While cargo exports through the Tiruchi Airport have shown appreciable growth, the list of commodities exported from here is gradually expanding, according to officials.
Exports from the air cargo terminal at the airport have registered 44 per cent growth in 2012-13. While perishables such as vegetables and flowers account for 85 per cent of the exports, consignments of newer products such as curry leaves, cut flowers, and fish have started arriving for exports.
On Friday, one tonne of curry leaves, the largest single consignment of the product so far, was exported from here to Muscat via Colombo. The consignment in 150 packages was sent via a Sri Lankan Airlines flight. According to S.A. Sayeed, the exporter who sent the consignment, the curry leaves were procured from places such as Mettupalayam, Karamadai, and Pallipalayam.
The consignment was of international quality and certified and packaged neatly before exported. The curry leaves would be distributed to various other destinations such as Bahrain, Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and even Iran from Muscat to meet the demand of migrant South Indians.
Mr. Sayeed said he was expecting more orders as there was a good demand for curry leaves. Airport sources said consignments of cut flowers from Coimbatore are being exported from here mainly for Kuala Lumpur.
Another latest addition in export product list is fish. Though fish had been exported in smaller quantities prior to the establishment of the air cargo terminal, it was discontinued owing to poor packaging. Now, fish is being packed in proper way to prevent leaks, they said.