Indonesia Advisory

Coffee bean exports from Indonesia's main growing area of Sumatra nearly doubled in the first 10 months of 2008 supported by bumper harvests, but overseas sales are likely to slow until the end of the year as the main harvest has ended, Reuters reported.

Sumatran coffee bean exports for the January-October period surged to 259,770.67 tons, up 90.23% from 136,556.06 tons a year ago, trade data showed on Monday.

Exports in October rose to 21,798.78 tons from 18,669.01 tons in the same period last year.

The main robusta harvest in Sumatra normally starts from March and peaks in August. Robusta accounts for 85% of Indonesia's coffee bean output, while aromatic, higher-value arabica makes up the rest.

"October exports fell about 52% from 45,760.28 tons in September due to the Idul Fitri holidays," Suherman Harsono, chairman of the Lampung chapter of the Indonesia Coffee Exporters' Association, said.
Lampung, South Sumatra and Bengkulu provinces are Indonesia's main coffee-growing areas and account for three-quarters of the country's coffee bean output. The beans are sold via Panjang port in Lampung.