Cashew Exports Witness Fall In Value

Kochi: Exports of cashew kernels from the country displayed an increase in terms of volume last fiscal but fell in terms of value on low unit value realisation. During the last fiscal, 1,18,540 tonnes of cashew kernels valued at Rs 2,455 crore were exported against 1,14,143 tonnes valued at Rs 2,515 crore during the previous fiscal. The unit value declined to Rs 207 a kg compared with Rs 220 the previous year. Another factor responsible for the drop in unit value was the increased supply from Vietnam at lower prices, he said. Unlike in India the domestic consumption in Vietnam is negligible and hence, almost the entire quantity is exported.
Non-availability of sufficient quantity of raw nuts pushed up imports of the raw material. Imports stood at 5,92,600 tonnes valued at Rs 1,812 crore as against 5,65,400 tonnes worth Rs 2,163 crore in the corresponding period the previous fiscal. There has been a fall in the unit value of the imported raw nuts to Rs 31 a kg from Rs 38 a kg.