Pepper, chilli hot up India's spices exports

Kochi, May 17 (UNI) With earnings from pepper, chilli and cumin exports doubling during 2006-07, India notched a 36 per cent increase in spices exports, earning US Dollars 792.95 million, Spices Board Chairman V J Kurian said.

Addressing a press conference here last night, Mr Kurian said in Rupee terms, the exports stood at Rs 3575.75 crore compared to Rs 2627.62 crore during 2005-06. In volume terms, the exports went up from 350,363 tonnes to 373,750 tonnes.

The Board has set an export target of USD 850 million for 2007-08, he informed.

Helped by a subsidy of Rs seven per kg, pepper exports jumped upto 28,750 tonnes, valued at Rs 306.20 crore, during 2006-07 compared to 17,363 tonnes, valued at Rs 150.95 crore, during the previous year. The unit value increased from Rs 86.94 per kg to Rs 106.50 per kg.

The US was the single largest market for pepper, importing 13,886 tonnes compared to 6,596 tonnes in the previous year. Other major markets were the UK, Germany, Italy, Canada and Australia.

A decline in international pepper supply, from 314,270 tonnes in 2005 to 269,900 tonnes in 2006 also helped India to export more volumes. The estimated production in 2007 is expected to be less as 266,000 tonnes.

Chilli exports climbed to 148,500 tonnes valued at Rs 807.75 crore compared to 113,174 tonnes valued at Rs 403.01 crore in the previous year. Unit value realisation increased from Rs 36 per kg to Rs 54 per kg.

A reported shortfall in the Chinese chilli production made chilli hotter in the international market. China also imported 900 tonnes of Indian chilli. Major chilli importers were Malaysia, Bangladesh, the US, Sri Lanka, the UAE and Indonesia.

Cumin exports totalled 26,000 tonnes valued at Rs 201.50 crore as against 12,879 tonnes valued at Rs 98.19 crore in the previous year.

The unit value realisation increased from Rs 76 per kg to Rs 78 per kg.

Turmeric exports also increased to 51,500 tonnes from 46,405 tonnes. The earnings rose to Rs 164.80 crore from Rs 152.86 crore.

Both Iran and Egypt imported more Indian turmeric.

However, export of small cardamom declined from 863 tonnes valued at Rs 26.82 crore to 650 tonnes valued at Rs 22.36 crore. Ginger exports declined from 9,411 tonnes valued at Rs 42.96 crore to 7,500 tonnes valued at Rs 39.75 crore. This was mainly due to a drastic decline in ginger exports to Bangladesh from 5,341 tonnes to 2,405 tonnes.

Mr Kurian said the export of value-added spices increased by 38 per cent in value terms, going up to Rs 2,093 crore from Rs 1512 crore. Among the value-added spices, curry powder, spice oils, oleresins and mint products showed an increase of five per cent in quantity and 20 per cent in value. Other value-added spices export from India are spice powders, dehydrated green pepper, freeze dried green pepper and dehydrated garlic flakes.

UNI