India might be able to grab a significant chunk of the global ginger market, now that the Covid-19 outbreak in China is impacting that nation's exports.
India is the largest producer of ginger in the world with an annual production of 1.5-2 million tonnes. China, with an annual production of 1-1.5 million tonnes, dominates the global ginger market. World production of ginger is estimated at 4-5 million tonnes. Nigeria produces about 0.5-1 mt while Indonesia produces about 0.5 mt.
However, according to Anand Kishor Kuruwa, President of the India Pepper and Spice Trade Association (IPSTA), the country’s production of fresh ginger is expected to be down by nearly 30 per cent this year as compared to last year.
“India has had two consecutive years of flood so we hardly have 50,000 bags (at 50 kg) of dried ginger as carry forward this year; last year, we had 200,000 bags of dried ginger,” Kuruwa told.
Alternative markets
The high Indian prices might push buyer markets to move towards Nigeria and Indonesia, where prices are comparatively lower.
