India's chilli exports are likely to decline by 64 per cent in 2007-08 due to fall in production, according to the spices board.
In the last financial year, chilli exports accounted around 22 per cent of the total spices exports.
Spices Board officials said around 135,000 tonnes of chilli valued at Rs 675 crore (Rs 6.75 billion) have been targeted for export in 2007-08 against an estimated 373,000 tonnes worth Rs 807 crore (Rs 8.07 billion) in last financial year.
But this year, it is expected that chillies would get a better price because of global shortfall in production.
Officials said the main reason for the expected fall in export is a 20 per cent less production this year.
"Global
supply of chillies is less this year as output is hit in both India and China," a senior Board official said.
Production of chilli in China, a competitor to India in the exports of the commodity till last year has also declined. "China is is currently importing chilli from India," the official added.
Interestingly, chilli exports in the first two months of this year accounted around Rs 223.4 crore (Rs 2.23 billion), almost one third of the target.
According to the data released by the spices board, 18,000 tons of chillies valued at Rs 97.20 crore (Rs 972 million) were exported in May while there were 22,000 tons worth Rs 126.5 crore (Rs 1.26 billion) were shipped out of India in April.