Spices exports from India are recouping some of the loss suffered in the first half of the last calendar year thanks to a global shortage of commodities like cardamom, garlic, ginger and chilli. According to estimates from the state-run Spices Board, exports in December 2009 were marginally lower than the volumes and value achieved in the same month of 2008.

Cumulative exports for the period of April December 2009 are lower by 2% in volume, 4% in rupee value, and 11% in dollar terms. ?However, the decline in spices export, which was in the range of 20%-25% during the first two quarters of the financial year, has now come down to 2%-4% as compared to the corresponding period of last year,? board sources said.

Spice oils & oleoresins including mint products contribute 34% of the total export earnings. Chilli contributed 23% followed by cumin 10% and turmeric 7%, sources added.

During April-December 2009, export of cardamom, celery, garlic, nutmeg and mace, curry powder and other seeds are higher in terms of both volume and value as compared to the same period of last year.

However, export of spices like pepper, cardamom (large), cumin, fennel, fenugreek, vanilla, mint products and spice oils & oleoresins have shown a decline in both volume and value terms as compared to last year.

Pepper exports in the first nine months of 2009 stood at 14,750 tonne valued at Rs 233.02 crore as against 19,450 tonne valued at Rs 324.43 crore during the same period of last year. During the period, exports of pepper to the US, the EU and other major destinations declined when compared to last year.

Exports of chilli during April-December 2009 were at 1,39,000 tonne valued at Rs 899.69 crore as against 1,46,000 tonne valued at Rs 827.99 crore during the year-ago period, a decline of 5% in volume. However, due to higher unit value realisation, the export value increased by 9% as compared to the last year.

Among the processed spices, exports of curry powder increased by 12% in volume and 16% in value terms. However, exports of spices extracts and mint products declined as compared to the same period of the previous year. This is mainly due to the low inventories in the major markets like the US, the EU, etc. Exports of cardamom (small) during April-December 2009 increased substantially and registered a growth of 174% in volume and 223% in value as compared to last year. Exports during the period were at 1,190 tonne valued Rs 90.04 crore as against 435 tonne valued Rs 27.87 crore. In the case of seed spices, exports of coriander seed has increased from 22,750 tonne valued at Rs 160.88 crore in April-December 2008 to 30,750 tonne valued Rs 155.28 crore in April-December 2009.

Compared to last year, exports of garlic also increased and stood at 6,300 tonne valued at Rs 16.20 crore as against 590 tonne valued at Rs 2.27crore during April- December 2008.

Against an exports target of 4, 35,000 tonne valued at Rs 4,500 crore ($1000 million) for the financial year, the country has achieved exports of 3, 58,205 tonne valued at Rs 3953.74 crore ($825.55 million) during April-December 2009.