World coffee exports drop in first eight months of coffee year

World coffee export dropped by 2.3 per cent in the first eight months of the coffee year, the International Coffee Organisation (ICO) reported. Exports of coffee from October 2011 to May 2012 amounted to 70.64 million bags, compared to 72.29 million bags in the same period the coffee year prior. Monthly coffee exports were up slightly in May, totalling 9.85 million bags, compared to 9.38 million in May 2012. In the 12 months ending May 2012, exports of Arabica totalled 64.16 million, compared to 68.34 million the year prior. Robusta exports were comparatively up, jumping to 38.9 million bags, compared to 36.42 million the year prior, the ICO reported.