Coffee exports up 280,000 bags in December 2012: ICO

World coffee exports grew by 280,000 bags in December 2012 over the same month a year prior, the International Coffee Organisation (ICO) reported on 1 February.  In its monthly statistics report, the ICO said that world coffee exports amounted to 9.42 million bags in December 2012, compared with 9.14 million in December 2011. Exports in the first quarter of the coffee year 2012-13 (October 2012 to December 2012) were reported to have increased by 15 per cent to 28.3 million bags compared to 24.6 million bags in the same period in the last coffee year. While coffee exports continue to grow on both fronts, Robustas are leading that growth. In calendar year 2012, exports of Arabica totalled 66.53 million bags compared to 67.04 million bags last year; whereas Robusta exports amounted to 46.62 million bags compared to 37.53 million bags.