Spices exports from the country crossed the $1 billion-mark in the first eleven months of the current financial year despite the slowdown in global trade. Spices export during the period also hit an all-time high in terms of rupee value at Rs4590.50 crore.

India exported 395,775 tonnes of spices worth an estimated value of Rs4590.50 crore ($1020.95 million) during April-February 2008-09 as against 386,875 tonnes valued Rs3950.50 crore ($980.90 million) in the corresponding 11 months of the last financial year.

Export of spices from the country increased by 16 per cent in rupee value and 4 per cent in dollar terms. Quantity-wise exports grew 2 per cent.

Spice oils and oleoresins, including mint products contributed 43 per cent of the total export earnings. Chilli contributed 21 per cent, followed by pepper 8 per cent, cumin 7 per cent and turmeric 5 per cent.

During April-February 2008-09, export of most of the major spices have shown an increasing trend, both in terms of quantity and value as compared to the same period last year. However, export of pepper has declined both in terms of quantity and value as compared to last year. During the period, export of chilli, ginger and mint products have declined in quantity only.    

Pepper exports from India during April-February 2008-09 fell to 23,350 tonnes valued Rs384.10 crore as against 31,760 tonnes valued at Rs466.26 crore last year. The average export price of pepper has gone up from Rs146.81 per kg in 2007-08 to Rs164.49 per kg in 2008-09. The low inventory in the major international markets due to the economic recession is reported to be the major reason for the decline in export of pepper.

During the period, India exported 166,000 tonnes of chilli and chilli products valued at Rs947.35 crore as against 176,255 tonnes valued at Rs940.12 crore last year.

The traditional buyers of Indian chilli, viz, Malaysia, Indonesia and Sri Lanka, were active in the market. However, export to Bangladesh has reduced considerably.

The export of seed spices has shown an increasing trend both in quantity and value terms as compared to the last year. The export of cumin seed has increased considerably during April-February 2009, rising to 31,000 tonnes valued Rs323.32 crore as against 23,265 tonnes valued at Rs244.80 crore in the same period the previous year. The export of cumin has shown an increase of 33 per cent in quantity and 32 per cent in value terms as compared to last year.

Export of coriander seed during April-February 2008-09 has also been lower at 23,600 tonnes valued Rs162.79 crore as against 23715 tonnes valued at Rs98.02 crore last year, recording an increase of 66 per cent in value. The unit value of export has gone up from Rs41.33/kg in 2007-08 to Rs68.98/kg in 2008-09.
 
Export of value-added products like curry powder and spice oils and oleoresins have also shown substantial increase both in terms of quantity and value as compared to last year. During April-February 2008-09, a total quantity of 12,450 tonnes of curry powder and masalas valued Rs150.62 crore has been exported as against 10,380 tonnes valued at Rs99.37,crore last years, recording an increase of 20 per cent in volume and 52 per cent in value.

The export of curry powder up to February 2009 has been an all time high both in terms of quantity and value. During April-February 2008-09, export of spice oils and oleoresins has risen to 6,280 tonnes valued at Rs659.44 crore as against 5,860 tonnes valued at Rs496.78 crore last year, an increase of 33 per cent in value terms and 7 per cent in volume.

Total export of spices from India during April-February 2008-09 have already exceeded the target in terms of rupee value. Against the export target of 4,25,000 tonnes valued at Rs4,350.00 crore ($1025 million) for the year, the achievement of 395,775 tonnes valued at Rs4590.50 crore ($1020.95 million) up to February 2009 is 93.1 per cent in quantity, 105.5 per cent in rupee value and 99.6 per cent in dollar terms of value.

The export of spices, viz, cardamom (small and large), cumin, fenugreek, nutmeg and mace, vanilla, curry powder and other seed spices have achieved the respective targets both in volume and value fixed for the year 2008-09.