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Sharp drop likely in spices export

G.K. Nair

KOCHI, Jan. 4

SPICES exports have witnessed a major setback during the current fiscal following an 18-per cent drop in terms of quantity, 34-per cent drop in terms of rupee value and 37-per cent drop in terms of dollar value.

If the current trend is any indication the total exports during the current financial year are likely to touch only Rs 1,350 crore as against last fiscal's Rs 1,850 crore and previous year's Rs 1,758 crore. This will be far below the target of Rs 2,000 c rore set for 2000-01.

During April-November 2000, a total quantity of 1,27,525 tonnes worth Rs 900 crore was exported as against 1,55,637 tonnes worth Rs 1,363.98 crore during the corresponding period last year. The total exports during the first nine months are estimated at around Rs 940 crore as against around Rs 1,400 crore during the same period last year, according to sources at the All-India Spices Exporters Forum.

The decline in export value during the first eight months was Rs 463.98 crore. Of this pepper exports alone declined by Rs 412.8 crore. The export of spice oils and oleoresins rose by Rs 15.5 crore to Rs 208.57 from Rs 193.02 crore. Exports of mint oil a nd curry powder also rose by Rs 2.48 crore and Rs 1.69 crore respectively during the current year.

At the same time pepper exports which make up over 45 per cent to the total spices exports fell to 11,750 tonnes worth Rs 227.63 crore in April-November 2000 from 31,812 tonnes worth Rs 640.43 crore during the same period last year, registering a fall of Rs 412.8 crore.

According to exporters, pepper exports are unlikely to show any dramatic increase during the rest of the current fiscal. Similar is the case with all the other major spices except for cardamom (small and large), cumin, coriander and other spices.

Exports of small cardamom increased by Rs 9.86 crore to Rs 26.24 crore from Rs 16.38 crore. Other spices export went up to Rs 65.9 crore from Rs 63.92 crore. Coriander exports also rose from 9,638 tonnes to 10,250 tonnes in terms of quantity, but in term s of value they fell to Rs 23.32 crore from Rs 24.18 crore.

While the exports of cardamom large and cumin fell in terms of quantity, in terms of value they moved up to Rs 10.18 crore from Rs 9.93 crore and to Rs 30.98 crore from Rs 27.55 crore, respectively. Except for the value-added products the performance of other spices was expected to be far below the target set for each item.