Kochi, Oct. 25 Though spices exports recovered in volume and value during September, the performance was lacklustre for the first six months of the current fiscal.
Spices exports recovered by 8.7 per cent in volume to 37,890 tonnes, while gross value realisation moved up by over one per cent to Rs 435 crore during last month.
Fall in volume and unit value realisation in pepper and chilly led to a significant fall in spices exports during the April-September period.
Export volumes fell by 7.2 per cent to 2,39,300 tonnes even as value realisation fell by 7.5 per cent to Rs 2,525 crore.
Partly due to a strong rupee during the first half of the current fiscal, foreign exchange earnings fell by 18 per cent to $520 million.
Respite for pepper
Certain traits during September could portend a turnaround for spices exports during the second-half of the current fiscal.
Though the unit value realisation still remains low, higher volumes have brought in some respite to pepper exports.
Though volume of exports continues to remain low for chilly in September, higher unit value realisation has helped to make up part of the gross value realisations.
Mint and mint products, which consist of mint oil, menthol and menthol crystal continue to remain a segment for worry, recording sharp fall in unit value realisation and volumes.
Fall in mint
Realisation from mint and mint product exports, which constitute a significant portion of the spices export basket has fallen by close to 32 per cent to Rs 94 crore.
Other significant components which remain a cause of worry are spice oils and oleoresins which too have fallen in both unit value and volume of exports during September.
Spices such as turmeric, cumin, fennel, nutmeg and nutmace, which make a smaller portion of the spices export basket, have all helped in shoring up exports and enabled it perform better than September last year.
Source : Business Line