Marking a 43 per cent jump in value terms and a 20 per cent rise in volumes, spices exports increased from 314,835 tonnes valued at Rs 4,286 crore during the April-September 2012 period to 378,755 tonnes worth Rs 6,118 crore during the same period this year, according to Spices Board data.
Notably, out of the 18 items in the export basket, only four recorded a decline during the period.
A 300 per cent increase was recorded in the 'other seeds' segment, which includes mustard, aniseed, ajwanseed, poppy seed, among others. In this segment, 12,300 tonnes valued at Rs 63.75 crore were exported against 3,077 tonnes valued at Rs 18.90 crore in the year-ago period.
In quantity terms, export of mint-based products witnessed a 158 per cent growth, nutmeg and mace registered a 120 per cent expansion and celery reported a 138 per cent growth.
In the first six months of the current financial year, 10,650 tonnes of mint products valued at Rs 1,334.37 crore were exported compared with 4,130 tonnes valued at Rs 793 crore in the year-ago period, registering a growth of 158 per cent in quantity and 68 per cent in value terms.
In the case of pepper, a 36 per cent rise was recorded during the April-September 2013 period at 10,200 tonnes valued at Rs 423 crore. Plus, 21,300 tonnes of coriander valued at Rs 172 crore were also shipped, registering a growth of 40 per cent in volume and 117 per cent in value.
Curry Powder
During the period, 9,950 tonnes of curry powder and paste valued at Rs 165 crore were exported compared to 6,591 tonnes worth Rs 107 crore during the year-ago period. Export proceeds from spice oils and oleoresins, where India dominates with around 65 per cent of the global market, has increased 31 per cent at Rs 807.72 crore. Volume increased to 5,765 tonnes from 4,040 tonnes.
Chilli, garlic drops
However, India suffered setback on the export of chilli - the largest export item from India volume-wise - cardamom, garlic and ginger during the first half of FY14.
While chili exports dropped three per cent at 134,500 tonnes valued at Rs 1,194 crore, garlic exports showed a decline of 36 per cent in volume terms at 7,500 tonnes worth Rs 34.12 crore. Ginger registered a 53 per cent fall at 5,550 tonnes valued at Rs 91 crore.
