News From : DagangHalal.com (15 Jun 2009)
NEW DELHI, June 12 (Bernama) — Malaysia emerged the second largest importer of Indian spices, after the United States last year. Malaysia’s imports were worth nearly RM276 million.
Despite the global financial crunch, India’s spice exports recorded a historic high in 2007-2008, with a value of US$1.102 billion (RM3.86 billion) — a 19 percent jump in value compared to the previous period.
Imports by Malaysia had been on a gradual uptrend since 2004-2005 when it was only at 40,355.13 metric tonnes.But this figure shot up to 62,402.36 metric tonnes during 2007-2008.
“We have been able to break into new markets and that has helped to increase exports. The quality of our spices is very good and we control about 44 percent of the world trade.
“Malaysia has been our second largest importer, buying a lot of our chillies at 51,782.4 metric tonnes, which are then processed and re-exported,” the Kerala-based Spices Board Chairman V. J. Kurien told Bernama.
Some of Malaysia’s other main spice imports were, coriander (5,072.4 metric tonnes), small cardamom (331 metric tonnes), turmeric (2,895.4 metric tonnes) and cumin (1,214 metric tonnes).
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the United Kingdom were the other big importers of Indian spices.
Indian farmers produce nearly 100 different varieties of spices with an annual output of over three million metric tonnes, which are exported to more than 150 countries.
— BERNAMA
By P. Vijian