Spice exports register 16% rise in Apr-Dec period

Kochu: The exports of spices and spice products from India stood at Rs 4,880.56 crore during the April-December period, registering a 16% increase over the same period previous year.

The exports saw a 3% rise in volume to touch 391,560 tonne during the same period. In dollar terms, the exports saw a 21% rise to touch $1,070.10 million during the period under review.

The export of chilli, ginger, fennel and garlic have shown an increase during the period both in volume and value compared to the same period previous year (2009). The exports of value-added spice oils and oleoresin are on the upswing compared to the same period in 2009.

But exports of pepper, cardamom (large), turmeric, mint products and other spices like tamarind and asafoetida could register an increase only in value terms. Spices like cardamom (small), coriander, cumin, celery, fenugreek, and other seed spices like mustard, aniseed, ajwanseed, nutmeg & mace have declined both in terms of volume and value as compared to the corresponding period last year.

During the period, exports of spice oils and oleoresins have increased to 5,275 tonne, valued at ` 641.40 crore, in the April-December period of 2010 from 5,200 tonne (valued at `546.77 crore) of last year’s. Compared to the export target of 465,000 tonne (valued at `5,100 crore) fixed for the financial year 2010-11, the achievement of 391,560 tonne (valued at `4,880.56 crore) is 84% of the target in terms of quantity and 96% in rupee value and 95% in dollar terms.