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| According to the Spices Board India, the apex body for the export promotion of spices under the aegis of the ministry of commerce, the highest export among spices and condiments have been of chilli at 34,000 tonne, valued at $32.87 million. |
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| This is followed by turmeric at 18,000 tonne worth $14.38 million, pepper at 10,300 tonne valued at $19.44 million and coriander at 9,000 tonne worth $7.10 million. |
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| According to traders, the growth has been lower compared with the last year as prices were under squeeze owing to high production in other chilli and fenugreek producing nations such as China and Pakistan. |
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| Moreover, in value terms, the strengthening of rupee has led to lower realisations compared with last year. |
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| Traders are, however, expecting good crop arrivals by January or February 2004, which is likely to increase the competitive advantage of the country. |
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| Cumulative exports of spices such as tamarind, asafoetida, nutmeg, mace, vanilla, cassia, saffron have touched 15,850 tonne worth $11.67 million, cumin alone has been exported at about 4,200 tonne, valued at $6.67 million. |
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| Exports of curry powder stands at 4,000 tonne worth $6.72 million, mint products stand including mint oil and menthol crystals at 4,770, worth $40.26 million, and fenugreek at 3,950 tonne for $ 2.01 million. |
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| Other seeds including aniseed, bishops weed (ajwain seed), dill seed, poppy seed, mustard, have seen cumulative exports of about 4,950 tonne valued at $2.60 million. |
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| During the first six months of the current financial year, ginger exports has been 2,900 tonne at $2.81 million, celery at 2,400 tonne worth $1.58 million, fennel at 2,275 tonne worth $2.16 million, garlic at 2,075 tonne worth $1.91 million, nutmeg & mace at 1,025 tonne worth $4.09 million and spice oleoresin and other oils at 2,500 tonne worth $43.94 million. |
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| Small quantity of vanilla too has been exported at 12.2 tonne valued at $2.56 million, cardamom (small) saw exports of 200 tonne, worth $2.18 million and cardamom (large) at 395 tonne worth $1.18 million. |
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| Exports of turmeric are also expected to shoot up January/February onwards as new crop will arriving in the market. |
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| Though India enjoys almost a monopoly in the world turmeric market, recently countries such as Burma and Vietnam have staged a competitive entry. |
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| The export of garlic has, however, been on rise owing to a poor crop in China and Egypt. |
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| Traders also expect exports of mint products to pick up in the second half of the current financial year as exports of value-added spices are gaining momentum in world market with growing demand. |
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| Spices exports have registered a substantial growth during the last one decade. |
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| It has increased from 1,09,636 tonne valued at $135 million in 1990-91 to 2,35,611 tonne valued at $472 million in 1999-2000. |
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| In 2002-03, the quantity of spices export touched an all-time high of 2,50,950 tonne even as in value terms it declined to $370 million. |
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| The decline was owing to low volume of pepper exports coupled with low unit value realisation. Still India commands a formidable position in the world spice trade with 48 per cent share in volume and 24 per cent in value. |
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