Business

Cashew export volume and value dip

Special Correspondent

KOCHI: The foreign exchange earned by the country through export of cashew kernels, cashew nut shell liquid and allied products during 2005-06 was $570 million (Rs.2,521.95 crores). Among the agricultural commodities exported from the country, cashew held the second position contributing 0.56 % of the total export earnings of the country during 2005-06.

Addressing the annual general meeting of the Cashew Export Promotion Council of India here on Tuesday, Walter D'Souza, chairman, pointed out that both in term of value and volume-wise, the exports had decreased. The exporters had targeted a figure of Rs.3000 crores. But this could not be achieved due to the withdrawal of the VKUY scheme of the Union Ministry of Commerce.

Export of cashew kernels during 2005-06 was 1,14,143 tonnes valued at Rs.2514.86 crores ($568 million) as against 1,26,667 tonnes valued at Rs.2,709.24 crores ( US $ 603 million) during 2004-05. There was a decrease of 9.80 per cent in quantity and 7.17 per cent in value. The average unit export price realised during 2005-06 was Rs.220.33 per kg compared to Rs.213.89 per kg during 2004-05, an increase of 3.01 per cent. Export of cashew nut shell liquid during 2005-06 was 6405 MT valued at Rs.7.09 crores against 7,474 tonnes valued at Rs.7.91 crores during the previous year. There was a decrease of 14.30 per cent in terms of quantity and 10.37 per cent in terms of value. The unit value realised for cashew nut shell liquid during 2005-06 was Rs.11.07 per kg.

In the previous year, this was Rs.10.58 per kg. The increase was 4.63 per cent.

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