Indian growers upbeat about 2016 as export volumes rise
After a year marked by lower exports and stagnant prices, the new year is expected to usher in a recovery for Indian growers, with latest numbers showing a healthy rise in exports. Provisional data for April-October 2015 shows a 4.2% gain in earnings and about a 10% rise in volumes, which is welcome news for an industry that suffered crop losses and faced oversupply from Kenya. Early estimates for the latest period suggest even better numbers based on increased demand from key markets in the Middle East. However, prices remain subdued, showing a decline of more than 2% between April-October 2015 and potentially further exacerbating tensions between plantation managers and workers seeking higher wages.