Spices Exports Exceed Value Target By 12%

India's spices exports exceeded the Rs 1200-crore target for 1997-98 by 12 per cent but fell short of the volume target by three per cent, Spice Board data said yesterday.

The country's spices exports have been estimated at 218,750 tonnes worth Rs 1352.15 crore against a volume target of 225,000 tonnes during 1997-98.

The exports during 1997-98 was also higher by 10 per cent in rupee terms and five per cent in US dollar terms as compared to 1996-97. In terms of dollars, the earnings were $363.62 million in 1997-98. In 1996-97, India exported 225,295 tonnes spices valued at Rs 1230.71 crore ($346.97 million).

Export of cardamom (small), turmeric, coriander, cumin, fennel, curry powder and other seeds increased both in terms of quantity and value compared to 1996-97.

Shipments of pepper, ginger, spice oil and oleoresins and other spices rose in value, while exports of cardamom (large), chilli, celery, fenugreek and garlic dipped both in terms of quantity and value. In case of mint oil, shipments increased in volume but decreased in value.

Pepper was the major earner in the spices export basket accounting for Rs 479.56 crore against Rs 412.31 crore last year.

The earnings from pepper exports increased by 16 per cent but, in terms of volume, it decreased by 28 per cent to 34,250 tonnes against 47,893 tonnes.

Higher earnings in pepper exports could be attributed to a sharp rise in the prices of the commodity since the beginning of the last fiscal. As a result of the high prices, the volume of exports declined.

Chilli was the next major foreign exchange revenue earner among spices accounting for Rs 140.13 crore. The returns were, however, lower by over 30 per cent compared to 1996-97 when chilli shipments fetched Rs 201.45 crore. Even in terms of volume, it slid to 43,450 tonnes against 50,051 tonnes.

Spice oleoresins and other oils together made up Rs 226 crore of total spices exports against Rs 159 crore last year. In terms of quantity, it slid to 2,270 tonnes against 2,358 tonnes in 1996-97.