Agri-exports accounted for 14.57 per cent in the nation's total export earnings of Rs 14,1603.53 crore during the year as against 15.93 per cent at 20,726.02 crore in 1997-98, sources said.

However, imports of agricultural products during 1998-99 surged 58.87 per cent to Rs 11,333.70 crore from Rs 7133.73 crore the previous year, the provisional figures available with the agriculture ministry revealed.

Import of agri commodities was a mere 6.44 per cent of the nation's total import worth Rs 1,76,098.63 crore during the financial year ending March 31, 1999, compared to 4.63 per cent of Rs 1,54176.29 crore of imports the previous year.

The export earnings from oilmeals declined sharply to Rs 1912.35 crore during the year on account of depressed global prices from a healthyearning of Rs 3,566.92 crore recorded in 1997-98.

The forex earnigs from rice exports has however, had risen sharply to Rs 6,190.70 crore during the year as non-basmati rice exports touched 43.4 lakh tonnes from 16.85 lakh tonnes a year ago.

Pulse exports dipped both in qunatity and value to 1.01 lakh tonnes and Rs 218.74 crore respectively in 1998-99 from 1.68 lakh tonnes and Rs 360.88 crore during the previous year, sources added.

India's share in the global wheat trade continued to be negligible in 1998-99 with the country exporting just 35,500 tonnes of wheat products valued at Rs 2.74 crore compared to 15,200 tonnes valued at Rs 40 lakh shipped a year ago.

While exports of tobacco manufactured recorded impressive gains by netting forex worth Rs 188.11 crore from 13,820 lakh tonnes, shipment of unmanufactured tobacco fell to 77,300 tonnes valued at Rs 591 crore as against 1.34 lakh tonnes worth Rs 917 crore exported in 1997-98, sources said.

Despite a marginal fall in quantity terms, earningsfrom spice exports rose to Rs 1616.78 crore during 1998-99 from Rs 1409.66 crore recorded during the previous year.

In quantity terms spice exports dipped to 2.02 lakh tonnes from 2.30 lakh tonnes in 1997-98.

Cashew exports rose to Rs 1609.88 crore in 1998-99 on better price realisation despite the fall quantity to 75,030 tonnes from 76,900 tonnes the previous year.

However, exports of cashewnut shell liquid fell both in quantity and value to 1,570 tonnes and Rs 3.26 crore respectively from 4,470 tonnes and Rs 7.17 crore in 1997-98.

Exports of groundnut from the country also declined following imposition of strict quality norms by European Union and stood at 48,910 tonnes valued at Rs 122.48 crore. This is against the previous year's export of 2.45 lakh tonnes valued at Rs 566.30 crore, sources added.

Shipment of castor oil, used for industrial purposes, rose in value terms to Rs 668.75 crore in 1998-99 from Rs 576.13 crore the previous year, despite a fall in quantity to 1.92 lakh tonnes from 2.04lakh tonnes the previous year.

Marine product exports also dropped both in quantity and value in 1998-99 to 3.16 lakh tonnes and Rs 4367.96 crore respectively from 3.98 lakh tonnes and Rs 44.86.76 crore during the previous year, sources said.

Forex realisations from meat and preparations dipped marginally to Rs 760.50 crore from Rs 808.35 crore in 1997-98.

Vegetable oils topped the list of imports accounting for a forex outgo to the tune of Rs 7,131.41 crore as against Rs 2,764.67 crore in 1997-98.

India was estimated to have imported 23.78 lakh tonnes fo vegetable oils in 1998-99 as against 12.65 lakh tonnes the previous year.

Sugar imports of 8.57 lakh tonnes during 1998-99 was valued at Rs 1,084 crore up from 3.46 lakh tonnes valued at Rs 470.25 crore in 1997-98.

While cashewnut imports totalled Rs 693.17 crore during the year down from Rs 767.19 crore in 1997-98, imports of fruits and nuts (excluding cashew) fell to Rs 401.86 crore from Rs 575.07 crore in 1997-98, sources added.