Exports of cashew kernel was estimated to have increased to 65,491 tonnes valued at $323.83 million (Rs 1,359.76 crore) during April-January period of the current financial year against shipments of 64,862 tonnes valued at $316.60 million (Rs 1,163.79 crore) during the same period of the previous fiscal, said KG Nayar, chief executive and secretary, Cashew Export Promotion Council of India.

In terms of volume, the exports had increased by one per cent and that in terms of value is two per cent. The unit price of kernel export also fetched better prices than the last fiscal.

The unit price increased from Rs 179.43 a kg last fiscal to Rs 207.63 a kg this year, he said. On the other hand, raw cashewnuts imports also witnessed fall in terms ofquantity.

Raw cashewnuts import increased to 1.77 lakh tonnes valued at $152.29 million (Rs 639.47 crore) during the first ten months of the current fiscal from 1.84 lakh tonnes valued at $164.74 million (Rs 605.56 crore) during the corresponding period of the previous fiscal.

The unit price of raw cashewnut imports also witnessed an increase to Rs 36.14 a kg from Rs 32.54 a kg in the last fiscal. Exports of cashew kernels had increased this fiscal despite a slide in production of raw cashewnuts. However, imports of raw cashewnuts did not increase as there was global shortfall in production in leading producing countries like Brazil, Vietnam and Tanzania, Nayar said.

The global shortfall in raw cashewnuts had led to a firm trend in the prices of cashew kernels besides rise in raw nut prices, he added. During 1997-98, the country's raw cashewnut production was estimated at 3.60 lakh tonnes against 4.30 lakh tonnes the previous year.

Inclement weather, especially untimely rains, had led to production ofthis commodity being affected. While being the largest exporter of cashew kernels, India is also the largest importer of raw cashewnuts, which is processed into kernels for exports.

India enjoys a 70 per cent share in the global cashew kernel market, followed by Brazil and Vietnam. Of the total exports, over 38 per cent shipments are to the US and an equal amount to Western European countries like the Netherlands, France, the UK, Italy, Germany and Greece.

About four per cent each are exported to Japan and Gulf countries, Nayar added.