US$ 18 mnUnited Kingdom: US$ 17.6 mnItaly: US$ 325 mnItalyGermany: US$ 185 mnGermanyUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 74.4 mnUnited Arab EmiratesKuwait: US$ 50 mnEgypt: US$ 44.1 mnEgyptSouth Korea: US$ 40.8 mnSouth KoreaNetherlands: US$ 36.4 mnRussia: US$ 35 mnAustralia: US$ 30.4 mnAustraliaFrance: US$ 26.6 mnSaudi Arabia: US$ 21.7 mnSpain: US$ 21.3 mnUnited States of America: US$ 18 mnUnited Kingdom: US$ 17.6 mnIndia
Where Indian coffee goes — among our 30 countries, 2025-26
2020-21: US$ 470 mn4702020-212021-22: US$ 704 mn7042021-222022-23: US$ 751 mn7512022-232023-24: US$ 823 mn8232023-242024-25: US$ 1.24 bn1.2k2024-252025-26: US$ 1.41 bn1.4k2025-26
India’s coffee exports, year by year · US$ million

The price cycle

India’s average export price per kg each year (total value ÷ total quantity). Highest in 2025-26, lowest in 2020-21 — a 150% swing between them. Keep this swing in mind when you quote.

2020-21: US$ 2.28 per kg2.282021-22: US$ 2.47 per kg2022-23: US$ 2.86 per kg2024-25: US$ 5.08 per kg2025-26: US$ 5.71 per kg5.712020-212021-222022-232023-242024-252025-26
Average export price of Indian coffee · US$ per kg · dotted = year in between not available

What next: a projection from the trend

The past trend carried forward — not a forecast by any authority. Sudden changes in policy, prices or demand are not in it.

2020-21: US$ 470 mn2020-212021-22: US$ 704 mn2021-222022-23: US$ 751 mn2022-232023-24: US$ 823 mn2023-242024-25: US$ 1.24 bn2024-252025-26: US$ 1.41 bn2025-262026-27: US$ 1.74 bn (US$ 1.51 bn – US$ 2.01 bn)1.7k2026-272027-28: US$ 2.15 bn (US$ 1.83 bn – US$ 2.52 bn)2.1k2027-28
India’s coffee exports and projection · hollow bars = projection, line = likely range
By 2027-28: US$ 2.15 bn

Likely range US$ 1.83 bn to US$ 2.52 bn.

Trend
+23.1% a year
Fit (R²)
0.95
Based on
6 years of official figures

Method: a straight line through the logarithm of yearly exports (log-linear regression); range = ±1 standard error.

Biggest buyer countries

By value in 2025-26. Change is against 2024-25.

Name2025-26Change
1ItalyUS$ 325 mn+6.2%
2GermanyUS$ 185 mn-1.1%
3BelgiumUS$ 99.2 mn-21.2%
4United Arab EmiratesUS$ 74.4 mn+15.6%
5JordanUS$ 73.8 mn+68.8%
6LibyaUS$ 54 mn-21.2%
7KuwaitUS$ 50 mn+55.4%
8EgyptUS$ 44.1 mn+53.1%
9South KoreaUS$ 40.8 mn+69.4%
10NetherlandsUS$ 36.4 mn+0.4%
11GreeceUS$ 35.1 mn+49.6%
12RussiaUS$ 35 mn+103.2%

Where demand is rising and falling

Only countries that buy at least US$ 1 million or 1% of India’s exports of this product. Change from 2024-25 to 2025-26.

High demand

  1. CroatiaUS$ 6.3 mn → US$ 20.9 mn+233.8%
  2. RussiaUS$ 17.2 mn → US$ 35 mn+103.2%
  3. AlgeriaUS$ 8.6 mn → US$ 16.5 mn+91.4%
  4. South KoreaUS$ 24.1 mn → US$ 40.8 mn+69.4%
  5. JordanUS$ 43.7 mn → US$ 73.8 mn+68.8%
  6. KuwaitUS$ 32.2 mn → US$ 50 mn+55.4%
  7. EgyptUS$ 28.8 mn → US$ 44.1 mn+53.1%
  8. GreeceUS$ 23.5 mn → US$ 35.1 mn+49.6%

Low demand

  1. PortugalUS$ 19.5 mn → US$ 13 mn-33%
  2. BelgiumUS$ 126 mn → US$ 99.2 mn-21.2%
  3. LibyaUS$ 68.5 mn → US$ 54 mn-21.2%
  4. SpainUS$ 24.8 mn → US$ 21.3 mn-14.3%

Which forms sell, and at what price

India’s exports by 8-digit tariff line, 2025-26. Average price = total value ÷ total quantity (TradeStat): the average of every shipment on that line, not the price of any one deal.

Tariff lineValue 2025-26ChangeQuantityAverage price
Coffee rob cherry other grade0901 11 49 · Coffee, not roasted or decaffeinatedUS$ 416 mn+2.5%82,281 tonnesUS$ 5.05 per kgwas US$ 4.82
Coffee, not roasted or decaffeinated — coffee rob cherry ab0901 11 41US$ 353 mn+4.5%71,786 tonnesUS$ 4.92 per kgwas US$ 4.76
Coffee arabica plantation other grade0901 11 19 · Coffee, not roasted or decaffeinatedUS$ 124 mn+23.7%14,807 tonnesUS$ 8.40 per kgwas US$ 6.34
Coffee arabica plantation`a`0901 11 11 · Coffee, not roasted or decaffeinatedUS$ 98.7 mn+8.2%12,070 tonnesUS$ 8.17 per kgwas US$ 5.97
Coffee, not roasted or decaffeinated — coffee rob parchment ab0901 11 31US$ 72.6 mn+18.8%12,236 tonnesUS$ 5.93 per kgwas US$ 5.16
Coffee rob parchment other grade0901 11 39 · Coffee, not roasted or decaffeinatedUS$ 61 mn+17.8%10,272 tonnesUS$ 5.94 per kgwas US$ 5.10
Coffee arabica plantation`b`0901 11 12 · Coffee, not roasted or decaffeinatedUS$ 59.8 mn+58.5%7,860 tonnesUS$ 7.61 per kgwas US$ 5.30
Coffee arabica cherry other grade0901 11 29 · Coffee, not roasted or decaffeinatedUS$ 50.7 mn+20.7%6,078 tonnesUS$ 8.34 per kgwas US$ 6.58
Coffee, not roasted or decaffeinated — coffee rob cherry pb0901 11 42US$ 36.1 mn+37.2%7,341 tonnesUS$ 4.92 per kgwas US$ 4.79
Coffee arabica plantation`c`0901 11 13 · Coffee, not roasted or decaffeinatedUS$ 30.7 mn+25.7%4,219 tonnesUS$ 7.28 per kgwas US$ 5.40
Coffee, not roasted or decaffeinated — coffee arabica cherry ab0901 11 21US$ 24.4 mn+67%3,569 tonnesUS$ 6.84 per kgwas US$ 5.44
Coffee, not roasted or decaffeinated — coffee arabica cherry c0901 11 23US$ 18.3 mn+3,347.2%2,447 tonnesUS$ 7.47 per kgwas US$ 3.87
Coffee other,neither roasted nor decaffe- inated0901 11 90 · Coffee, not roasted or decaffeinatedUS$ 17.5 mn+325.6%3,496 tonnesUS$ 4.99 per kgwas US$ 4.60
Coffee, not roasted or decaffeinated — coffee rob cherry bulk0901 11 45US$ 13.6 mn-46.7%2,634 tonnesUS$ 5.15 per kgwas US$ 4.69

The world market

Each country’s own recorded exports and imports in UN Comtrade, 2023 (the latest year nearly every country has reported).

World imports
US$ 42.2 bn
2023
India among exporters
#17
of 150 countries
India’s share of world exports
1.8%
US$ 746 mn
Left for others to win
US$ 40.7 bn
exported by other countries

Top exporters — your competitors

  1. 1BrazilUS$ 7.35 bn 17.7%
  2. 2SwitzerlandUS$ 3.64 bn 8.8%
  3. 3GermanyUS$ 3.5 bn 8.5%
  4. 4Viet NamUS$ 3.18 bn 7.7%
  5. 5ColombiaUS$ 2.91 bn 7%
  6. 6ItalyUS$ 2.59 bn 6.3%
  7. 7HondurasUS$ 1.49 bn 3.6%
  8. 8FranceUS$ 1.28 bn 3.1%
  9. 9EthiopiaUS$ 1.23 bn 3%
  10. 10USAUS$ 1.19 bn 2.9%

Biggest buyers in the world

  1. 1USAUS$ 8.2 bn 19.5%
  2. 2GermanyUS$ 4.17 bn 9.9%
  3. 3FranceUS$ 3.34 bn 7.9%
  4. 4ItalyUS$ 2.48 bn 5.9%
  5. 5CanadaUS$ 1.74 bn 4.1%
  6. 6JapanUS$ 1.56 bn 3.7%
  7. 7NetherlandsUS$ 1.46 bn 3.5%
  8. 8SpainUS$ 1.39 bn 3.3%
  9. 9United KingdomUS$ 1.33 bn 3.1%
  10. 10SwitzerlandUS$ 1.24 bn 3%

Opportunity: what these countries buy from the world, and from India

Each country’s own recorded imports in UN Comtrade, latest year it has reported. The long light part of each bar is demand other countries are filling today.

United States of AmericaUS$ 8.99 bnIndia 0.2% · gap US$ 8.97 bn
GermanyUS$ 5.64 bnIndia 3.3% · gap US$ 5.46 bn
FranceUS$ 3.42 bnIndia 0.4% · gap US$ 3.4 bn
ItalyUS$ 3.11 bnIndia 8.6% · gap US$ 2.84 bn
CanadaUS$ 1.9 bnIndia 0.2% · gap US$ 1.89 bn
SpainUS$ 1.79 bnIndia 1.3% · gap US$ 1.77 bn
JapanUS$ 1.71 bnIndia 0.1% · gap US$ 1.71 bn
NetherlandsUS$ 1.53 bnIndia 1.4% · gap US$ 1.51 bn
United KingdomUS$ 1.33 bnIndia 0.7% · gap US$ 1.32 bn
South KoreaUS$ 1.24 bnIndia 1.8% · gap US$ 1.22 bn

TradeStat’s 2023-24 quantities are double-counted, so that year is left out of the price. Sources: TradeStat — Export Import Data Bank, Department of Commerce · UN Comtrade database (United Nations Statistics Division) · Figures taken 29 October 2026.

Step by step

How to export coffee

India is a mid-sized coffee origin next to Brazil, Vietnam, Colombia and Indonesia, and exports most of what it grows. Its coffee is shade-grown under forest canopy in Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, which buyers value. Italy, Germany, Russia, Belgium and Turkey are big buyers, mostly of Robusta. Openings are specialty Arabica and fine Robusta, Monsooned Malabar (a GI coffee with a unique cup), instant coffee, and traceable, certified lots for buyers facing the EU Deforestation Regulation.

  1. 01Register with the Coffee Board

    Register as an exporter after IEC; you need it before the first shipment.

  2. 02Source and cure

    Buy parchment or cherry from estates and have it hulled, graded and sorted at a curing works.

  3. 03Approve samples

    Send type samples and pre-shipment samples; roasters approve by cupping.

  4. 04Collect traceability data

    For EU buyers, record farm plots and geolocation for every lot.

  5. 05Permit, ship and certify

    Get the export permit and ICO certificate of origin, stuff, and file the shipping bill.

  6. 06Report to the Board

    Submit post-shipment documents to the Coffee Board within 45 days.

  7. 07Get paid and close the file

    Send the original documents through your bank (or to the buyer if paid in advance). Once the money arrives, get the e-BRC and claim RoDTEP and drawback where they apply.

Meet buyers

Trade fairs

Questions

Questions about exporting coffee

Arabica or Robusta — which sells better from India?
Robusta is the larger export by volume, mainly to Italy and Europe for espresso blends. Arabica sells to specialty roasters.
What is Monsooned Malabar?
Arabica or Robusta exposed to monsoon winds on the Malabar coast, which swell the beans and give a mellow, low-acid cup. It is a GI product.
Can I export roasted or instant coffee?
Yes, still as a Coffee Board-registered exporter, with FSSAI licensing for the roasting or processing unit.
What does EUDR mean for me?
EU buyers must prove your coffee is not from land deforested after 2020. Start collecting plot locations now, whatever the final start date.
How is green coffee priced?
Usually as a differential to the London (Robusta) or New York (Arabica) futures price, fixed by the buyer and seller.
Sources (4)
  1. Coffee Board — Exporter registration, export permits and grades
  2. Coffee Board — Coffee statistics
  3. PIB — Brewing Prosperity: India’s coffee story (Nov 2025)
  4. NABL — National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (laboratory search)

Who buys Indian coffee

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