The country exported 94,575 tonnes spices worth Rs 4.99 billion in the same period in 1997. India exported 218,750 tonnes of spices in 1997/98(April-March) worth Rs 13.52 billion. The Spices Board has kept an export target of 248,050 tonnes in 1998/99.

"At the rate of the present performance, we will be able to achieve some 80 per cent of the targeted volume and 90 per cent of the value when the year ends," said Balakrishnan, an exporter.

PS Sreekantan Thampi, deputy director of the Spices Board, said only cardamom, spices oils and oleoresins showed an increase both in terms of volume and value in thefirst four months of 1998/99.

Chillies, ginger, turmeric, coriander, cumin, celery,fennel, fenugreek, garlic, curry powder, and mint oil posted a decline both in terms of volume and value. "A weak demand due to stocks in hand is hitting our shipments just now," said Balakrishnan.

Thampi said India exported 12,750 tonnes of pepper in April-July worth Rs 2.50 billion compared with 16,451 tonnes worth Rs 1.77 billion in the same period in 1997. "Pepper continues to earn higher value although the volume of shipment is low," Thampi said.

An Upasi report said: "Exports continue to show a falling trend in the current year and this is causing concern". Exporters said they were expecting pepper shipments could rise in the coming weeks on reduced stocks with overseas buyers.

India exported 34,250 tonnes of pepper in 1997/98 compared with 47,893 tonnes in 1996/97.