Guar exports up 13% in Apr-Oct

India's guar gum exports in April-October rose 12.6 per cent to 109,481 tonne, compared with the year-ago period, according to the latest figures released by Agricultural Processed Food Products Export Development Authority.

The country exported 97,211 tonne guar gum during April-October. In the value terms, total guar gum exports in April-October were valued at $144.71 million, up 19.37 per cent from the year-ago period.

However, there has been a fall in export growth every month, with October exports up only 11.4 per cent versus 25.4 per cent growth in September.

High prices of guar seed and guar seed gum during April-October is seen as the reason for falling the export growth, traders said.

Global demand shifted to Pakistan from India in the last few months in 2006 due to high prices. Pakistan, the second major producer of the crop, offered guar gum at the rates cheaper than those quoted by India.

India's export target for 2006-07 (April-March), in value terms, was also lowered to $281.59 million from $283 million earlier.

About 51.39 per cent of the revised target has been achieved as of October.

In 2006-07 (April-March), exports in quantity terms have been pegged at 275,000 tonne, compared with 186,530 tonne a year ago, due to higher production of guar seed, traders said.

Guar seed production is pegged at 7.5-8.5 million bags (1 bag=100 kg), up from 5.5-6.5 million bags. India produces around 80 per cent of the world's guar gum, which is extracted from guar seed.

Guar gum is widely used in food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, textile, oil drilling, mining, explosives and paper industries.