Lebanon crisis spices up cuminseed exports

The West Asian crisis has blocked the cuminseed (jeera ) export route from Syria and diverted global buyers to India "� the world's largest producer of cuminseed.

On account of the ongoing Israel-Lebanon war the world's largest cuminseed trading yard at Unjha, in north Gujarat, has attracted a demand for 2,500 tonne exports in the last one month compared with almost no demand for domestic cuminseed during July 2005.

The war has put a brake on the efforts of Turkey and Syria "� India's closest rivals in the international market "� to trade via international seas.

Devendra Patel of Ishwarlal Madhavji & Sons, leading Unjha-based trader, said, "During July-August, the rates usually take a beating. However, this time around, our higher exports have helped the market. As the July-August period is the peak season for exports of cuminseed from Turkey and Syria, the ongoing Middle East crisis is working to our advantage."

"As shipments from Turkey and Syria are not being to get an insurance cover, no one is ready to take the risk of importing from these countries," said Pravin Patel of Unjha Commodities & Securities.

This year, India already has had an edge over Turkey and Syria as their two countries suffered a loss of 35 per cent in their normal cuminseed crop.

Dubai is also banking heavily on India this year for cuminseed as the water routes from Lebanon and Turkey have been blocked. China, which used to import cuminseed from Syria, has also turned to India, Devendra Patel said.

Singapore has also recently imported a large amount of cuminseed with 2 per cent impurity from the Unjha market for Rs 1620-1625 per 20 kg, he added.

As per industry estimates, the combined production of cuminseed of the two countries is estimated at about 40,000 tonne this year while India has 1.4 lakh tonne, which includes the previous year carry-forward stock of 0.4 lakh tonne.

As per Spices Board figures, cuminseed exports for the April-June period more than trebled to 7,500 tonne from 2,066 tonne in the corresponding period last year.

Although during July last year there were hardly any exports from Unjha yard, in the same month this year, about 2,500 tonne was exported, a local exporter said.