Coffee harvest to decline

Coffee harvest to decline

JAKARTA (JP): The Association of the Indonesian Coffee
Exporters estimates a drop of up to 60 percent in Indonesia's
coffee production this year because of drought, Antara reported
Saturday.

The association's chairman, Oesman Soedargo, was quoted as
saying the coffee harvest for 1997 was projected to fall to
180,000 tons this year from 500,000 tons because of draught and
too much rain in late 1996.

"The condition has also led to a drastic fall in exports,"
Oesman said.

Domestic demand consumes about 120,000 tons of coffee.

Oesman said 70 percent of the country's coffee production came
from Lampung, South Sumatra, and Bengkulu, while the remaining 30
percent was from eastern Indonesia provinces.

About 90 percent of production is Robusta Coffee, which sells
for about US$1.50 a kilogram, less than Arabica Coffee. (08)