Spices exports decline 2% in Apr-Dec

Spices exports continued their declining trend, falling 2 per cent in volume and 4 per cent in value during the April-December period of 2009-10.

During the period, 358,205 tonnes of spices valued at Rs 3,953.74 crore ($825.55 million) were exported as against 366,100 tonnes valued at Rs 4,116.31 crore ($926.95 million) during the same period in 2008.

The decline in spices exports, which was in the range of 20 to 25 per cent during the first two quarters of the financial year, has now come down to 2 per cent, which is considered as a sign of improvement.

The major spices exported during the period were chilli, mint products, spice oil & oleoresins, cumin, turmeric, pepper and coriander. The Spice oils & oleoresins including mint products contributed 34 per cent to the total export earnings. Chilli contributed 23 per cent followed by cumin (10 per cent) and turmeric (7 per cent).

In December alone, exports increased 5 per cent in dollar terms as compared with the exports during December 2008. During December 2009, 29,850 tonnes valued Rs 408.06 crore ($87.50 million) were exported as against 31,375 tonnes valued Rs 404.89 crore ($83.25 million) in December 2008.