A fall in shipments of tea, coffee, oilmeals and spices from the country arrested further growth in exports during February, a senior commerce ministry official said. During February exports of tea slid by 16 per cent, coffee by 51 per cent, while that of spices and oilmeals also registered negative growth, H Ashok Chandra Prasad, economic advisor to the commerce ministry said.

Though exports registered a 4.36 per cent growth in February, it failed to record a double digit growth as expected by the commerce ministry. Referring to fall in tea exports in February, he said it had been good until December. Among the segements which registered impressive growth during February were gems and jewellery, garments, cashew kernels and carpets, he said. Exports of gem and jewellery registered a 45 per cent growth in February, that of garments a 36 per cent rise and carpet a 25 per cent increase. Cashew kernel exports were up by 57 per cent during february, hesaid.

Fall in copra prices

In Mumbai, prices of copra office alleppey and calicut declined further on the spices market today due to absence of buying amidst good supply, dealers said. Other spices ruled steady. Copra office alleppey and copra office calicut fell by Rs 25 per quintal each to settle at Rs 3600 and Rs 3650.

Sugar prices steady

In New Delhi, there was hardly any major activity on the sugar market as prices moved in a narrow range on small buying and selling before winding up at last levels. Traders were in a holiday mood, today being 'baisakhi' festival, marketmen said. They said arrivals from Punjab region were restricted following on-going baisakhi celebrations.

Dry fruit market steady

In New Delhi, a steady trend prevailed on the local dry fruit market with prices moving narrowly around the previous levels on small bouts of buying and selling. The volume of business was small.

Caustic soda falls

In New Delhi, caustic soda flake DCM, KCI Gujarat andcitric acid (Bombay Dyeing) prices fell on the local chemical market due to lack of demand and weak advices from producing centres. Caustic soda flake DCM, KCI and Gujarat down by Rs 5 each to settle at Rs 675, Rs. 675, and Rs. 675 from previous close of Rs. 680 each per 50 kg respectively. Citric acid Bombay Dyeing also loss by Rs 50 to settled at Rs 4900 against previous mark for Rs 4950 per 50 kg due to heavy stock position. The volume of business was small.

Metal prices firm

In Mumbai, prices maintained a steady tone on the non-ferrous metals market due to restricted activity. Following were today's rates per kilo with previous rates in brackets: copper wire bar Rs 110.50 (Rs 110.50), copper heavy scrap Rs 99.50 (Rs 99.50), copper utensils Rs 88.75 (Rs 88.75), brass scrap Rs 78.25 (Rs 78.25), brass sheets cutting Rs 84.25 (Rs 84.25), aluminium ingots Rs 81.25 (Rs 81.25), aluminium Rs 61.00 (Rs 61.00), zinc Rs 74.50 (Rs 74.50), lead Rs 38.50 (Rs 38.50), tin Rs 346.00 (Rs 346.00) and nickel Rs292.00 (Rs 292.00).