Indian silk exports

Export of Indian silk during the first quarter of the current financial year rose by 30% in value terms. Union minister of state for textiles G N Ramachandra said exports were placed at $74.8m ($60m for the same period in ‘99-00). Decline in Chinese exports of silk products and rising demand for Indian products were attributed to be the main reasons for this encouraging performance of the domestic silk industry. "We are confident that silk exports would rise by 20% this financial year (compared to last financial year), he added.

The textile ministry would be convening a meeting during the first week of August of weavers, reelers and traders to discuss the issues relating to silk waste exports from India. The ministry is also planning to raise the production of raw silk from 14,000 tonnes to 20,000 tonnes during this financial year.

Trends

      
Trends in spices exports

The Spices Board may not achieve the export target of Rs. 2,000 crore for the current year. Spices exports have dropped both in terms of quantity and value in the first two months of the current financial year. Exports during April-May ’00 have dropped to 30,820 tonnes, valued at Rs.235.07 crore, from 52,254 tonnes, valued at Rs. 399.38 crore in the corresponding period of last year. Overall exports during ‘99-00 touched about 2.08 lakh tonnes, valued at Rs. 1,861.02 crore against the target of 2.17 lakh tonnes, valued at Rs.1,748 crore. In ‘98-99 exports touched 2.31 lakh tonnes, valued at Rs.1,758.02 crore. This year the Spices Board has fixed the export target at 2,27,750 tonnes, valued at Rs.2,000 crore.

Countries such as Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia are dominating the market as far as pepper is concerned. Similarly, China and Nigeria have grabbed a sizeable market for ginger this year. Export of chillies has also come under serious pressure as Pakistan is out with its stock. This is for the first time in the last 4-5 years that Indian exporters are playing second fiddle. Currently Indian exporters are exporting purely on the basis of quality and long standing business relations. Exports of pepper have dropped from 10,897 tonnes, valued at Rs. 204 crore to 4,000 tonnes, valued at Rs.85.60 crore. Similarly, exports of chilli have dropped from 13,667 tonnes, valued at Rs. 55.73 crore to 9,000 tonnes, valued at Rs.30.60 crore.

Exports of turmeric have dropped from 7,968 tonnes, valued at Rs. 24.63 crore to 4,500 tonnes, valued at Rs. 13 crore. Also, ginger exports have dropped from 1,433 tonnes, valued at Rs.4.06 crore to 230 tonnes, valued at Rs 1.71 crore. Exports of seed spices, such as coriander, has dropped from 3,404 tonnes, valued at Rs. 7.95 crore, to 2,500 tonnes, valued at Rs. 6.25 crore. Exports of cuminseed have dropped from 1,691 tonnes, valued at Rs.10.88 crore, to 500 tonnes, valued at Rs.3.06 crore. Similarly celery exports have dropped from 521 tonnes, valued at Rs.1.40 crore to 200 tonnes, valued at Rs. 51 lakh. Fennelseed exports have dropped from 644 tonnes, valued at Rs.2.96 crore, to 250 tonnes, valued at Rs. 1.12 crore and exports of fenugreek dropped from 2,204 tonnes valued at Rs 3.96 crirem to 1,100 tonnes, valued at Rs.2.75 crore.

 
Trends

World Production

The major varieties of mushrooms produced in the world are European or white-button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus), Oyster mushroom or Dhingri (Pleurotus spp), Chinese or paddy-straw mushroom (Volvariella volvacea), shitake mushroom (Lentinus edodes) and Auricularia spp. Among these the most widely cultivated species is the Agaricus bisporus, which accounts for almost 38% of the total mushroom production. About 2,000 varieties of mushrooms grown in the world are edible. These varieties are grown in diverse regions of the world. The white-button mushroom is grown in the U.S.A, France and China.

The Oyster mushroom is concentrated in China, which accounts for over 80% of the production. It is also grown in South Korea and Italy. India is not a major producer of any of the mushroom varieties, but it does cultivate mushrooms. The variety gaining maximum importance in India has been the white-button mushroom, which registered the highest growth rate in production.

World Trade

Only about 45% of mushrooms produced are consumed in the fresh form. The rest of the 55% is processed with 5% in the dehydrated form and 50% in the canned form. This is because their shelf life in the fresh form is very short. Hence mushrooms are traded in the world market mostly in the processed form.

Netherlands is the largest exporter of canned button mushrooms with a market share of about 38.5%. China is another significant exporter of the processed form of this variety, accounting for almost 30% of world trade. France is another important exporter, contributing to about 13.5% of the world exports.

As far as the import market is concerned, the most significant buyer of canned white button mushroom is Germany. This country alone accounts for almost 40% of the world imports. USA also imports canned mushroom, accounting for about 19% of the world imports.

India's Exports

Out of about 2,000 edible mushrooms known, about 280 species are produced in India. The most important mushroom collected in India is the Guchhi (Morchella species), which is dried and exported to Western countries, rather than being consumed domestically.

Domestic consumption of canned mushrooms is quite low in India, it has managed to foster exports due to the huge marketable surpluses. It was only after 1990 that the export level of mushrooms began to pick up substantially. Currently, although there are only two major exporters of canned mushroom, namely Flex Foods and Ponds Ltd. and five new companies have entered the market recently. Countries like the Switzerland and the USA have ranked as comparatively consistent importers of canned mushrooms from India in the recent years.