Spices exports increase 12% in April-July

Spices exports from the country increased 12 per cent to 193,875 tonnes during April- July of the current financial year, according to the Spices Board. Total exports were 172,510 tonnes, valued at Rs 1,775.39 crore, in the same period of the last financial year.

In rupee terms, the increase was 17 per cent at Rs 2,084.96 crore, and in dollar terms, it was 21 per cent at $454.10 million.

Compared to the total export target of 465,000 tones valued at Rs 5,100 crore ($ 1,125 million) fixed for financial year 2010-11, the current achievement is 42 per cent in terms of quantity and 41 per cent in rupee terms. Garlic gained the most as there was a 1,184 per cent increase in volume and a 1,957 per cent increase in value during the period at 10,975 tonnes, valued at Rs 41.29 crore, as against 855 tonnes valued at Rs 2 crore, in the same period of 2009-10.

Export of fennel registered an increase of 47 per cent in quantity and 80 per cent in value at 4,750 tonnes valued at Rs 39.38 crore, according to the data. For the first time in the current financial year, export of pepper registered an increase of two per cent in volume and eight per cent in value.

The biggest setback was in the export of large cardamom as they declined 82 per cent in volume and 27 per cent in value. Just 80 tonnes valued at Rs 4.30 crore were exported as against 455 tonnes valued at Rs 5.87 crore.

The steep hike in the unit value in the current financial year helped to contain the loss in value to Rs 1.57 crore. The per kg average value was increased to Rs 538 in April - July period of current year as against Rs 129.10 in the same period of last year.

Export of other seed spices like mustard,aniseed, ajwanseed, dill seed and poppy seed declined 45 per cent volume and 37 per cent in value at 4,700 tonnes valued at Rs 18.91 tonnes. These were 8,570 tonnes valued at Rs 29.79 crore in April - July period of 2009-10.

Mint products also had a drop 16 per cent in quantity and 2 per cent in value. Export of curry powder/paste and spice oils and oleoresins increased.

A total of 5,150 tonnes of curry powder and paste valued at Rs 66.54 crore and 2,540 tonnes of spice oils and oleoresins valued Rs 294.28 crore were shipped in April - July period. During the period, export of pepper, chilli, ginger, celery, fennel, garlic, other spices like tamarind and asafoetida showed an increase, both in volume and value, compared to last year.
 

ON A POSITIVE NOTE ESTIMATED EXPORT OF SPICES DURING APRIL - JULY
Item	2009			2010			% Change
	Qty	Value	Rate	Qty	Value	Rate	Qty	Value
Pepper	6,650	10,494.51	157.81	6,750	11,306.00	167.5	2	8
Cardamom(small)	235	1,516.99	644.76	185	2,222.50	1,201.35	-21	47
Cardamom(large)	455	587.41	129.10	80	430.40	538.00	-82	-27
Chilli	62,800	37,820.27	60.22	77,750	48,141.75	61.92	24	27
Ginger	1,325	997.34	75.27	3,025	2,285.00	75.54	128	129
Turmeric	21,790	12,593.81	57.80	18,350	24,789.55	135.09	-16	97
Coriander	17,145	8,976.48	52.36	20,550	7,485.73	36.43	20	-17
Cumin	16,720	18,092.38	108.21	13,500	15,281.63	113.20	-19	-16
Garlic	855	200.77	23.48	10,975	4,129.08	37.62	1184	1957
Nutmeg & Mace	805	2,084.21	258.91	625	2,306.82	369.09	-22	11
Total	172,510	177,538.62		193,875	208,496.15		12	17
(QTY : TONNES ; VALUE : Rs LAKH ; RATE : Rs /KG )

The export of value added products like curry powder and spice oils and oleoresin also increased.