The Hindu Business Line : Spices exports top 2.5-lakh-t target

EXPORTS of spices crossed the 2004-05 target of 2.5 lakh tonne during the first nine months of the current fiscal, following substantial increase in shipments of certain low value items. In terms of value, it has gone up by Rs 229 crore from that of the corresponding period in 2003-04.

The items which have surpassed the target are chilli, ginger, turmeric, coriander, cumin, fennel and fenugreek, while those had performed well compared to last fiscal are celery, other seeds, vanilla, curry powder/paste/ condiments and spice oils and oleoresins.

For the first time, 1.05 lakh tonne of chilli, valued at Rs 388.81 crore, has been exported in nine months and that too against the target of 75,000 tonne, valued at Rs 315 crore, set by the Spices Board for the current financial year. According to Spices Board records, the country started exporting chilli with 8,364 tonne in 1960-61.

Similarly 7,550 tonnes of ginger against the target of 7,000 have been exported. Turmeric 29,250 tonnes (31,000 tonnes), Coriander 29,250 tonnes (18,000 tonnes), Cumin 11,700 tonnes (10,000 tonnes), fennel 5,850 tonnes (5,000 tonnes), fenugreek 11,200 tonnes (10,000 tonnes). Export of vanilla also went up to 15.4 tonnes from 13 tonnes last year.

Export of apice oils and oleoresins has shown a tangible increase. During April-December, it stood at 4,100 tonnes valued at Rs 338.06 crore as against 3,300 tonnes worth Rs 259.89 crore in the same period last year. However, export of mint products showed a sharp fall from 8,500 tonnes valued at Rs 32.73 crore to 4,875 tonnes worth Rs 209.38 crore, Mr S. Kannan, Director, Marketing, Spices Board said.

The increased exports of low value items have raised the volume.

However, there was no corresponding rise in value due to low unit value realisation, Mr Ramkumar Menon, Chairman, All India Spices Exporters Forum (AISEF) told Business Line on Wednesday.

The decline in export of mint products was due to high prices, Mr Sanjay Mariwala, Managing Director, Kancor Flavours, and Vice-Chairman, AISEF said. Drop in production this year had resulted in short supply and a consequent rise in price, he said. In the case of chilli and coriander, "we had a good crop and hence the price has been competitive," he said. However, pepper continued to drop due to high price. He said the increase in volume had not reflected in the value in terms of rupee due to appreciation of our currency against the dollar and the low unit value.

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
Malaprabha Grameena Bank, HMT Tractors in tie-up for soft loans

Sowing for third paddy crop begins in Kerala

Rubber Board sees 7 pc growth in output; trade sceptical

Rubber market in steady mode

Tea Board orders 100 pc e-auction

Spot gold may head higher

TNAU in research tie-up for drip irrigation

Futures trading in cocoons, raw silk launched

Loans, I-T bother coffee growers despite price rise

Spices exports top 2.5-lakh-t target