Lankan spice exports up 40% during Jan-Oct

18 December 2013 06:03 am

Export of Sri Lankan spices increased sharply to 40.4 percent Year-on-Year (YoY) from January to October of this year, boosted by a drastic rise in exports of pepper and Cloves, according to Spices & Allied Products Producers’ & Traders Association (SAPPTA) statistics.

Exports of pepper increased by 81.8 percent while exports of Cloves grew 223.4 percent during the period under review and essential oils also increased by 22.6 percent

The rise in spice exports is said to be driven by increased production from the smallholder sector which is provided specific incentives in the form of government fertilizer subsidies.

“The spice sector has preformed extremely well in terms of value and volume. Exporters have been able to achieve this mainly due to success in existing and emerging export markets. Increase in value can be attributed increases in valueadded products and increased unit prices,” SAPPTA Chairman, Sarada De Silva said.

The sector is overseen by the Department of Export Agriculture, Ministry of Minor Export Crop Promotion, Ministry of Industry and Commerce and Divi Naguma and Gama Naguma programmes of the Ministry of Economic Development.