The Hindu : Kerala News : Spice exports from India touch 3-lakh tonne mark

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, May 01, 2005

Kerala

Kerala

Spice exports from India touch 3-lakh tonne mark

Staff Reporter

KOCHI: Helped by a boom in demand for chilli, spice exports from India during 2004-05 crossed the three-lakh-tonne mark to grow 32 per cent in quantity and 23 per cent in value. Growth in dollar terms was an impressive 18 per cent.

The Spices Board Chairman, C. J. Jose, said here on Friday that India exported 3,35,488 tonnes of spices worth Rs. 2,200 crores ($ 490.60 million) during the financial year just ended. During 2003-04, spices exports fetched Rs. 1,911.60 crores ($ 416.56 million) from a total quantity of 2,54,382 tonnes.

The highest ever spices export was during 2002-03 during which a total of 2,64,107 tonnes of spices were exported fetching Rs. 2,087 crores.

Indian chilli grew out of the shadow of the Sudan scare in the United Kingdom during the year and emerged as the star item of export contributing 41 per cent to the total quantity of spices . It contributed 23 per cent of the value of exports in rupee terms.

Chilli exports during 2004-05 stood at 1,38,000 tonnes valued at Rs. 499 crores as against 86,575 tonnes valued at Rs. 366.88 crores during 2003-04.

Mr. Jose said that the success of Indian chilli could be attributed to the price competitiveness in the international market with increased production as well as the stringent quality measures introduced by the Spices Board.

As a result of the continuing control on quantity to root out adulteration of chilli products, there has been sustained growth in exports to the U.S.A., Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

Export of ginger, turmeric, coriander, cumin, fennel, fenugreek and spice oils and oleoresins too grew significantly during 2004-05. Vanilla and big cardamom too make their presence felt in the business.

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