Spices export from India has attained an all time high during 2016-17 by registering an increase of 12 per cent in volume, 9 per cent in rupee terms and 6 per cent in dollar terms. India exported a total of 9,47,790 tonnes of spices and spice products valued Rs 17664.61 crore ($ 2633.30 million) to competitively maintain its position in global market.
“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 was 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.
During 2016-17, Indian spices and spice products reached 145 destinations across world – USA, Vietnam, China, UK, and Germany, to name a few.
India goes global by being one of the biggest exporters of spices to USA. 17 per cent of total spices exports from India in 2016-17 were to USA, making latter the biggest importer of Indian spices in the world.
“Spices Board has always promoted and implemented organic farming for the yield of clean and organic spices. Testing for Sudan dye & afla toxins in chilli, turmeric & other spices resulted in decrease in consignment rejection & increase in exports. The Spices Board has maintained the benchmark of quality and sustainability while exporting the spices. Evolution is the way of life and the Spices Board, hence, is constantly providing its support for new techniques available in the market”, tweeted Spices Board.
Indian value added products like spice oils & oleoresins (13 per cent) & mint products (14 per cent) are gaining foothold in the global spice market. Chilli, spice oils, mint, cumin, turmeric, pepper, curry powder/paste & small cardamom contributed over 80 per cent of total spice export earnings.
Chilli continues to lead the lot as the most exported spice from nation accounting for a total of 29 per cent in the spices export basket followed by Cumin, recording an increase of 22 per cent in volume and 28 per cent in value. Chilli registered an increase of 15 per cent in volume and 27 per cent in value with exports of 4,00,250 tonnes amounting to Rs 5,070.75 crore. A total volume of 1,19,000 tonnes of Cumin valued at Rs.1963.20 crore was exported from India in 2016-17.
