CIB Director General Christopher Gentles said the recession has resulted in a reduction in demand in all markets, including Japan, which has been a top consumer of Jamaica's coffee.

"We believe that China will be an important future trading partner in Jamaican coffee, and pundits are predicting that China will possibly be the most important coffee consumer in the world in another six to 10 years," said Gentles.

The CIB is also surveying prospects for growth in Europe, more precisely, Russia and Germany.

Gentles said a special mission of coffee roasters and café owners from japan and China are to visit Jamaica "soon", to assist Jamaica with its marketing programmes in those countries.

Gentles was himself recently in China for the Coffee and Western Food show in Hangzho.

avia.collinder@gleanerjm.com