Spices exports grow 44%

India has achieved 44 per cent growth in the export of spices and spice-based products at 38,972 tonne in April, 2007 compared with the same month last year.

The country's earnings from exports have been Rs 333 crore, a growth of 61 per cent over April 2006, according to the Spices Board figures. The board had set an export target of 3,80,000 tonne of spices valued at Rs 3600 crore for the current financial year. The country has achieved 10 per cent of the targeted quantity and 9 per cent of the value in the first month itself, according to the board's latest estimates.

The best export performance was registered by chilli, as there has been a growth of 231 per cent in quantity and 320 per cent in value. During April, 2007, the chilli exports touched 22,000 tonne and were valued at Rs 126.50 crore, compared with 6644 tonne and Rs 30.11 crore value in April, 2006. The Spices Board had fixed an export target of 1,35,000 tonne, valued at Rs 675 crore for the whole of ongoing financial year.

Black pepper exports have registered a marginal growth of 2 per cent at 1600 tonne, valued at Rs 20.64 crore in April, 2007. The figures for April, 2006 were 1575 tonne and Rs 13.17 crore respectively.

The export of ginger and turmeric suffered a serious set-back, as ginger exports dropped by 58 per cent and turmeric registered a drop of 22 per cent in quantity. India has shipped 500 tonne of ginger valued at Rs 3.25 crore during the month compared with 1201 tonne and Rs 3.96 crore in the corresponding month last year. The country's turmeric exports were 3750 tonne and valued at Rs 11.73 crore in April, 2007.

Coriander exports better as 2100 tonne valued at Rs 7.24 crore were shipped as against 1657 tonne valued at Rs 6.13 crore. A sharp increase was registered in the export of mint products, as 1200 tonne was exported during April, realising earnings of Rs 81.60 crore. India suffered a set-back on the export of curry powder and paste, while spices, oils and oleoresins registered a marginal growth.

Export curry powder and paste has dropped 11 per cent to 755 tonne, valued at Rs 6.97 crore. Oils and oleoresins worth 455 tonne and valued at Rs 39.13 crore were exported in April, 2007 as against 450 tonne exports valued at Rs 38.11 crore during the corresponding period last year. Small cardamom worth 65 tonne and 200 tonne of large cardamom were also shipped during April, 2007, providing a combined revenue of Rs 4.24 crore.