Spice trail: Exports at Rs 21,515.4 cr during 2019-20

 The spices export during 2019-20 exceeded the fixed target both in terms of volume, rupee value and in dollar terms.

 Against the export target of 10,75,000 MT valued at Rs 19,666.90 crores (US $2850.28 m) for the year 2019-20, at the end of the fiscal there was an increase of eight per cent in volume, ten per cent in rupee terms and eight per cent in dollar terms.

 Spices Board Secretary AD Sathiyan said the country has fulfilled the increasing international demand for its quality spices in the face of tough competition in the global market. “In view of the global pandemic situation, the demand for quality Indian spices is on the rise for their immunity-boosting properties”, he said.

 During 2019-20, 225 spice items were exported, against 219 items in 2018-19.In the basket of spices, chilli, mint products, cumin, spice oils, oleoresins, and turmeric continued to be the major items contributing 80 per cent of the total earnings.

 Though Indian spices are exported to 185 countries, China (24 pc), the US (16 per cent), Bangladesh (six pc), Thailand (five pc), UAE (six per cent), Sri Lanka, Malaysia, the UK, Indonesia, and Germany are the major takers contributing over 70 pc to the export earnings.

 Chilli continued to be the most in demand spice in FY 2019-20 with exports of 4,84,000 tonnes amounting to Rs 6,221.70 crores, registering an increase of 15 pc in value. Cumin was the second most exported spice, with an increase of 16 pc in volume and 12 pc in value. A total volume of 2,10,000 tonnes of cumin valued at Rs 3,225 crore was exported from India in 2019-20. The spice which showed the maximum increase as compared to the previous fiscal was ginger, seeing a 178 pc increase in volume and 129 pc in value at 50,410 tonnes and Rs 449.05 crores respectively.