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G.K. Nair

Kochi , June 28

SPICES exports continued to show substantial growth almost doubling it in May 2004 also to take the tally during the first two months of the current fiscal to 67,968 tonne valued at Rs 400.20 crore as against 33,400 tonne worth Rs 280.10 crore during the same period a year ago.

In May 2004, the exports stood at 34,903 tonnes valued at Rs 191.56 crore as against 17,786 tonnes valued at Rs 148.74 crore. The export earnings would have been much higher but for the low unit value realisation for almost all the items during April-May 2004, Mr S Kannan, Director, Marketing Spices Board, told Business Line. Except for ginger, celery, curry powder and vanilla, the unit value of all other products has dropped. Ginger and vanilla had made significant gains. While the unit value of ginger was at Rs 93.57 a kg as against Rs 33.36 in April - May 2003, vanilla fetched Rs 21,143.75 a kg as against Rs 10,148.73. Curry powder and celery made marginal gains.

Chilli continued to dominate in with 25,000 tonnes as against 8,750 tonne, coriander 9,250 tonnes (1,500 tonnes), other seeds 5,500 tonnes (2,250 tonnes), cumin 1,500 tonnes (1,000 tonnes), fennel 2,550 tonnes (600 tonnes), fenugreek 2,600 tonnes (1,000 tonne), curry powder 1,350 tonnes (1,100 tonnes), mint products 1,900 tonnes (1,760 tonnes), spice oils and oleoresins 900 tonnes (675 tonnes), cardamom (small) 90 tonnes (60 tonnes) and cardamom (large) 130 tonnes (100 tonnes).

Pepper exports continued to drop. As against 3,000 tonnes in April - May 2003, only 2,300 tonnes were exported this year. Similarly other spices fell to 3,20 tonnes from 4,500 tonnes. Garlic dropped to 200 tonnes from 700 tonnes and celery from 600 tonnes to 475 tonnes. Probably because of the high unit value ginger exports declined to 350 tonne from 1,100 tonne.

Meanwhile, despite the high value vanilla exports went up to eight tonnes from five tonnes, he pointed out.

Attributing the increase to non-availability of certain items such as chilli, coriander, fennel, fenugreek, cumin and other seeds, from other sources due to crop failure, Mr Ramkumar Menon, Chairman, All-India Spices Exporters Forum, told Business Line that "buyers have turned towards India and we could offer these products at fairly competitive prices".

He said the poor chilli crop in China had compelled the buyers to turn towards India. Similarly, due to some problems in October/November last with the coriander crop in the major growing countries in the erstwhile Eastern Europe such as Bulgaria and Romania had also forced the buyers to buy it from India.

More Stories on : Spices & Condiments | Exports & Imports

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