Spices exports up 8% at record 10.3 lakh tonnes worth nearly Rs 18,000 crore in FY18

Kochi: Indiaexported a record 10,28,060 tonnes of spices and spice products valued at Rs.17,929.55 crore in 2017-18 registering an increase of 8% in volume and one per cent in rupee terms from previous year.

In dollar terms, export of spices were pegged at US$ 2,781.46 million, five per cent rise from 2016-17. In 2016-17, spice exports stood at 9,47,790 tonnes worth Rs. 17,664.61 crore.

“Exports of Indian spices maintained an increasing trend during 2017-18 and exceeded the target fixed for 2017-18,” Spices Board secretary A Jayathilak said.


Compared to the target of 10,23,000 tonnes valued at Rs.17,665.10 crore (US$ 2,636.58 million) for the financial year 2017-18, the achievement was 100% in terms of volume, 101% in the rupee and 105% in dollar terms.

Jayathilak attributed the increase to innovative market interventions and the emphasis on value added products by the board.

Export of small cardamom created an all-time record with shipments of a total volume of 5,680 tonnes valued at Rs.609.08 crore as against 3,850 tonnes worth Rs.421.50 crore a year earlier, registering an increase of 48% in volume and 45% in value.

Chilli continued to lead Indian spice shipments with export of 4,43,900 tonnes, fetching an amount of Rs 4,256.33 crore. While volumes increased by 11%, the value declined by 16% from previous year due to volatility in prices of chilli in international markets.

Mint products fetched the second highest revenue among spices with a volume of 21,500 tonnes worth Rs 3,228.35 crore. The value rose by 28% but the volume fell by 3.5%. Cumin export touched 1,43,670 tonnes valued at Rs.2,418 crore, increase of 21% in volume and 23% in value.

Othe major gainers included garlic, asafetida and tamarind and value added products like curry powder, spice oils and oleoresins. A total volume of 17,200 tonnes of spice oils and oleoresins worth Rs. 2,661.72 crore were exported marking an increase of 42% in volume and 15% in value. Curry powder export stood at 30,150 tonnes, worth Rs. 616.20 crore, up by 6% in volume and 3% in value.