India’s Coffee Exports Brew Up a Record $1.8 Billion in FY25, Extending a Four-Year Growth Run

New Delhi

India’s coffee exports have touched a new high, brewing up $1.8 billion in FY 2024-25, a robust 40.2% jump from the $1.28 billion achieved in the previous fiscal year, according to the Department of Commerce. The milestone marks the fourth consecutive year of growth for the country’s coffee export industry, underscoring its expanding global footprint.

India, now the seventh-largest coffee producer in the world, has seen its coffee export value nearly double in just four years — from $719 million in FY 2020-21 to the current record level. The surge is driven not only by higher international demand but also by a growing shift towards value-added coffee products such as roasted and instant coffee, complementing the traditional dominance of unroasted Arabica and Robusta beans.

A Brew from the Western and Eastern Ghats

The country’s coffee cultivation thrives mainly in the Western and Eastern Ghats, regions celebrated for their rich biodiversity and favorable climate. Karnataka remains India’s coffee heartland, contributing the lion’s share of production, followed by Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Coffee from these regions — Chikmagalur, Coorg, Wayanad, and Nilgiri, among others — continues to win acclaim for its distinctive aroma and flavor.

PM Modi Praises India’s Coffee Story

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his latest episode of Mann Ki Baat, highlighted India’s growing coffee culture and the beverage’s rising popularity among global consumers. Building on his earlier mention of Araku coffee from Andhra Pradesh, the Prime Minister spotlighted Koraput coffee from Odisha this time, praising both its unique taste and the livelihood transformation it has brought to local communities.

“There are people in Koraput who left corporate jobs to pursue their passion for coffee cultivation. Many women too have found new opportunities and empowerment through coffee farming,” the Prime Minister said, commending their success stories.

Modi also noted that coffee cultivation is spreading across the North-Eastern states, further diversifying India’s coffee map. He concluded, “India’s coffee is coffee at its finest — brewed in India and loved by the world.”

A Global Flavor with Local Roots

Over the centuries, India’s coffee journey has evolved from small-scale plantation practices to a dynamic, export-oriented industry. With increasing global appreciation for sustainably sourced, specialty coffees, Indian growers are now finding new markets and higher premiums abroad.

As the country continues to expand its production base and invest in processing infrastructure, India’s coffee story seems set to remain on a steady upward trajectory — energizing both rural livelihoods and the nation’s export portfolio.