Isabgul exports are likely to be impacted this year due to the ongoing recession and depleting inventory levels. Isabgul traders in Gujarat, which accounts for 90 per cent of the commodity’s production in the country, expect exports to decline in the current as well as the next financial year.
According to the estimates provided by the traders, India had exported around 1,500 containers (one container of 20 tonnes) of isabgul in 2007-08. “The exports are likely to be in the range of 1,300-1,350 containers by the end of March 2009. Further, exports may dip to around 1,200 containers by the next financial year depending upon the price fluctuations,” said Manubhai Patel, owner of Keyur Industries.
“Isabgul exports will be a tad lower this year on account of the global slump. Additionally, in the past two years we have seen many companies, which use isabgul as a raw material, cutting their inventories due to high price of the commodity,” added Patel, who is also a member of Isabgul Processors’ Association (IPA) based in Siddhpur. Marketmen expect isabgul exports to remain at 1,200 containers in 2009-10 depending upon the price movement.