El Salvador Coffee Exports Up 38% At 621,730 Bags Through Feb

Mar 10, 2011 (Dow Jones Commodities News via Comtex) — DOW JONES NEWSWIRES

Coffee exports from El Salvador for the 2010-2011 season through February totaled 621,730 bags of 60 kilograms each, up 38% from the same period last year, the country’s coffee council said Thursday.

The value of coffee exports during the first five months of the season saw a year-on-year increase of 75%, to $144.52 million amid high international coffee prices.

Germany was the principle destination for coffee exports from El Salvador, receiving 37%, while the U.S. received 32% and Japan received 9%.

Last month, the country exported 230,156 bags of coffee, up 19% from February 2010. The value of the exports increased 52%, to $55 million.

The average price per pound during the month was $1.83, compared with $1.45 during February 2010.

El Salvador contracted to sell 1.42 million bags for export through March 8, up 116% from the same period last season. The volume represents a value of $359.9 million, up 189% from last year, with an average price per pound of $1.94, compared with $1.45 last year.

The country expects to produce 1.7 million bags of coffee this season, up 40% from last year, when there was a record low harvest.

-By Jean Guerrero, Dow Jones Newswires; (5255) 5980-5180, email hidden; JavaScript is required