India's spice exports grow 8 percent in April-December 2015

Large shipments of pepper, cardamom and chilli helped Indian exports of spices touch Rs.11,453.99 crore ($1,770.86 million) during the April-December 2015 period, recording an eight percent increase in rupee terms and 2 percent in dollar terms, the Spices Board said on Thursday

"The country achieved 82 percent of its full-year export target of Rs.14,014 crore ($2,260 million), set for the first nine months of the fiscal year 2015-16," it said in a statement here.

"The export of pepper, cardamom, chilli, turmeric, celery, fennel, fenugreek, apart from tamarind, asafoetida and cassia, contributed substantially to exports during the period," it added.

As much as 603,885 tonnes of spices and spice products were exported during April-December 2015.

"The value of exports has registered an increase of eight percent because Indian spices continue to be much sought after overseas. However there has been a dip of six percent in terms of the volumes exported, primarily due to the decline in the export of spice seeds," said Spices Board chairman A.Jayathilak.

The Board said export of cumin during last fiscal reduced drastically in comparison to corresponding period of 2014-15 due to low productivity caused by unfavourable climatic conditions.

Exports of pepper stood at Rs.1,438.16 crore in the nine-month period in question, marking an increase of 62 percent in volume and 83 percent in value, it said.

"Small cardamom made a remarkable stride in export earnings by fetching Rs.300.85 crore through shipment of 3,825 tonnes during this period, registering an increase of 83 percent by volume and 63 percent in value as compared to the corresponding period the previous year," it added.

Spices Board also said exports of value-added spice products like spice oils and oleoresins rose 17 percent in value and three percent in volume.