Spice exports up 3% in Apr-Dec

Spice exports during April-December period of the current financial year have registered 3 per cent increase in volume and 15 per cent increase in value. However, black pepper, a major export item from India, suffered a serious set back as there had been 31 per cent fall in volume, compared to the same period of 2007-08.

All spices exports touched 334,150 tonne valued at Rs 3810.95 crore ($860.40 million) against 325,320 tonne valued at Rs 3,320 crore ($821.45 million) in the first nine months period of 2007-08. Total exports till December had already achieved 79 per cent of the targeted volume of 425,000 tonne and 88 per cent of the targeted value of Rs 4350 crore as per the latest estimate of the Spices Board.

Pepper export dropped from 27,580 tonne valued at Rs 400.19 crore to 19,100 tonne valued at Rs 317.77 crore. Only 55 per cent for the whole year target of 35,000 tonne could be achieved by December ‘08.

Export of chilli also suffered set back as 6 per cent drop in quantity and 2 per cent drop in value had been registered. 141,000 tonne chilli valued at Rs 793.17 crore, against 149,755 tonne valued at Rs 807.02 crore were shipped during April-December period of ’08.

Shipment in other seeds category including mustard, aniseed, Bishops weed, dill seed and poppy seed has edged up by 156 per cent at 13,100 tonne valued at Rs 50.99 crore. Cumin and fenugreek have also performed extremely well during the period.

Export of cumin increased by 51 per cent in volume at 28,500 tonne and 49 per cent in value at Rs 296.12 crore, while fenugreek export touched 11,500 tonne , up by 35 per cent, valued at Rs 41.20 crore. The reported crop failure in major producing countries like Syria, Turkey and Iran has helped India to achieve this substantial increase. Heavy set back was also seen in the export of ginger as this had been dropped by 43 per cent at 3250 tonne valued at Rs 24 crore.