India’s spice exports rise 12% to all-time high in 2016-17

Meeting stringent food safety regulations imposed by countries across the globe, exports of Indian spices and spice products surged to a new high at  Rs. 17664.61 crore ($ 2633.30 million) and a volume of 9,47,790 tonnes in 2016-17, sustaining their robust demand in international markets in the face of stiff competition, an official press release has said.

The buoyancy in exports of spices and related products, both in terms of value and volume, compares favourably with figures of 8,43,255 tonnesvalued at Rs. 16238.23 crore ($ 2482.83 million) in 2015-16, thereby registering an increase of 12% in volume, 9% in rupee terms and 6% in dollar terms, it said.

Chilli continued to be the most demanded spice in FY 2016-17 with exports of 4,00,250 tonnes amounting to Rs. 5,070.75 crore, registering an increase of 15% in volume and 27% in value.

Cumin was the second-most exported spice, recording an increase of 22% in volume and 28% in value. A total volume of 1,19,000 tonnes of cumin valued at Rs. 1963.20 crore was exported from India in 2016-17. The increase was largely due to the mandatory checks on cumin and its byproducts implemented by the Spices Board in the backdrop of rapid alerts from importing countries.

“India has surpassed all previous export records and has fulfilled the increasing international demand for its quality spices in the face of tough competition in global markets. More satisfying is the fact that the appreciable increase in exports came in the face of strict food safety regulations that now define and determine the international commodity trade,” said Spices Board Chairman A. Jayathilak.

Increased global demand for turmeric, especially in the pharmaceutical sector, drove its exports to attain figures of 1,16,500 tonnes in volume and crossed Rs 1,241 crore in value terms in 2016-17.

The spice which showed the maximum increase as compared to the previous financial year was fennel, registering a 129% increase in volume and 79% in value. Garlic exports contributed substantially to the overall growth during the year, notching figures of 92% in value terms and 39% in quantity. The export demand of nutmeg and mace was also on a higher side, registering an increase of 25% to 5,070 tonne, as compared to 4,050 tonne during 2015-16.

The export of celery rose from 5,310 tonnes valued at Rs. 53.28 crore in 2015-16 to 6,250 tonnes worth Rs. 62.46 crore in 2016-17.

Dr Jayathilak said the efforts of Spices Board to promote production of large cardamom, especially in the country’s North Eastern region, which is the organic area by default, led to a rise in its exports by 30% in volume and 9% in value.

A shift in dietary preferences from conventional spices to processed and value-added spices was evident in the spice export statistics, which exhibited an increase both in volume and value as compared to 2015-16, contributing substantially to the spices export basket in 2016-17, the release added.

NNN