The Hindu Business Line : Spices export doubles in Q1

EXPORT of spices during the first quarter of the current fiscal has more than doubled in terms of volume, while, in value, it has increased by Rs 172.55 crore.

Chilli continued to perform well with a substantial increase in exports by 25,250 tonne to 39,000 tonne (t) against 13,750 t in the same period last year. Coriander exports increased by 12,500 t to 15,000 t, turmeric by 6,000 t to 13,000 t, cumin by 2,250 t to 4,000 t, fennel by 2,175 t to 3,050 t, fenugreek by 4,650 t to 5,150 t and other seeds by 4,000 t to 7,000 t.

Besides, there has been a marginal rise in exports of celery, cardamom small and large, vanilla, curry powder/paste and condiments, mint products, spice oils and oleoresins.

Total exports during April-June 2004 stood at 1,03,409 t valued at Rs 585.13 crore against 50,656 t worth Rs 412.58 crore during the same period a year ago, Mr S. Kannan, Director (Marketing), Spices Board told Business Line.

The unit value of most of the items dropped. However, the unit value of cured vanilla doubled to Rs 21,136.03 a kg from Rs 10, 310.33 a kg in April - June 2003. Unit value of ginger, turmeric, celery and curry powder/paste and condiments increased.

Mr C.J. Jose, Chairman, Spices Board, said the major buyer of cured vanilla was the ice cream industry in the US. Since it was mandatory to use natural vanillin in the category `A' ice cream in the US, it had to buy the commodity at available price, he said. However, buying had stopped of late in view of the higher price, he added.

Mr Ramkumar Menon, Chairman, All India Spices Exporters Forum attributed the rise in exports of items such as chilli, coriander, fennel, fenugreek, cumin and other seeds, to crop failure in competing countries.

"Buyers have now turned towards India as we can offer these products at fairly competitive prices."

Mr Menon said the poor chilli crop in China had compelled buyers to procure it from India. Similarly, problems with the coriander crop in major growing countries in erstwhile Eastern Europe, such as Bulgaria and Romania, had pushed up exports.

In the case of turmeric, India still maintains a monopoly with its superior product, he said.

According to Mr Menon, there has been a rise in demand for value-added spices. This is evident from the increase in demand for ground spices from the US.

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