The Hindu Business Line : April spices export doubles on surge in chilli shipments

A SURGE in the chilli shipments in April has almost doubled the total exports of spices during the month to 33,065 tonnes valued at Rs 208.63 crore from 15,603 tonnes worth Rs 128.99 crore in the same month last year.

Export of chilli has gone up to 13,500 tonnes valued at Rs 50.63 crore in April this year from 4,000 tonnes worth Rs 16 crore in April last year, according to Spices Board sources.

The rise in exports is mainly "because of the big jump in chilli, which could be offered at fairly competitive price," Mr Ramkumar Menon, Chairman, All India Spices Exporters Forum, told Business Line on Wednesday. He said that the poor chilli crop in China had compelled the buyers to turn towards India.

As the country is a major consumer of coriander, only 4-5 per cent of its total production is normally available for export, he said.

As against 750 tonnes of coriander in April 2003, the exports in April this year increased to 3,500 tonnes. Exports of turmeric also jumped to 5,000 tonnes from 2,000 tonnes.

The increase in other products is probably due to the shipments in April of the orders placed late last fiscal.

Exports of fennel went up to 1,200 tonnes from 300 tonnes, fenugreek to 1,100 tonnes from 750 tonnes and other seeds to 2,500 tonnes from 750 tonnes.

In the value-added category spice oils and oleoresins, which had shown a marginal decline in 2003-04, had gone up to 500 tonnes valued at Rs 42 crore from 300 tonnes worth Rs 24.75 crore in April 2003.

Similarly, export of curry powder also increased to 600 tonnes from 450 tonnes.

The export target set for spices by the Union Commerce Ministry for 2004-05 is 2,50,000 tonnes valued at Rs 2,000 crore as against the previous year's target of 2,51,030 tonnes valued at Rs 1,900 crore.

Exports last fiscal had surpassed the target in terms of value by Rs 5.08 crore. However, it witnessed a fall of Rs 181.63 crore in 2003-04 from Rs 2,086.71 crore in 2002-03.

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