Indian coffee stakeholders will have additional time to prepare for the European Union Deforestation Regulations (EUDR) as the European Commission has announced a one-year delay in its implementation due to technical concerns. Initially set to take effect on December 30, 2025, the EUDR has already seen a postponement of a year.
The EUDR seeks to curb imports of specific commodities such as coffee and cocoa, which are sourced from deforested areas. Since December 31, 2020, companies exporting these goods to the EU must conduct comprehensive analyses of deforestation risks and develop strategies to mitigate them. Recently, India was classified as a low-risk country under these regulations.
According to Jessika Roswall, the European Commission’s environment commissioner, the proposal for further postponement will require negotiations among member states and the European Parliament regarding the final form of the law, which may lead to additional amendments. Ramesh Rajah, President of the Coffee Exporters Association, expressed that this delay is beneficial, providing stakeholders with extra time for preparation.
Indian coffee exports have faced challenges this year, significantly influenced by rising prices and European buyers’ demands for EUDR-compliant coffee, which began in July in anticipation of the regulation’s implementation. Rajah noted that many major growers are already compliant with the proposed EUDR standards.
To assist growers, the State-run Coffee Board has launched a free mobile application designed to facilitate compliance with EUDR requirements. Rajah mentioned that approximately 13,000 growers have registered on this app. He indicated that exports might recover with the delay in EUDR implementation and the arrival of the new crop in the forthcoming months. Traditionally, Indian coffee shipments have been slower in the last quarter of the calendar year.
Praveen Kolimarla from Agrani Coffee and Commodities emphasized that many Indian exporters have invested in systems to align with EUDR standards. However, there might be instances where customers request exporters to reduce premiums.
The European market remains the largest for Indian coffee, with exports valued at $1.81 billion during the financial year 2024-25. Coffee exports from India have decreased by 11% in volume so far this calendar year, totaling 289,000 tonnes compared to 326,000 tonnes during the same period last year.
Published on September 23, 2025.
