New Delhi: The country's spice exports in value terms grew by 9 per cent to Rs 402.99 crore in October due to better price realisation in the overseas markets compared to the shipments in the same month last year.

The country exported spices worth Rs 370.96 crore in October 2007.

However, in volume terms, the spice exports stood at 28,070 tonnes during the month this year against 32,494 tonnes during October 2007,Spice Board said in a statement today.

The major items exported during the month were mint products, spice oils and oleoresins, chilli, pepper, cumin and turmeric.

During the April-October 2008,spice exports stood at Rs 3,080.25 crore against Rs 2,700.50 crore in the same seven-month period last year.

In volume terms, the country exported 2,84,560 tonnes of spices compared to 2,66,325 tonnes in the year-ago period.

Spice oils and oleoresins, including mint products, contributed 41 per cent to the total exports. Chilli contributed 21 per cent, followed by cumin nine per cent, pepper eight per cent and turmeric five per cent, it added.

Pepper exports witnessed a decline during April-October 2008 mainly on account of low inventory in major markets due to economic recession, it said.

Pepper exports stood at 14,750 tonnes valued at Rs 246.70 crore against 22,800 tonnes valued Rs 330.38 crore last year.

Source : PTI