The Hindu Business Line : Chilli leads spices export surge

CHILLI takes the top slot in export of spices, probably for the first time, with a record shipment of 1.14 lakh tonnes valued at Rs 421.21 crore during April-January 2004-05 as against a target of 75,000 tonnes, valued at Rs 315 crore, for the current fiscal set by the Spices Board.

Chilli is followed by spice oils and oleoresins with shipments to the tune of Rs 375.90 crore, mint products (Rs 231.23 crore) and turmeric (Rs 133.99 crore).

During the 10 months of this fiscal, total export of spices stood at 2,80,361 tonnes, valued at Rs 1,725.10 crore, as against 1,82,580 tonnes, worth Rs 1,490.25 crore, in the same period a year ago, Mr S. Kannan, Director-Marketing, Spices Board, told Business Line.

If the current trend was any indication, the total exports during the current fiscal were expected to cross the target of Rs 2,000 crore, he said.

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

Export of vanilla, however, dropped to 16.2 tonnes valued at Rs 23.13 crore from 20.1 tonnes worth Rs 24.36 crore.

Export of spice oils and oleoresins has shown a substantial increase with 4,560 tonnes valued at Rs 375.90 crore compared to 3,600 tonnes worth Rs 288.64 crore.

Export of mint products declined from 9,250 tonnes valued at Rs 348.93 crore to 5,350 tonnes worth Rs 231.23 crore.

Increased exports of low value items have raised the volume. However, there was no corresponding rise in value due to low unit value realisation, Spices Exporters Association sources said.

High prices in the domestic market coupled with a drop in production have pushed down the export of mint and mint products, they said.

In the case of chilli, coriander and turmeric, the country had a good crop with enough exportable surplus at competitive price. While despite making available an airfreight assistance of Rs 45 a kg, export of cardamom (small) declined from 550 tonnes to 500 tonnes.

However, 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, they added.

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