Spices export has dipped 6 per cent in terms of quantity and gone up 11 per cent in terms of value realisation. This may largely be attributed to the dip in the value of the rupee vis-a-vis last year and the increase in international price of some of the major export components like pepper and large cardamom. In dollar terms, the value of Indian spices has appreciated 3 per cent.

Export of items like pepper, cardamom (large) and chilli this April have registered improvements both in terms of value and quantity compared to the previous year. While the export of 5,000 tonnes of pepper fetched Rs 9,250 lakh during this April, in the previous year it was 3,404tonnes worth Rs 5,710 lakh.

About 55 tonnes of large cardamom was exported during this April and it was worth Rs 48.95 lakh. During the month of April last year, only 38 tonnes of cardamom was exported fetching Rs 32.81 lakh. About 5,000 tonnes of chilli worth Rs 1,925 lakh was exported during this April. In the previous year it was 2,539 tonnes worth Rs 1,047.97 lakh.

Ginger exports have suffered big reversal during this April. Only 100 tonnes of ginger worth Rs 75 lakh was exported during April 1999. In the previous year however, 519 tonnes of ginger was exported fetching Rs 293.24 lakh. Similarly export of small cardamom has suffered a setback. Only one tonne of small cardamom was exported this April fetching Rs 4.05 lakh.