Even during the month of September, exports had registered a quantitative drop over the same month last fiscal. This September, exports stood at 11,047 tonnes worth Rs 148.45 crore compared to the 13,525 tonnes worth Rs 11.29 crore during the same month last year. The quantitative drop in spices exports has been seen as a result of the shortfall in domestic production, competition from other spices producing countries and increased domestic consumption. In the international market, most of the Indian spices sell at a premium and this has an impact on the total volume of exports. While pepper continues to be the biggest chunk in exports and earnings, spice oils and oleoresins had a bad first half. Buoyed by reports of a shortfall in production, pepper is riding a bull phase in the international and domestic markets. Till the end of September this year, a total of 23,500 tonnes of pepper has been exported earning Rs 447.80 crore. This was 18,832 tonnes worth Rs 343.49 crore during the same period lastfiscal.

With the far eastern crops selling out, the price of Indian pepper has been soaring in the domestic and the international market although some of the Indian buyers are offering the Indian goods on dollar parity. Pepper prices touched a record high of Rs 25,000 per quintal two weeks back and is still selling at over Rs 25,600 per quintal in the domestic market. Meanwhile, spices exports and export earnings for the last financial year has been revised to 2,31,389 tonnes worth Rs 1,758 crore. During this year, a total export of 2,17,850 tonnes worth Rs 1,748 crore is targeted. Spice oils and oleoresins saw a drop both in quantity and value realisation. While quantity of exports fell 8 per cent, the value fell by nearly 20 per cent. A total of 1,250 tonnes of oleoresins and spice oils have been exported during the first half of this fiscal. This is worth Rs 126.34 crore. During the same period last year, exports stood at 1,365 tonnes worth Rs 157.76 crore.

Chilli exports during the period under review was helped by increased production and rose by over 7,000 tonnes during this year to stand at 26,800 tonnes. Export earnings for this was Rs 117.31 crore. During the same period last year it was 19,183 tonnes worth Rs 76.36 crore.

Turmeric is another spice that is showing a slide in export at 13,500 tonnes worth Rs 54.05 crore.

During the first six months of last year turmeric exports stood at 14,992 tonnes worth Rs 55.86 crore. Small cardamom exports continued its fall in exports registering a meagre export of 90 tonnes worth Rs 5.75 crore. Large cardamom exports stood at 450 tonnes worth Rs 5.61 crore.