Spices exports rise 42 per cent

India has achieved 400 per cent of its targeted spices exports in first four months of the current financial year. The value of the country's exports increased by a whopping 42 per cent to Rs 1,385.01 crore during the April-July period. India exported 1,52,650 tonnes of spices and spice-based products as against 1,18,500 tonnes in the corresponding period in 2006-07, registering a growth of 29 per cent.

The Spices Board had set an export target of 3,80,000 tonnes, valued at Rs 3,600 crore for the whole of 2007-08. In FY 06-07, the total export earnings crossed Rs 3,500 crore through the export of 3,73,750 tonnes. The spectacular performance during the four month period indicates a much better performance on the spices export front by end of the current financial year.

Fenugreek and chilli have performed exceptionally well, as also black pepper and cardamom (large). A total of 5850 tonnes of fenugreek valued at Rs 15.40 crore was shipped, which was up by 127 per cent in quantity and 99 per cent in value. Chilli exports have already achieved 53 per cent of the targeted 1,35,000 tonnes for 2007-08 as 71,500 tonnes was exported in the April-July period. There has been 102 per cent growth in the export of chilli. The earnings increased to Rs 398 crore, registering a growth of 145 per cent. But there has been a slow down in the export of chilli compared with April, 2007, when there was a staggering growth of 231 per cent in quantity and 320 per cent in value terms. The total chilli export in 2006-07 was 148,500 tonnes, valued at Rs 807.75 crore as against 113,174 tonne valued at Rs 403.01 crore in the previous financial year. The export of cardamom (l) registered a growth of 83 per cent at 410 tonnes and was valued at Rs 4.57 crore.

The export of black pepper crossed 10,000 tonnes and realized a value of Rs 142.51 crore as against 7,125 tonnes valued at Rs 58.47 crore in April-July, 2006-07. Coriander export increased to 9,100 tonnes, up by 39 per cent and valued at Rs 33.41 crore. A total of 18,800 tonnes of turmeric and 3600 tonnes of ginger were also shipped during the four month period, according to latest export estimates of the Spices Board.

Garlic and vanilla had a poor show during the period. The garlic exports dropped by 98 per cent in quantity and 92 per cent in terms of value. The export of garlic dropped to a mere 235 tonne valued at Rs 1.31 crore, as against 9450 tonnes valued at Rs 16.27 crore. India's garlic exports peaked to 34,688 tonnes in 2005-06, but plummeted to 11,500 tonnes, valued at Rs 21.28 tonne in 2006-07. Likewise, vanilla exports plummeted to 60 tonnes, valued at Rs 4.97 crore.