Saturday, February 23, 2008

Spices Export May Top Target

Kochi: If the current trend is any indication, the exports of spices from the country are likely to cross the target of Rs 3,600 crore set by the Spices Board for the current fiscal. Run-up to Budget 2008-09

The total shipments during April-January 2007-08 stood at 3,49,776 tonnes valued at Rs 3,485.48 crore compared with the target of 3.8-lakh tonnes valued at Rs 3,600 crore. During the corresponding period of the previous fiscal, the total exports were at 2,92,185 tonnes valued at Rs 2,850.45 crore. Thus, there has been a substantial increase — both in volume and value.

Chilli and mint

Compared with the performance of April-January 2006-07, the achievement during the year is higher by 20 per cent in volume and 22 per cent in terms of rupee value, an office release said. In dollar terms of value, the growth is 38 per cent. Against the target of 3.8 lakh tonnes valued at Rs 3,600 crore ($875 million) fixed for the year, 99 per cent of the dollar value (97 per cent in rupee value) and 92 per cent of the volume have already been achieved during the first ten months.

Export of spices like chilli and mint products have already exceeded the targets both in terms of volume and value. During the period, export of coriander and cumin has exceeded the target in value terms and vanilla in volume terms.

Spices such as pepper, chilli, cardamom (large), coriander, fennel, fenugreek, vanilla and other miscellaneous spices performed better than last year. Value added spice products such as curry powder, spice oils and oleoresins and mint products have also done better compared with last year. Performance of some of the items such as cardamom (small), ginger, turmeric, cumin, celery, garlic and nutmeg and mace fell short of last year’s performance.

During April-January 2007-08, the export of pepper from India has been 29,300 tonnes valued at Rs 427.63 crore, which is higher by 21 per cent in quantity and 71 per cent in value compared with last year’s achievement of 24,160 tonnes valued at Rs 250.24 crore. The average fob unit value has increased to Rs 145.95 per kg from Rs 103.58 per kg of last year. During the period, Indian pepper has become more competitive in the international market compared with other major producing countries such as Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia. The major buyers of Indian pepper are the US followed by UK, Italy, Germany and Canada.

During the first ten months of the current financial year, the export of chilli from India exceeded last year’s total export performance of chilli and reached an all-time high — both in terms of quantity and value. During the period, India exported 1,57,500 tonnes of chilli valued at Rs 848.37 crore compared with 1,04,885 tonnes valued at Rs 557.69 crore of last year.

Malaysia is the largest buyer of Indian chilly followed by other traditional buyers — Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and the US. The export of chilli accounts for 45 per cent in terms of quantity and 24 per cent in terms of value of the total export of spices from India. Presently, India is the major source of red chilli in the international market. The stringent quality measures implemented by the board, viz. mandatory sampling and analysis for presence of Aflatoxin and adulterant Sudan in export consignment of chilli, have made Indian product more acceptable in the international markets.

Value realisation

Among the seed spices, coriander, fennel, fenugreek and other seeds like mustard, dill and ajowan have performed better than last year. During the period April-January 2007-08, 21,250 tonnes of coriander valued at Rs 87.42 crore were exported compared with 16,470 tonne valued at Rs 60.52 crore of last year.

No comments: