Chilli rules Indian spice exports
Mint and mint products (mint oils, menthol and menthol crystals) earned Rs 2,689 crore
Kochi: India exported spices worth Rs 14,899.68 crore in 2014-15, recording a growth of 8.47 per cent compared with Rs 13,735.39 crore a year earlier. In rupee terms, the exports grew 8 per cent, according to the Spices Board.
Chilli, mint and mint products, cumin, spice oils & oleoresins, pepper, turmeric, coriander, small cardamom, curry powder/paste and fenugreek contributed substantially to the spice export basket as the demand for Indian spices scaled up phenomenally at the global level.
A total of 8,93,920 tonnes of spices and spice products were exported, exceeding the target of 7,55,000 tonnes valued at Rs 12,304.90 crore.
Chilli continued to propel the growth story as India's largest exported spice, accounting for 347,000 tonnes in quantity and Rs 3,517.10 crore.
The exports grew by 11.04 per cent in quantity and 29.20 per cent in value as compared to the previous year.
Mint and mint products (mint oils, menthol and menthol crystals) earned Rs 2,689 crore.
In terms of volume, chilli was followed by cumin with an export quantity of 1,55,500 tonnes that earned Rs 1,838 crore.
Value-added spice products like spice oils and oleoresins notched a significant high with figures of 11,475 tonnes (exports) and Rs 1,910 crore, registering a growth of 1 per cent in quantity and 10 per cent in value.
The export of pepper, ‘the King of Spices’, was for Rs 1208 crore with an export volume of 21,450 tonnes, registering an increase of 1 per cent and 29 per cent in terms of volume and value, respectively.
Small cardamom, ‘the Queen of Spices’, earned Rs 498 crore with an export of 3,795 tonnes.
Spices Board said India crossed the export targets by devising multifaceted activities for promotion of Indian spices and sustaining their demand in the global market.
“The achievement is substantial and it was achieved in the face of tough competition,” said Dr A Jayathilak, chairman, Spices Board.
“Increased demand for Indian spices in the international market is a testimony to their unmatched quality and escalating faith in their sustainability,” Dr A Jayathilak added.