224 Handbook of herbs and spices
12.2 World trade.....................................................................................
Data relating to world trade of asafetida are scarce as it has not been reported separately
in the International Trade Classification (Harmonious System). Accordingly there is
no reliable information available on the export and import of asafetida for different
countries. In India, asafetida is popularly used in some vegetarian dishes and for the
preparation of indigenous medicines; hence it is regularly imported from Afghanistan
and Iran. Imports of asafetida into India during the five years, 2000–5 are given in
Table 12.2.
The importation of asafetida into India is erratic, but growth in imports during
2003–4 and 2004–5 was notable compared to the three previous years, the average of
which stood at 643.5 MT. There was 40.19% increase in the amount of asafetida
imported during 2003–4 over the average for the previous three years. The value of
imported asafetida per kg increased considerably over the five-year period from USD
4.47 during 2000–1 to USD 10.97 in 2004–5.
Some of the imported asafetida is processed in India and re-exported. Unprocessed
material may also be exported, depending on the profit margin, but separate export
figures are not available for unprocessed and processed asafetida. Processed asafetida
is mainly compounded asafetida. The quantity and value of asafetida, including
compounded asafetida, exported from India during the five-year period, 2000–5 are
shown in Table 12.3.
Exports did not follow a steady pattern. The quantities exported during 2003–4
and 2004–5 were almost the same, but the value went up by 64.29% during 2004–5
over the previous year. Compared to the price of USD 10.97 per kg for the imported
asafetida in 2004–5, the export price was only USD 4.40 per kg, as compounding
made the product much cheaper.
Table 12.2 Importation of asafetida into IndiaYear Quantity in MT Value in million USD2000–1 658.0 2.94
2001–2 758.3 3.83
2002–3 514.2 3.18
2003–4 902.1 8.36
2004–5 831.9(E) 9.13(E): estimate
Source: Spices Board, Government of India, Cochin, India.Table 12.3 Export of asafetida from IndiaYear Quantity in MT Value in million USD2000–1 371.6 1.03
2001–2 270.8 0.79
2002–3 473.9 1.00
2003–4 735.3 1.96
2004–5 731.6 3.22Source: Spices Board, Government of India, Cochin, India.