However, the export volume decreased by eight per cent from 2.29 lakh tonnes in 1997-98 to 2.10 lakh tonnes during the period. Pepper continued to be the leader in export earnings with a share of 38 per cent followed by spice oils and oleoresins 18 per cent and chillies 13 per cent.

Exports of cardamom (small), chilli, turmeric, celery, fenugreek, other spices and spice oils and oleoresins increased both in terms of quantity and value compared to the previous year, whereas pepper and curry powder were higher in value terms only. Cardamom (large), ginger, coriander, cumin, fennel, otherseeds and garlic exports declined in both quantity and value, Jayasankar said.

Pepper export during 1998-99 was 35,100 tonnes valued at Rs 634.67 crore as against 35,719 tonnes valued Rs 487.41 crore in 1997-98, with a decrease of two per cent in quantity and an increase of 30 per cent in value, Jayashankar said. The rise in value was due to higher unit value realisation during the current year. The average fob unit price realised during 1998-99 is Rs 180.82 per kg as against Rs 136.46 per kg in 1997-98.

Export of chillies also registered a substantial increase in 1998-99 as compared to previous fiscal. A total quantity of 55,750 tonne valued at Rs 210.13 crore was exported during the period under review as compared to 42,489 tonne valued at Rs 138.47 crore during the corresponding period last year. Small cardamom exports increased from 297 tonnes valued at Rs 10.63 crore to 355 tonnes valued at Rs 22.49 crore. The unit value rose to Rs 633.73 per kg from Rs 358.15 per kg. Turmeric exports rose to 27,750tonnes valued at Rs 103.87 crore from 27,204 tonnes valued at Rs 80.15 crore. The unit value increased to Rs 37.43 per kg from Rs 29.46 per kg.

Exports of celery jumped to 3,600 tonnes valued at Rs 8.90 crore from 3,311 tonnes valued at Rs 7.74 crores and the unit value increase to Rs 24.75 per kg from Rs 23.38 per kg. Fenugreek exports shot up 8,200 tonnes valued at Rs 15.21 crore from 5,529 tonnes valued at Rs 9.17 crore. The unit value increased to Rs 18.55 per kg from Rs 16.60 per kg. Exports of spice oils and oleoresins increased from 2,351 tonnes valued at Rs 223.21 crores to 2,625 tonnes valued at Rs 293.10 crore.Unit value rose from Rs 949.45 per kg to Rs 1,116.57 per kg. Exports of mint oil increased in terms of volume from 3,016 tonnes valued at Rs 95.93 crore to 3,400 tonnes valued at Rs 95.68 crore. The unit value dipped from Rs 318.09 per kg to Rs 281.43 per kg. Jayasankar said the domestic price of cardamom had gone up due to lower production and imports by Pakistan had declined due torestrictions imposed on mass celebrations. Referring to ginger, he said that around 14,000 to 15,000 tonnes of fresh ginger were usually exported to Bangladesh and Pakistan in a year. However, as the price was high due to lower production in the north eastern states, these countries had imported fresh ginger at lower prices from Thailand.

Dry ginger exports also declined due to low production in the southern states and major share of the available ginger were absorbed by the domestic market, resulting in price rise. Nigeria and China had supplied at much lower prices to the international markets, he added.