Guar Exports Rise By 13-pc During Apr-Oct period

Mumbai: India's guar gum exports in April-October went up 12.6% to 109,481 tonne, compared with the year-ago period, the latest figures released by Agricultural Processed Food Products Export Development Authority indicate. The country has reported the 97,211 tonne guar gum exports during April-October. In the value terms, total guar gum exports in April-October were valued at $144.71 million, up 19.37 per cent from the year-ago period. High prices of guar seed and guar seed gum during April-October is seen as the reason for plummeting the export growth. Global demand went to Pakistan from India in the last few months in 2006 due to high prices. Pakistan, the second major producer of the crop, offered guar gum at the rates cheaper than those quoted by India. India's export target for 2006-07 (April-March), in value terms, also plummeted to $281.59 million from $283 million earlier. About 51.39 per cent of the revised target has been achieved as of October. In 2006-07 (April-March), exports in quantity terms have been pegged at 275,000 tonne, compared with 186,530 tonne a year ago, due to higher production of guar seed. Guar seed production is estimated at 7.5-8.5 million bags (1 bag=100 kg), up from 5.5-6.5 million bags. India produces around 80 per cent of the world's guar gum, which is extracted from guar seed.