Kochi July 29 Spices exports declined 19 per cent in volume and 12 per cent in value during the first quarter of this fiscal compared with the same period a year ago. The major spices exported during the quarter were chilli, mint products, spice oils and oleoresins, cumin, turmeric and pepper.
Spice oils and oleoresins, including mint products, constituted 33 per cent of the export earnings. Chilli contributed 19 per cent of the total exports, followed by cumin (12 per cent) and turmeric (eight per cent).
Spices exports totalled 1.22 lakh tonnes valued at Rs 1,230.18 crore ($252.24 million) against 1.50 lakh tonnes valued at Rs 1,400.80 crore ($336.25 million) during the corresponding quarter of last year.
Exports of pepper, chilly, cumin, vanilla, mint products, spice oils and oleoresins declined both in terms of volume and value compared with the same period last year. Since these spices constitute a significant portion of the total export value, they were mainly responsible for dragging down the value of total despatches.
The export of pepper to the US, the EU and other major destinations declined during the period. On the other hand, export of cardamom small, cardamom large, coriander, celery, fennel, fenugreek, nutmeg and mace, curry powder and other seeds was higher both in quantity and value as compared to the same period of last year.
Export of pepper was 5,000 tonnes valued at Rs 74.87 crore against 7,430 tonnes valued at Rs 124.78 crore last year. Shipments of chilli fell sharply to 37,500 tonnes (67,100 tonnes) valued at Rs 228.71 crore (Rs 333.82 crore).
The decline in export of chilli was mainly due to the withdrawal of Pakistan from the market. During the corresponding period last year, Pakistan imported 22,000 tonnes.
turmeric exports up
The export of turmeric witnessed a 46 per cent growth in value realisation at Rs 97.78 crore (Rs 66.98 crore) even as the quantity witnessed a nominal fall to 15,500 tonnes (15,825 tonnes). Export of coriander seed increased to 14,500 tonnes (10,245 tonnes) valued at Rs 71.30 crore (Rs.64.09 crore). Among the processed spices, exports of curry powder increased by 16 per cent in volume and 27 per cent in value. However, the export of spices extracts and mint products has declined.
Source : Business Line