ROME, Oct. 1 (Xinhua) -- Italian coffee exports reached a record 2.25 billion euros (2.50 billion U.S. dollars) last year, up 6.8 percent, making it one of the country's most dependable export products, according to data released Tuesday.
The announcement by Italy's Consortium for the Promotion of Coffee coincided with the tenth edition of International Coffee Day, celebrated on Oct. 1. The consortium noted that Italy is the world's second-largest exporter of roasted coffee, trailing only Brazil.
International Coffee Day was first celebrated in Italy during the Milan World Expo in 2015, merging various national coffee celebrations. The day aims to promote coffee and highlight challenges faced by coffee growers, including climate change, sustainable farming, and fair trade practices. ■
