The exports of spices in the April-July period rose 22 per cent in rupee terms and 26 per cent in dollar terms over those in the same peiod a year ago. Total receipts in the period stood at Rs 2,613.50 crore ($585.46 million), compared to Rs 2,135 crore ($464.92 million) during the same period last year.
This was in spite of a decline of 24 per cent in exports volume during the period to 157,725 tonnes from 208,775 tonnes in the same period a year ago.
Export of cardamom (small) rose 376 per cent in quantity to 975 tonnes and 288 per cent in value to Rs 91.47 crore. During the period, 190 tonnes of cardamom (large), valued at Rs 14.98 crore was exported, compared to 65 tonnes for Rs 3.69 crore last year — a rise of 192 per cent in quantity and 306 per cent in value. The unit value of cardamom (large) rose from Rs 567.43 per kg in April-July 2010, to Rs 788.16 per kg during the period this year. Export of pepper, cardamom (small), cardamom (large), ginger, turmeric and other spices like tamarind and asafoetida have seen an increase both in volume and value.
Export of value-added products, curry powder and paste rose both in volume and value. But for spice oils and oleoresins, mint products, nutmeg & mace, and other seeds like mustard and ajwanseed, the increase was only in value terms. Exports of all other spices have seen a decline both in volume and value.
