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Significant increase: A file photo of cumin seeds.

G.K. Nair

Kochi, April 5 Squeeze in supply from other origins due to crop failure has pushed up exports of cumin from India to a record, with the shipments from April-February 2008-09 surpassing the target set for the current fiscal by 3,000 tonnes in volume and over Rs 48 crore in value.

Total exports during the 11 months of the current fiscal stood at 31,000 tonnes valued at Rs 323.32 crore against the set target 28,000 tonnes valued at Rs 275 crore. The average unit value was marginally lower at Rs 104.30 a kg against Rs 105.22 a kg in the same period last year. The shipments in the corresponding period in 2007-08 were 23,265 tonnes valued at Rs 244.80 crore.

The significant increase could be attributed to the fall in supply from other origins in the world, Spices Board sources told Business Line. Crop failure in the main producing countries viz., Syria, Turkey and Iran is said to have increased the demand, they said.

A similar situation prevailed in 2007 also and it pushed up the unit value to Rs 105.22 a kg during April-February 2007-08. However, during the same period in 2008-09, the unit value marginally declined to Rs 104.30 a kg.

According to Geojit COMtrade, “output worries this year have been constantly supporting the prices”. Spot prices of jeera (fair average quality) at the Unjha market were reportedly up by nearly 45 per cent and hovering around Rs 12,960 a quintal early this week on fresh buying interest.

Unfavourable weather conditions in the growing areas in Rajasthan and Gujarat are said to be responsible for a fall in output in 2009. In addition, the stock available with the stockists and the exchanges is thin. On the other hand, demand from the domestic market continued to remain strong.

While the main growers, Syria, Turkey and Iran, export almost 90 per cent of their output, India consumes over 90 per cent of its total production, estimated to be somewhere between 1.5 and 2 lakh tonnes of cumin, industry sources said. As against this, the domestic demand is estimated to be around 1.6-1.9 lakh tonnes, trading sources said.

According to industry sources, the Syrian production is estimated at around 7,000 tonnes, lower from the initial estimate of 17,000-18,000 tonnes. Production in China has also reportedly dropped due to flooding.

The area under the crop in Syria, Iran and Turkey, the major producers, is reported to have dropped significantly following the farmers shifting to other remunerative crops such as wheat and barley.

The current total world demand for cumin is estimated at around 50,000 tonnes. Indian cumin is exported in its natural as well as powdered forms, besides as essential oils. Exports are mostly to the US, Singapore, Japan, the UK, and West Asian and Gulf countries, the sources said.

More Stories on : Spices & Condiments | Exports & Imports

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