Kochi, Mar 27 (KNN)  India's spice export has registered a growth of 41 per cent in rupee value during April-December 2013 with good export performance by cumin, Mint and mint products, and chilli.

The total export during the period was of 571,680 tonnes of spices and spice products valued at Rs 9,433 crore as against 449,926 tonnes valued at Rs 6696 crore (USD 1,232 million) during April-December 2012.

An increase of 27 per cent has been registered, both in terms of volume and dollar value.

The seed spice basket had registered 78 per cent increase in volume and 89 per cent in value compared with April-December 2012. The total volume of 1,93,625 tonnes seed spices valued at Rs 1,906 crore has been exported against 1,09,067 tonnes valued at Rs 1,008 crore in the previous year.

Amongst the seed spices, cumin registered a prominent increase of 89 per cent in volume and 83 per cent in value with a total export volume of 96,500 tonnes valued at Rs 1,282 crore.

Mint and mint products, which includes mint oils, menthol and menthol crystals, topped the item-wise list, in terms of value, with an export turnover of Rs 2,202 crore and 17,850 tonnes in volume. Chilli netted a foreign exchange worth Rs 1,846 crore with a total export volume of 2,05,500 tonnes.

According to the Chairman, Spices Board India, A Jayathilak, the steady growth of spice exports reiterates the unshaken global demand for Indian spices. The conspicuous export performance of mint, chilli, value-added products and seed spices points to a promising future for the Indian spice industry.

He further told the media that spice is the only one sector which is recession proof as the eating habits of people globally has not changed during the slowdown period. Central and South America and Africa have emerged as the fastest growing markets for spices as the traditional markets in US and Europe are saturated.

Jayathilak said that 92 per cent of the target in terms of volume and 91 per cent in terms of value set for spice exports during FY 2013-14 have been achieved.

Value added products like spice oils and oleoresins registered a growth of 46 per cent in volume and 37 per cent in value. During the period 8665 tons of spice oils and oleoresins valued at Rs 1,242 crore have been exported. Curry powder/paste followed suit with a 44 per cent increase in volume and 53 per cent increase in value. Turmeric marked an increase of 17 per cent and 45 per cent in volume and value of exports, respectively. During April – December2013, a total volume of 58,000 tons of turmeric valued Rs 464 crore has been exported as against 49,526 tonnes valued Rs 319 crore during the last year.

Pepper and cardamom (small) marked an increase of 41 per cent and 23 per cent respectively in value, with a corresponding export volume of 15,350 tonnes and 2080 tonnes. During April-December 2013 the exports of pepper and cardamom(small) were valued at Rs 651 crore and Rs 164 crore respectively as against Rs 462 crore and Rs 134 crore of the previous year.

Spices such as pepper, cardamom (small), chilli, turmeric, coriander, cumin, fennel, fenugreek, celery, nutmeg and mace and other seed spices have registered an upsurge in both volume and value. However, ginger and garlic marked an increase in value only. Cardamom (large) had shown decrease both in terms of volume and value as compared to April-December 2012, he said. (KNN/SD)