WORLDWIDE TRANS CO.,LTD

Spices exports crossed the $2-billion mark in 2011-12, thanks to the phenomenal growth in cardamom exports in value and volume.

“Cardamom, the queen of spices, is inching up to regain its lost position in international trade fetching more value and volume contributing to the upswing in spices exports,” said Dr A. Jayathilak, Chairman, Spices Board.

He said that cardamom export registered phenomenal growth of 296 per cent in volume and 175 per cent in value aiding the spice export to increase nine per cent in volume and 43 per cent in rupee terms compared with previous year.

The total spices export for the year stood at 5,75,270 tonnes, valued at Rs 9,783.42 crore ($2,037.76 million). The export marked a rise of 36 per cent in dollar terms.

The domestic spice industry could realise its target for the year and the achievement is 115 per cent in quantity, 151 per cent in rupee value and 141 per cent in dollar terms, the Chairman said.

According to Mr Jayathilak, the record rise in exports of cardamom and sharp rise in the value of chilli exports contributed to a record achievement in spices export. Cardamom exports totalled 4,650 tonnes, valued at Rs 363.22 crore.

A quantity of 935 tonnes of large cardamom valued Rs 68.30 crore was exported, up 21 per cent in volume and 53 per cent in value than the previous year. The UAE, the UK, Pakistan and Kuwait were the major importers of cardamom.

Chilli export exceeded more than 40 per cent in value compared with the previous year though the increase in quantity is negligible.

The US is the main importer of Indian spices contributing to 16 per cent of total export value followed by China (9 per cent), UAE and Malaysia (six per cent), Saudi Arabia, Germany, Sri Lanka, Singapore and the UK (four per cent each).

Mint and mint products, chilli, spice oils and oleoresins, pepper, turmeric, cumin, cardamom (small) and so on, were the key contributors in achieving the target, he said.

Export of all the major spices such as pepper, ginger, turmeric, cumin, fennel, fenugreek, mustard, aniseed, ajwan seed, nutmeg and mace and so on, increased both in terms of volume and value.

Export of mint products spice oils and oleoresins increased in terms of value whereas export of coriander, celery and garlic for the year showed a decrease both in terms of quantity and value.