By Thomas Kutty Abraham Dec. 1 (Bloomberg) -- Coffee exports from India, Asia’s third-biggest producer, declined 16 percent in the 11 months ended Nov. 30 after excessive rains damaged the crop in the nation’s main growing region, the state-run Coffee Board said. Tata Coffee Ltd. and its domestic rivals shipped 174,260 metric tons in the January-November period, compared with 207,603 tons a year earlier, the Coffee Board Deputy Director N.V. Nagarajaiah said in a phone interview from Bangalore today. Shipments included 30,635 tons of re-exports, he said. India lowered its 2008-09 production estimate for a second time in April after excessive rains damaged the crop in southern state of Karnataka, the biggest coffee-bean grower. Production will fall to 262,300 tons in the year ended Sept. 30, less than 276,600 tons forecast in November 2008, the board said April 30. Exports were valued at $379.2 million, down 31 percent from $548.4 million a year ago, Nagarajaiah said. Shipment fetched an average 106,813 rupees ($2,299) a ton, compared with 109,146 rupees a year earlier, he said Overseas sales in the October-November period, the first two months of the coffee season, rose to 31,150 tons from 25,758 tons, he said. Italy and Russia were among the buyers of Indian coffee. To contact the reporter on this story: Thomas Kutty Abraham in Mumbai at tabraham4@bloomberg.net.

Source