13,135 tonnes of various spices valued at Rs 128.60 crore ( $30.01 million) had been exported during the period under review as against the export of 18,785 tonnes valued at Rs 120.10 crore ($33.48 million) during August 1997.

All the major spices witnessed decline in exports except for large cardamom, fenugreek, garlic mint, tamarind, asafoetida, cinnamon, cassia, kokum and saffron. Cardamom small, chillies and ginger witnessed a substantial decline in their exports whereas corainder, cumin, celery, curry powder, spice oleoresins/other oils and other seeds including aniseed, bishops weeds, dill seed, poppy seed and mustard saw a small decline in terms of quantity. 25 tonne of Fresh ginger worth Rs 2.50 lakh was exported during the period.

During the period fromApril to August, the spices exports are also estimated to be lower at 79,280 tonnes valued Rs 652.03 crore ($157.76 million) as against the exports of 113,360 tonnes valued at Rs 619.46 crore ($172.93 million) in the corresponding period of the previous year. The exports of cardamom small and other spices increased both in terms of quantity and value during the five months whereas the exports of pepper and spice oil and oleoresins are higher in value only.

The exports of cardamom large, chilli, ginger, turmeric, corainder, cumin, celery, fennel, fenugreek, other seeds, garlic and curry powder, however, declined both in terms of quantity and value. The pepper export during the first five months of the current year is 15,000 tonnes worth Rs 294.07 crore ($71.35 million) as against 19,315 tonnes valued Rs 212.60 crore ($59.34 million). The average free on board (FOB) unit price realisation during this period was Rs 196.05 per kilogram as against Rs 110.07 per kilogram in the similar period of the last year.Pepper continued to be the leader in spices export earnings with a share of 45 per cent followed by spice oils and oleoresins at 17 per cent and chilli at 8 per cent.