Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications
Sunday, Nov 14, 2004
Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications Sunday, Nov 14, 2004 |
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Agri-Biz & Commodities
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Spices & Condiments Industry & Economy - Exports & Imports India rejects Malaysia's proposal for curbs on pepper exports G.K. Nair
Kochi , Nov. 13 INDIA has turned down a proposal from Malaysia on a "self-imposed output quota to prevent oversupply," saying it is not a practical solution. Reacting to reports of Kuala Lumpur's suggestion, Mr S. Kannan, Director (Marketing), Spices Board, told Business Line that under World Trade Organisation provisions, quantity restrictions on exports cannot be imposed. Besides, it would be difficult to monitor the exports from various countries, as there should have to be a mechanism to register all contracts. "On the other hand, how do we fix the quota?" he asked. Under the banner of pepper, value-added pepper products are also exported. Given these factors, self-imposed output quota might turn out to be impractical, he said. According to Mr Kannan, domestic consumption in most of the producing countries has been negligible when compared to India, where the local market is estimated to absorb an estimated 59,000 tonnes of a projected production 62,000 tonnes in 2004. In fact, the International Pepper Community (IPC) has been advocating that the producing countries where domestic absorption is very little should raise their consumption to at least 20 per cent of their production. The estimated domestic consumption of pepper in Brazil is 6,000 tonnes out of a projected production of 45,000 tonnes. Similarly, domestic consumption in Indonesia, which is expected to produce 56,000 tonnes, would be 14,903 tonnes (both black and white). Out of a total production of 21,000 tonnes, the consumption in Malaysia is a meagre 2,100 tonnes. Sri Lankan consumption has been put at 4,800 tonnes out of a total production of 11,500 tonnes. Domestic consumption in Vietnam, projected to have a production of 85,000 tonnes this year, is a negligible 2,500 tonnes. The total Indian pepper exports in 2003 were at 22,400 tonnes. "Our pepper exports, excluding certain varieties of oils and oleoresins, still continue to be in primary form or at the lower end of value addition as it was earlier," said Mr C. Jose, Chairman, Spices Board. Mr Jose said that the Spices Board had funded a research programme for establishing the potential of a recently isolated derivative of piperin, the active ingredient of pepper, in inhibiting the synthesis of melanin, which causes skin pigmentation. Laboratory level results indicate that this research effort holds much promise for the cosmetic industry.
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