Spices exports drop 6% in Apr-Dec; up 8% in value terms

Country's spices exports fell by 6.26 per cent to 6,03,885 tonnes during April-December 2015-16 on sharp decline in shipments of spice seeds and cumin, the Spices Board said today.
However in value terms, the spices exports increased to Rs 11,453.99 crore in the first nine months of 2015-16 from Rs 10,580.53 crore in the year-ago period, as per the Board data.
"The value of exports has registered an increase of 8 per cent because Indian spices continue to be much sought after overseas. However, there has been a dip of 6 per cent in terms of volumes, primarily due to the decline in the export of spice seeds," Spices Board Chairman A Jayathilak said in a statement.

The country achieved 82 per cent of its full-year export target of Rs 14,014 crore, set for the first nine months of the fiscal year 2015-16, the Board added.
The export of cumin has reduced drastically to 67,300 tonnes during April-December compared with to 1,24,686 tonnes in the year-ago period due to low productivity because of unfavourable climatic conditions, he said.
The exports of cardamom (large), coriander and mint products have also declined both in volume and value terms as compared to last year, he added.

According to the Board, the export of cardamom (large) has come down to 340 tonnes till December of 2015-16 fiscal from 415 tonnes in the year-ago.

Similarly, the shipment of coriander has fallen to 29,600 tonnes from 33,233 tonnes, while that of ginger to 17,350 tonnes from 23,678 tonnes in the said period.
However, export of chilli increased to 2,53,000 tonnes as against 2,47,000 tonnes in the year-ago period.
Pepper shipments rose to 23,450 tonnes from 14,501 tonnes, turmeric exports increased to 68,500 tonnes from 64,786 tonnes and fenugreek shipments jumped to 24,000 tonnes from 16,128 tonnes in the said period.
In value terms, export of pepper -- known as the King of Spices -- rose by 83 per cent to Rs 1,438.16 crore in the first nine months of 2015-16 fiscal.

The export of value-added products like curry powder and spice oils and oleoresins also increased in volume and value during the period.