India Sets New Spice Export Record

DELHI - May 15/02 - STAT -- India set a new record for spice exports during the just completed 2001-02 marketing campaign as shipments reached 245,000 metric tons (MT) with a total sales value of U.S. $341.6 million.

As has been the case since the 1995-96 season, chilli was the dominant spice exported by India, judging from the latest numbers assembled by India's Spice Board. For the third consecutive season, export clearances set a new record, reaching 75,000 MT between April, 2001 and March of this year. Last year's chilli exports totalled 61,000 MT.

Pepper is the most psychologically important spice exported by India. Shipments made a good recovery this season, jumping from just 19,250 MT during the 1000-01 sales campaign to 24,000 MT. This remains, however, well below the 37,411 MT annual average exports recorded during the last half of the 1990s.

Another spice showing strong gains last season was coriander. Exports jumped from 11,700 MT during the 2000-01 season to 15,000 MT. The recent peak for coriander exports was set during the 1997-98 season when 21,188 MT left the country.

The biggest disappointment of the past season was with garlic export sales. They plunged from 11,000 MT to just 1,100 MT. Other spices recording declines in export shipping volume include fenugreek, celery, mint oil and cardamom.

                     India -- Spice Export Summary
                             (metric tons)
                  1998-99     1999-00     2000-01     2001-02        2001
                  Apr-Mar     Apr-Mar     Apr-Mar     Apr-Mar         Mar
Pepper             35,100      42,100      19,250      24,000       3,500
Cardamom (Small)      355         550       1,100         900         100
Cardamom (Large)    1,150       1,000       1,645       1,250          50
Chilli             55,750      58,700      61,000      75,000      11,000
Ginger              9,550       7,800       6,580       8,000         500
Turmeric           27,750      32,250      34,500      35,000       1,000
Coriander          19,500      12,250      11,700      15,000       4,900
Cumin              11,000       4,250      13,800      14,000       1,750
Celery              3,600       2,550       5,250       4,500         200
Fennel              5,300       3,400       4,000       4,000         500
Fenugreek           8,200       8,750       9,050       6,000       1,800
Other Seeds (1)     1,950       1,325       2,425       5,000         600
Garlic              3,425       6,250      11,000       1,100         100
Other Spices (2)   17,500      17,250      35,000      37,000       2,000
Curry Powder        4,100       4,700       6,200       6,250         650
Mint Oil            3,400       2,875       3,875       3,600         300
Spice Oil
 and Oleoresins     2,625       2,825       3,625       4,400         400
Total             210,255     208,825     230,000     245,000      29,350
(1) Include Aniseed, Bishops Weed (Ajwanseed), Dill Seed, Poppy Seed, Mustard, etc.
(2) Include Tamarind, Asafoetida, Cinnamon, Cassia, Kokam, Saffron, etc.
Source : DGCI&S data and India Customs