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Exports up by 2.2% in first quarter

Exports during the first quarter of the current fiscal increased marginally by 2.2 per cent to Rs 466.05 billion from Rs 456.16 billion during the same period last year notwithstanding a major dip in exports of a number of individual products.

Export of agricultural commodities like wheat, sugar, basmati rice, coffee and vegetables has increased during the period April-June 2001-02.

However, data collected by the Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Services shows that exports of products like spices, non-basmati rice and oil meals posted a decline.

On account of a temporary ban on import of meat by Jordan and Egypt, its trade suffered with exports falling to Rs 2.03 billion from Rs 2.68 billion in April-June 2000.

The country was nowhere near achieving its target of exporting 3 million tonnes 'ordinary' rice, with shipments actually falling to a paltry 100,000 tonne from 155,000 tonne in the first quarter of last year.

However, despite all the hue and cry over the Basmati rice patents, its exports jumped to 276,000 tonnes from 159,000 during the period compared with the previous year.

There had also been a quantum leap in exports of wheat and sugar to 768,000 tonne from 632 tonnes and 310,000 tonne from 8298 tonnes respectively.

This was because exports of these two commodities under a conscious plan and policy had begun only late last year.

Low global prices of tea had taken their toll with export having increased to 36.1 milion kg from 35.9 million kg but their value has declined to Rs 3.44 billion from Rs 3.47 billion.

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