Spices exports touch 3,18,635 tonnes

Kochi, Feb 4 (UNI) Export of spices from India has reached 3,18,635 tonnes, valued at Rs 3155.20 crore, during the first nine months of the financial year 2007-08.

Compared to 2006-07, it was higher by 38 percent in Dollar terms of value and 19 per cent in volume, according to a release said here. It was 2,68,120 tonnes valued at Rs 2575.08 crores.

As against a target of 3,80,000 tons fixed for the year, 84 per cent of quantity and 89 per cent of value had been realised in the first three quarters of the current financial year, it said.

Exports of spices like pepper, chilli, coriander, fennel and fenugreek spices perfomed better than last year. Value added spice products like curry power, spice oils and oleoresins and mint products have also done better compared to last year.

But the export of some of items like cardamom (small) and (large), ginger, turmeric, cumin, celery, garlic, vanilla, nutmeg and mace fell short of last year's performance.

During April-December 2007, the export of pepper from India was 27,000 tonnes valued Rs 391.63 crore, which is higher by 24 percent in quantity and 77 percent in value compared to last year's achievement of 21,780 tonnes valued Rs 221.82 crores.

The average fob unit value has increased to Rs 145.05 per kg from 101.84 per kg of last year. During the period, Indian pepper has become more competitive in the international market as compared to other major producing countries like vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia. The major buyers of Indian pepper are USA followed by UK, Italy, Germany and Canada.

UNI XR VV JS1645