Germany's December 2003 net green coffee imports fell to 574,875 bags from 1,521,640 bags in November 2003 and 1,026,127 bags in December 2002, German coffee industry association DKV said on Tuesday.
A bag contains 60 kg. A fall had been widely expected because of the exceptionally long Christmas holidays in 2003 and large shipments in the previous four months. Total 2003 imports rose to 14,517,288 bags from 14,281,681 bags in 2002.
Brazil was again the dominant December source country, continuing its role as Germany's largest coffee supplier. But large shipments were also made from Vietnam.