Spices exports volume up 1%, value takes a hit

Spices exports for the first eleven months of the previous financial year is seen higher by 1% in volume while total value realisation in rupee terms is down by 1% as compared to the same same period of last fiscal, officials of the Spices Board said.

The dollar realization for the period is lower by almost 6% at $10,15.15 million compared with $10,83.89 million during the year-ago period. However, the sector has witnessed a turnaround with exports of some spices like chilli, cardamom and oleoresin reviving.

For the period of April-February 2009-10, India exported 437,241 tonne of spices and products valued at Rs 4,830.12 crore as against 433,360 tonne valued at Rs 4,870.12 crore during the same period of the last fiscal, sources said.

Spices exports during February 2010 increased by 12% in value compared to February 2009. In dollar terms, the increase is 19% in the same period. In February 2010, India exported 33,555 tonne of spices valued at Rs 392.63 crore ($ 84.76 million) as against 30,890 tonne valued Rs 350.26 crore ($ 71.16 million) in February 2009.

Exports of cardamom (small), chilli, ginger, coriander, garlic, curry powder and spice oils and oleoresins showed substantial increase in February 2010. Cardamom exports were estimated to be 250 tonne valued at Rs 24.25 crore as against 110 tonne valued at Rs 6.97 crore in February 2009. The unit realisation for the month was at Rs 970 per kg compared to Rs 633.29 per kg in February 2009. The total cardamom exports in April-February 2010 is 1,750 tonne valued at Rs 140.96 crore as against 600 tonne valued at Rs 37.98 crore.

Exports of chilli was also encouraging last year. India exported 174,250 tonne of chilli valued at Rs 1123.44 crore during April-February 2009-10 as against 170,900 tonne valued at Rs 977.19 crore in the same period of last year. In terms of value, the increase is 15%. Pepper exports for february was lower by 50 tonne at 1,500 tonne and the unit value of realization was also down by Rs 5 per kg.

Other spices which have shown substantial increase last year were garlic and curry powder. Garlic export increased from 700 tonne valued at Rs 3.08 crore to 9,500 tonne valued at Rs 25.30 crore in 2009-10.