TEGUCIGALPA, July 3 (Reuters) - Honduran coffee exports rose for the third consecutive month in June, with shipments during the month up about 37% year-on-year, data from national coffee institute IHCAFE showed on Monday.
The export growth in June was largely due to stronger market demand as well as delayed shipments from the previous month, according to an industry executive.
Honduras, Central America's top coffee producer, exported 769,471 60-kg bags of coffee beans in June, compared with 563,409 bags shipped in the same month last year.
Recent high demand for Honduran coffee beans has persisted, noted IHCAFE board member Dagoberto Suazo, adding that sales originally contracted for export in May ultimately ended up leaving Honduras the following month, helping boost June exports.
Honduras plans to export about 5.52 million bags during the 2022/2023 harvesting season, up from 4.70 million bags shipped in the previous harvest.
Exports during the first nine months of the current 2022/2023 season reached 4.35 million bags, up almost 12% compared to the same nine-month period in the previous cycle.
The coffee season in Central America, which mostly produces higher-end arabica coffee, runs from October to September.
(Reporting by Gustavo Palencia; Editing by Krishna Chandra Eluri)
