Revenue from spice exports surges 28%

Spices exports registered a 28 per cent increase in revenue in the first quarter of the financial year as total shipment increased by 23 per cent to 148,550 tonnes, compared to 121,180 tonnes in the same period last year. Total export earnings have gone up to Rs 1,375 crore ($329.60 million) as against Rs 1073.50 crore ($260.57 million) last year.

Cumin exports showed a sharp increase to 15,000 tonnes, up 280 per cent from last year’s 3,950 tonnes. Correspondingly, revenue increased 253 per cent to Rs 145.81 crore from Rs 39.50 crore.

GOOD FLOW Spices exports in Q1
	Quantity In tonne	Value Rs crore
2005	89,919	571.24
2006	83,375	620.14
2007	1,21,180	1,073.50
2008	1,48,550	1,375.04
Source: Spices Board

Exports of other seeds including mustard, aniseed, bishops weed, dill seed, poppy seed had a big leap at 6,750 tonnes, up 337 per cent from 1,545 tonnes. Revenue jumped 409 per cent to Rs 23 crore from Rs 4.52 crore. Export of garlic showed a 108 per cent increase to 385 tonnes at Rs 1.05 crore against 185 tonnes valued at Rs 92.53 lakh last year.

Chilli exports witnessed a slowdown, though there was a 16 per cent increase in volume. A total of 67,000 tonnes of chilli worth Rs 333.52 crore was shipped in the first quarter.

Export of coriander registered a 53 per cent increase in volume and 166 per cent increase in value at 10,000 tonnes and Rs 62.48 crore. Forty per cent of the year’s target of 25,000 tonnes has already been met. A slowdown in the exports of mint products, curry powder/paste and spice oils and oleoresins was also noted in the first quarter compared to the April-May period of 2008.

A serious setback was seen in ginger exports with a 69 per cent drop to 1,050 tonnes valued at Rs 7.42 crore. Pepper export also dropped to 7,550 tonnes, down 12 per cent.