CMR Robusta coffee exports 17,247 tonnes by end of Sept.

Robusta coffee exports from Cameroon by end-September had reached 17,247 tonnes since the season began on December 1, up from 14,223 tonnes for the same period a year earlier, according to the National Cocoa and Coffee Board (NCCB) on Tuesday.

Data showed there were nine exporters of robusta in September who shipped 1,597 tonnes, up slightly from 1,556 tonnes in August. The Central African nation shipped 687 tonnes in September of last year.

Local company UTI remained at the top of the chart with 495 tonnes, followed by Nealiko with 270 tonnes and GIC3C with 256 tonnes.

The NCCB said only three companies exported arabica in September, for a total of 226 tonnes versus 296 tonnes the previous month. Olam Cam, the local unit of Singapore's Olam International, topped the chart with 185 tonnes.

September's shipment brought arabica exports in the 2013/2014 season to 2,175 tonnes, down from 2,522 tonnes a year earlier. The arabica season runs from October 1 to September 30.

Cameroon is one of the few African countries which grows both robusta and arabica coffee but some of its production is smuggled to neighbouring Nigeria where farmers receive a higher price.