Export of spices up 12% between April to September

Value of export pegged at Rs 6962.86 crore in this period

Sustaining robust demand in international markets , Indian spices registered an export volume of 421,570 tonnes during April-September this year with their value pegged at Rs 6962.86 crore (USD 1152.08 million) as compared to 376,584 tonnes and Rs 6,364.64 crore (USD1073.85 million), respectively during the corresponding period a year earlier.

“Spices export has been in tune with the targets set up by the Commerce Ministry for the current fiscal. As compared to April-September 2013, the export registered a growth of 12% and 9% in terms of volume and value, respectively,” said  A Jayathilak , Chairman, Spices Board.

Chili, mint products, cumin, spice oils & oleoresins, pepper, turmeric, coriander, curry powder/paste and fenugreek contributed substantially to spice export basket as the demand for Indian spices surged phenomenally at the global level.

Chili continued to propel the growth story as India's largest exported spice, accounting for 161,000 tonnes in quantity and Rs 1,547.30 crore in value during April-September 2014. The export grew by 17% in quantity and 23% in value compared to the corresponding period in 2013.

Mint and mint products (mint oils, menthol and menthol crystals) earned substantial foreign exchange worth Rs 1463.25 crore through exports of 13,300 tonnes, emerging as a major money-spinning commodity in international spice markets.

In terms of volume, chilli was followed by cumin with an export quantity of 87,500 tonnes that earned a foreign exchange worth Rs 977.5 crore. The figures compare favourably with those of 70,243 tonnes and Rs 954.26 crore registered during April-September 2013.

Value added spice products like spice oils and oleoresins notched a significant high with figures of 5925 tonnes (exports) and Rs 877.45 crore (earnings), registering a growth of 21% and 22%, respectively. The figures for the corresponding period in 2013 stood at 4,901 tonnes and Rs 719.85 crore, respectively.

Pepper,  contributed significantly to export earnings by bringing home Rs. 514.86 crore with a corresponding export volume of 10,100 tonnes. The earnings from pepper exports rose sharply as the figures in the corresponding period in 2013 were Rs 394.90 crore and 9,535 tonnes, relishing an increase of 30% and 6% in terms of value and volume, respectively.

Turmeric too continued to make great strides with an export volume of 43,00 tonnes, which translated into a hefty earning of Rs 344.55 crore as compared to 39,200 tonnes and Rs 298.36 crore during the same period a year earlier.

Coriander was another major spice with a huge demand in foreign markets. By exporting 23,000 tonnes, it fetched Rs 240.05 crore while curry powder/paste contributed to the exchequer with a tidy amount of Rs 208.20 crore through export of 11,150 tonnes.

Despite a minor dip, export of Small Cardamom,  stood at 1,295 tonnes that earned for the country foreign exchange worth around Rs 108.07 crore. However, large cardamom’s export value surged substantially to Rs 28.26 crore as compared to Rs 16.79 crore during the period a year earlier.

Ginger, nutmeg and mace, fennel, fenugreek, garlic, celery and other seed spices (mustard, aniseed, bishops weed, dill seed etc.) also chipped in significantly in bolstering spice exports from India and earning precious forex for the country.

Barring mint products, small cardamom, nutmeg & mace, fenugreek and garlic, most of the Indian spices were on the upswing, both in terms of export volume and value, during the first six months of 2014.