Spice Exports Treble in Five Years

KOCHI: Spice exports have seen risen three-fold in value terms in the last five years. In quantity terms, the increase would be close to 60% in the period. Exports of spices and spice products stood at 6,030.74 crore during the April-February period of 2010-11.

They were at around 2,100 crore during the April-February period of 2005-06.

Though almost all items in the spice basket have registered a growth during the past five years, the phenomenal rise in chilli, turmeric and cumin and value-added items like curry powder, mint products and spice oils have led to the boom in exports.

"The increase in the value of spice exports is the combined effect of an increase in the prices of major items, a moderate increase in the quantity of exports and higher exports of value-added items," said Philip Kuruvila, former chairman of the All India Spice Exporters Forum.

The dramatic increase was seen in chilli, the exports of which stood at 1,379.51 crore during April-February of 2010-11. In 2005-06, it stood at 362 crore.