Festival season in Gulf perks up cardamom demand

Kochi March 02, 2020

Declining prices and the ensuing Ramadan demand seem to have prompted overseas buyers of cardamom. This is evident from the procurement of 25 per cent of the commodity by exporters, out of the 32 tonnes offered in the morning auctions at Bodinayakanur on Monday.

The recent price drop is an opportunity to explore the Gulf markets. With rates coming down, the price difference with the Guatemalan variety in the Gulf markets is now $5 per kg as against $10 earlier, traders said, adding that the downward price trend is expected to provide market stability and fetch more export revenue.
Cardamom exports from India up to December was only 500 tonnes because of high prices of the commodity as against 1,300 tonnes in the previous year, they said.

The surge in export demand can be linked to dropping prices and the upcoming festival season in GCC countries. Since the festival period this year falls in May, exporters would start procuring the commodity in March and April. Indian capsules are in great demand in Gulf countries because of its superior quality.

Few export, sub-suppliers and direct exporters have participated in today’s auctions, which indicates there is some renewed demand in the Gulf countries. Some shipments were sent last week, which will reach the Gulf coasts in mid-March. There is still not much stock available to fulfil the seasonal demand. As a few countries are facing Coronavirus threat, it may affect shipments, an exporter said.

Iran, one of the active markets for Indian cardamom, may not be active until the situation improves. Kuwait seems to be very active, especially after the Gulf Food Expo, preferring the Indian commodity to the Gautemalan, the exporter said, adding that there is a likely shortage of crop from Guatemala because of drought.
Arrivals in the auctions have shown sizeable improvement at 79.5 tonnes and the average price realisation was ₹2,985.

V Sajeev Kumar
The Hindu Business Line

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#CARDAMOM - India - Cardamom exporters looking to tap Gulf markets

February 26, 2020

The subdued demand for Indian cardamom in the just concluded Gulf Food Expo has not deterred exporters from trying to tap the burgeoning Gulf markets. They are pinning hopes on the ensuing Ramadan festival season in April, which they expect to perk up demand.

However, the higher price of Indian cardamom over the Guatemalan varieties is causing concern among exporters. Though the price of export grade Indian cardamom has started receding from $58-$60 to $50-52 per kg, the Guatemalan crop is available in the range of $38-42, said Dhanavanthan Murugesan, Mercariex Worldwide, a cardamom exporting firm based in Bodinayakanur.

He pointed out that the export price in the last 10 days has remained stable and importers are waiting for a further decline in domestic price. The Indian commodity can take advantage of the anticipated shortfall of Guatemalan cardamom in the September 2020 harvest.

Indian cardamom is the most preferred variety in the Gulf markets and the active overseas markets are Dubai, Kuwait, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Bahrain, Turkey, Canada and some European countries. However, the higher prices due to lower domestic production have given a competitive advantage to the Guatemalan crop. Many Gulf importers prefer Indian cardamom because of its quality, Murugesan said.

Saudi Arabia is a major buyer of Indian cardamom, but restrictions over pesticide residues have impacted export to that country in the last two years.

S.B.Prabhakar, a leading planter in Kerala’s Idukki district, said the Guatemalan crop shortfall is around 40 per cent this season due to drought. Moreover, the prices have doubled there and it will remain firm to bullish in the short term.

According to traders, only 10 per cent of the total production is exported now as against 15-20 per cent a few years ago. In value terms, cardamom exports have halved to ?500 crore this year from ?1,000 crore last year.

However, traders expressed the hope that the control on pesticides residues in several plantations would help achieve a good crop in the coming season. Farmers are now adopting better agricultural practices.


Ajith BK, Secretary, Association of Planters of Kerala, said large growers have already taken precautions on the usage of pesticides. Prices in the domestic market have been showing a declining trend for the last two months.

V Sajeev Kumar  Kochi | Published on February 26, 2020

https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/

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Cardamom exporters stay off Gulf Food Festival

A lower production and absence of required quality seem to have prompted many cardamom exporters here to skip the ongoing Gulf Food Festival in the UAE.
Traders said an overall drop in production at the fag end of the current harvest season and the non-availability of quality capsules prompted them to stay off the overseas trade meet.
According to traders, higher prices limit the scope for exports. The availability of good quality capsules and price stability will encourage exports. However, both are missing now. Less than 10 per cent of production is exported now, compared with 15 to 20 per cent a few years ago. The restrictions imposed by Saudi Arabia on cardamom shipments have also impacted overseas trade in the last two years.

Market steady

Meanwhile, the cardamom market in Bodinayakanur remained steady on Monday with improved arrivals at 83 tonnes, thanks to active upcountry participation and local buyers’ support. The steady market indicates that buyers are ready to enter at the current rates, traders said.
The combined average price in the two trading session was ₹3,375.
In the morning session, the auctioneers Mas Enterprises Ltd offered 41.3 tonnes of 220 lots in which 38.6 tonnes realised an average price of ₹3,400.54. The highest price quoted for selected lots was ₹3,764.
The offer made by Header Systems India Ltd in the afternoon session was 42 tonnes of 220 lots in which 39.8 tonnes realised an average price of ₹3,349.75. The highest price quoted was ₹3,986.

Trade analysts Acumen Capital Markets Ltd said cardamom March futures fell by 1.02 per cent or ₹33.4 to ₹3,240 when last traded on Monday.

V Sajeev Kumar Kochi | Updated on February 17, 2020 Published on February 17, 2020
https://www.thehindubusinessline.com

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