Spices exports during April-June this year were 56,120 tonnes valued at $113.85 million (Rs 488.16 crore) compared with shipments of 63,985 tonnes worth $116.73 million during the corresponding period last year, Spices Board data said today.

In view of depreciation of the Indian rupee against the US dollar, exports showed a three per cent rise in rupee terms.

However, spices exports showed signs of resurgence in June with shipments of all major items in the basket showing an uptrend.

Despite spices exports in June this year being lower in volume at 19,802 tonnes against 20,419 tonnes during same period last year, the value of the shipments increased to 39.40 million dollars (Rs 170.04 crore) compared with 37.08 million dollars (Rs 155.86 crore) in June 1998.

Pepper exports made up 54 percent of the total earnings from spices shipment at Rs 263.61 crore with 14,250 tonnes being shipped. Compared with this, exports of pepper during corresponding period last year were 11,240 tonnes valued at Rs 203.83 crore.

The Spices Board said besides pepper, spice oils and oleoresins and chillies contributed 12 per cent each to the earnings in the spices export basket.

Chilli export during the first quarter totalled 13,500 tonnes valued at Rs 56.23 crore against 10,560 tonnes worth Rs 38.92 crore during the same period a year ago.

Spice oleoresins and other oils' exports despite the 12 per cent contribution declined to 575 tonnes valued at Rs 59.50 crore from 690 tonnes valued at Rs 80.93 last year.

While small cardamom exports slid, shipments of ginger fell to 1,500 tonnes valued at Rs 5.37 crore from 2,177 tonnes worth Rs 11.09 crore during the first quarter of the previous fiscal.

Coriander exports fell by nearly 50 per cent to 4,750 tonnes (Rs 10.15 crore) from 8,682 tonnes (Rs 18.47 crore).Cumin shipments fell by nearly four-fifth of last year's first quarter exports of 3,664 tonnes (Rs 6.72 crore) to 750 tonnes valued at Rs 4.62 crore.

Turmeric exports during the first quarter declined to 8,000 tonnes (Rs 30.25 crore) from 9,265 tonnes (Rs 33.78 crore) during the same period last year.

Besides celery, fennel, fenugreek, other seeds, garlic, curry powder declined in both value and volume terms.

Against a tentative target of 2.15 lakh tonnes for spices exports, 26 per cent had been achieved and in dollar terms 28 per cent of the 405 million dollar target had been fulfilled in the first quarter.