Dear friends,

The overall exports from India during the month of October, 2011 came off from the higher trajectory and registered a modest growth of 10.8% to US $19.9 billion. The cumulative exports for the period April-October, 2011 reached to a level of US $ 179.8 billion recording a growth of 31%.

Exports of groundnuts from India during April-July, 2011 increased to 388.87 thousand tons from 125.37 thousand tons during the same period in 2010-11 recording an impressive growth rate of 210.18%.

In value terms also the exports of groundnuts recorded a higher growth of 230.88% reaching a level of Rs. 1956.38 crores during April-July, 2011 from Rs. 591.26 crores during previous year.

Sesame seeds exports from India during April-July, 2011 recorded a growth rate of 62.43% in quantitative terms, increasing to 162.74 thousand tons from 100.19 thousand tons. However, on account of lower realizations, exports of sesame seeds in value terms recorded a lower growth of 51.51% increasing from 610.92 crores to Rs. 925.63 crores during this period.

The prices of various oilseeds are hovering around the levels as follows:


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The Council has received complaints regarding Non- payment of bill of Indian Exporter by some Banks in Algeria and Vietnam. In these cases, the buyer Banks in these two countries delivered documents to the buyer without making payment to the exporter banks.

The Council has requested intervention of Ministry of Commerce, Indian Embassy in Algeria and Vietnam, Embassies of Algeria and Vietnam in India. While we are hopeful of action to resolve the issue, it is advisable that exporter member should take extra precautions to ensure that they receive their due payments without any difficulties.

The Council was invited to attend the meeting with Parliamentary Standing Committee on Commerce to Gujarat which was aimed at obtaining first hand information with regard to Export Promotion of Agricultural and Processed Food Products and to have discussions with various stakeholders. The council submitted its memorandum containing the issues faced by the exporters.

The Council also requested to ensure extending the facility of self-sealing and self-certification for Stuffing of containers by Merchant Exporters.

The CBEC Circular No. 952/13/2011-CX dated 8th September, 2011 outlining the salient features of examination of export goods and factory stuffing procedure has brought in much desired uniformity and ease of reference.

The circular clearly states the fact that the facility of self-sealing and self-certification has been extended to all categories of manufacturer- exporters. However, in case of Merchant exporters of non excisable goods such as agriculture items, the circular does not clearly state whether the facility of self-sealing and self-certification is available.

We have requested to the Government that the Merchant exporters of non excisable goods also should be entitled to the facility of self-sealing and self-certification.

Increasing number of rapid alerts against India’s exports of Groundnut to Eu has been cause of concern for India and EU both. In this regard, EU FVO mission made its visit to India to discuss issues related to Aflatoxin in peanuts. Besides explaining number of steps taken by IOPEPC to ensure good quality groundnuts are exported to EU, the Council also appraised the Mission regarding the initiatives taken by the Council to enhance productivity of quality groundnuts from India including Mulching Technology.

FVO mission was very happy to know that HACCP has been made mandatory for bird feed as well as mentioned in the revised regulation of APEDA. I urge all the shelling & grading units and warehouses that they should obtain HACCP Certification at the time of making new application or renewal for recognition.

The Council was invited to attend the Brainstorming session on “Oilseeds Knowledge Portal and Stakeholders Meeting in Oilseeds” held at Directorate of Oilseeds Research (DoR), Hyderabad.

The DoR is in the process of developing a website which would contain all the relevant information on oilseeds for all the stakeholders including farmers, scientist, traders and exporters. The Council also made a presentation which was well received.

With Best Wishes



Rajesh Bheda
Chairman