Spices export volume declines by 7%

Value realisation during April-December 2005 stood at Rs 1,676 crore

Volume of spices exported from the country dropped by seven per cent during April-December 2005 compared with the same period in 2004, according to the latest data available from the Spices Board.

In value terms, the decline is three per cent. The fall comes even as garlic has recorded a huge 1,698 per cent increase in export volumes.

However, the figures show that as much as 98 per cent of the quantity and 80 per cent of the value targeted by the Spices Board for the full financial year have been achieved in the first nine months itself.

During the period, the country's value realisation from spice exports stood at Rs 1,676 crore. As much as 244,666 tonne spices and spice-based products were exported during the period.

As against this, in April-December 2004, the exports were at 262,067 tonne, valued at Rs 1728.17 crore. The spice exports were at the record highest during 2004-05: 335,488 tonne, with net earnings at Rs 2,200 crore.

The item wise break-up of the figures compiled by the board shows that garlic exports increased by a whopping 1,698 per cent to hit 21,000 tonne. In value terms, the increase was 570 per cent at Rs 24.57 crore. In comparison, the year-ago figures stood at 1,168 tonne and Rs 3.66 crore, respectively.

However, the board's target for garlic was just 3,000 tonne and Rs 15 crore for the full year. The target has been surpassed by seven times in the first nine-month period itself. The commendable performance of garlic is mainly attributed to the poor performance of Chinese produce. China is one of the largest exporters of garlic.

Despite suffering a serious set back on the price front, pepper exports increased by 15 per cent in quantity and 12 per cent in value: 12,050 tonne valued at Rs 101.53 crore. During the year-ago period, the figures stood at 104,90 tonne and Rs 90.49 crore.

Chilli witnessed a reversal of the trend as against the last financial year's stellar show: a drop of 19 per cent in quantity and 24 per cent in value in the first nine months itself. The exports stood at 86,750 tonne valued at Rs 298.10 crore by the end of December 2005.

During the last year, of the total spices export of 335,488 tonne, chilli cornered 41 per cent or 138,000 tonne. As far as value was concerned, the commodity contributed 23 per cent or Rs 499 crore to the total figure last financial year.

Exports of dried ginger, too, dropped by 52 per cent to 3,600 tonne. In value terms, the decline is 21 per cent to Rs 25.87 crore. As much as 1,270 tonne cardamom valued at Rs 25.12 crore were exported during the nine-month period, while coriander exports stood at 19,500 tonne.

As far as exports of curry powder (at 6,250 tonne) and paste (Rs 52.93 crore) are concerned, the increase is 10 per cent in volume and 12 per cent in value.

Exports of spice oils and oleoresins have registered growth of 11 per cent in quantity and 9 per cent in value at 4,525 tonne and Rs 366.23 crore. During the period, mint products exports stood at 7,750 tonne, earning Rs 407.45 crore.

In the case of turmeric, though the quantity shows an increase of 10 per cent, value wise there has been a drop of 2 per cent. Nutmeg and mace exports have increased to 1,400 tonne, valued at Rs 28.03 crore during the period.