Spice exports lose flavour

A steep hike in garlic exports and a fall in the exports of ginger, coriander and chilli have kept the exports of spices almost steady in terms of value but signalled a drop of 4.6 per cent in volume during the 10-month period (April-January) of the current financial year.

Total exports from the country have already crossed the 2,50,000 tonne target set for 2005-06 by Spices Board as it touched 2,71,992 tonne by the end of January.

Spices Board had also projected an exports income of Rs 2,100 crore for the current financial year.

During April-January, export earnings registered 0.1 per cent growth over Rs 1,875.01 crore posted in the corresponding period of last financial year. India had exported 2,85,224 tonne spices during the April-January period of 2004-05 with chilli exports doing the best at 1,15,938 tonne.

India had posted a record in the exports of spices during 2004-05, with total exports growing to 3,35,488 tonne "" valued at Rs 2,200 crore, while the target was 2,50,000 tonne. This implies a rise of 32 per cent in volume and 15 per cent in value vis-a-vis the year 2003-04 volume of 2,54,382 tonne, valued at Rs 1,911.60 crore.

Despite the fact that Indian red chilli was rejected by some European nations on grounds of adulteration, the country had turned in a commendable performance in chilli exports with its Sudan red.

During 2004-05 chilli exports had grown to 1,38,000 tonne valued at Rs 499.01 crore. But till January in the current financial year, there had been a loss in exports of 18 per cent in volume and 22 per cent in value. India exported 95,000 tonne chilli valued at Rs 330.50 crore, though well ahead of the 75,000 tonne target set by Spices Board.

During the first ten-month period of 2005-06, garlic exports turned in a spectacular performance as volume grew a whopping 1,552 per cent and value too rose 602 per cent. The board had an exports target of 3,000 tonne of garlic for the full 2005-06, but exports touched 27,750 tonne by January 31 and realised an income of Rs 31.45 crore. During the same period last year, total exports were 1,679 tonne valued at Rs 4.48 crore.

During 2004-05, garlic exports stood at about 2,250 tonne and were valued at Rs 5.60 crore, versus a target of 4,000 tonne.

As far as the exports of ginger, coriander are concerned, they suffered a huge setback in the current financial year.

Ginger exports slumped 61 per cent to 4,350 tonne and coriander 31 per cent to 21,000 tonne, though coriander exports in the 10-month period exceeded the target by 1,000 tonne.

During April-January of 2004-05, the country exported 30,617 tonne coriander and earned an income of Rs 73.95 crore. Vanilla exports too suffered a serious setback on the price front owing on the back of a steep fall in the prices in global markets during the last one year.

Though the total quantity exported increased 43 per cent at 26.7 tonne, the value plunged 76 per cent at Rs 5.79 crore. Vanilla exports during the same period in the last financial year stood at 18.6 tonne, earning an income of Rs 23.71 crore.

Nutmeg and mace exports also showed a rise of 30 per cent in volume and 50 per cent in value while pepper exports grew 17 per cent.

India had exported 13,450 tonne black pepper valued at Rs 113.43 crore, while total exports in April-January, 2004-05 were 11, 476 tonne.

Curry powder exports grew 8 per cent to 6,900 tonne valued (up 10 per cent) at Rs 59.02 crore, while exports of spice oils and oleoresins rose to 5,100 tonne valued at Rs 409.48 crore, up 13 per cent in volume and 10 per cent in value.

In comparison, India had exported 5,600 tonne oils and oleoresins and 7,750 tonne curry powder and paste, during 2004-05.