950819

Honduras reaffirms

sticking to

coffee export

limit

TEGUCIGALPA: Honduras is sticking to the coffee export limits agreed by members of the Association of Coffee Producing Countries, the director of the Honduran Coffee Institute (IHCAFE) said.

"We are maintaining the retention scheme adopted by the Association of Coffee Producing Countries," Fernando Montes said, denying market rumours that Honduras is breaking with the producers' scheme that bids to boost coffee prices.

Montes said Honduras had only exported 14,950 46-kilo bags in the months of July and August combined, inside the July-September agreed export limit of 60,000 60-kilo bags.

Monte said a the rumour in New York was that Honduras would soon certify 200,000 bags for export, which he added was "false."

Montes, speaking alongside Osmund Maduro, chairman of the Honduran Association of Coffee Exporters, said Honduras is holding 460,000 bags from its 1994-1995 coffee crop.

According to reports from IHCAFE, Honduras recorded a 1994-1995 crop of 2.7 millones 46-kilos bags, of which 2.1 million bags had been exported to mid-August.-Reuter