AN uptick in Japan's chilli, coriander and turmeric purchases were behind an overall rise in demand for foreign spices in the first half of the year. Total imports of all spices increased by 3% to 56,680 tonnes in the first half of 2011, but fell short of the higher 2009 level for the six-month period chiefly because ginger imports did not match the massive near-40,000-tonne level seen two years ago. Japan's principle supplier of ginger throughout the period was China. Instead it was chilli, which can come in many varieties but mostly originates from China and is used keenly in sauces that are similar in the two Asian nations, which provided the boost... Read More