Date:22/03/2005 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/03/22/stories/2005032201021000.htm

Back Coffee powder prices up

L. N. Revathy

Coimbatore , March 21

RETAIL coffee powder prices have been hiked to Rs 170 a kg.

Traders have resorted to this measure for the third time within a year, raising the price by Rs 10 a kg each time. A further hike has not been ruled out.

Speaking to Business Line, Mr Subramaniam, a trader, said: "At the current levels, fixing the price of the pure coffee powder at Rs 180 a kg will be the only viable proposition. With the onset of summer, the off-take of coffee powder has started to dip. This time around, it is not just the traders dealing in pure coffee powder who will be hit. It is likely to affect those in the blended powder segment," he said.

Pure coffee powder price has shot up by 30 per cent in the last one year from Rs 130 a kg in March 2004 to Rs 170 a kg this week.