Lampung’s coffee bean exports increasing

BANDARLAMPUNG. The exports of robusta beans in December 2015 increased to US$30.5 million, reaching a volume of 12,046.3 tons, according to the Lampung provincial government.

"The export value of Lampung's robusta beans in December increased as compared to the previous month, but the volume decreased," Head of the Provincial Trade Office Ferynia stated here on Tuesday.

In November, Lampung exported 14,351 tons of coffee beans worth US$24.4 million.

The exports will continue as Lampung is one of the largest producers of robusta beans in Indonesia.

Lampung not only exports robusta but also arabica beans though not as much as the former.

Coffee beans from Lampung are exported to countries such as Algeria, Armenia, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Egypt, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Morocco, Portugal, Russia, Singapore, Switzerland, England, South Africa, Romania, Iran, the United States, and Sweden.

At the start of 2016, the demand for Lampung's coffee among domestic customers is also growing.

"Usually people from Java buy our coffee powder to be given as a gift. Due to the high demand, many coffee shops in this area have run out of stock," Toni, one of the sellers in Tugu market Bandarlampung, noted.

Although the demand for Lampung's coffee has increased by 15 percent, the price remains at Rp40 thousand per kilogram.

Lampung is the largest producer of robusta beans in Indonesia, which has 173,670 hectares of coffee plantations, with production averaging 100 thousand-131 thousand tons per year.