Sri Lanka has already exported 4,838 tonnes of cloves during January-June 2008 and earned 2.7 billion rupees, Gulam Chatoor, a spokesman for the Spices and Allied Products’ Producers’ and Traders’ Association which represents growers and exporters of spices said in a statement.
Export prices of cloves have remained fairly high with the bulk going to India duty free under the Indo-Lanka free trade agreement (FTA).
"Of the total exports from Sri Lanka, over 90 percent is exported to India and this trend will continue as long as the advantageous tariff continues to be made available," said Chatoor.
Chatoor himself is a top exporter of cloves and other spices.
Exports of cloves from Sri Lanka to India go duty free under the Indo-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement compared with a tariff of 27 - 35 percent applicable to cloves from other exporting countries.
Chatoor said a close watch was being kept on cloves exports by the authorities to prevent cloves from other countries being sent to India under the free trade deal and claiming the zero tariff benefit.
