KOCHI: Spices export from the country has achieved the target for the financial year 2006-07, in terms of rupee and dollar values, by January.

Spices Board sources has said that the cumulative export is estimated at 2,80,658 tonnes, valued at Rs. 2,675.25 crore ($ 588.85 million).

It was 2,71,591 tonnes, put at Rs. 1,945.12 crore ($ 440 million), during the corresponding period of 2005-06. The increase in value in rupees is 38 per cent and dollars 34 per cent. The target was 3,06,000 tonnes, valued at Rs. 2,500 crore ($ 545 million), and the achievement is 92 per cent in quantity, 107 per cent in rupee terms and 108 per cent in dollars.

During January, 23,390 tonnes of spices, valued at Rs. 249.77 crore ($ 56.35 million), were exported, as against 21,160 tonnes, valued at Rs. 163.31 crore ($ 36.79 million), in that month of 2006.

Spice oils and oleoresins such as mint products contributed 46 per cent of the earnings. Chilli contributed 19 per cent, followed by pepper 9 per cent, cumin 7 per cent, and turmeric 5 per cent.

Export of pepper, cardamom (large), chilli, turmeric, cumin, nutmeg and mace, vanilla, curry powder and paste, mint products, other seed spices, tamarind, asafoetida and so on are higher, in terms of quantity and value, than that during the corresponding period last year.

In the case of coriander, fennel and fenugreek, the increase is in value only. Other major spices have shown a decline in quantity and value.

A total of 22,270 tonnes of pepper, valued at Rs. 230.32 crore, was exported as against 13,513 tonnes, valued at Rs. 114.18 crore, last year.

Chilli accounted for 98,000 tonnes, valued at Rs. 513.25 crore, as against 94,715 tonnes, valued at Rs. 330.53 crore, last year. For cumin, this was 23,500 tonnes, valued at Rs. 179.25 crore, as against 8,304 tonnes, valued at Rs. 63.74 crore, and vanilla, 98 tonnes, valued at Rs. 15.98 crore, as against 30 tonnes, valued at Rs. 6.38 crore.

Exports of curry powder is estimated at 7,800 tonnes, valued at Rs. 70.58 crore, as against 7,200 tonnes, valued at Rs. 61.99 crore, last year. During the period, 12,500 tonnes of mint products, valued at Rs. 833.97 crore, was shipped as against 9,850 tonnes valued at Rs. 527.75 crore.

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