# CARDAMOM INDIA - Kerala With no auction, cardamom piles up

IDUKKI, April 03, 2020 23:23 IS

 

Sector faces uncertainty as crop prices are decided at auctions

The cardamom sector is facing a deadlock in the absence of auctions, with the main buyers in Mumbai abstaining from taking new orders for nearly a month. The produce is held up with farmers and small-scale traders, K.S. Mathew, director, Vandanmedu Green Gold Cardamom Producer Co. Ltd., told The Hindu on Friday.

There are 12 auctioneers at the Spices Park at Puttady under the Spices Board of India. As per the licensing agreement, the auctioneer has to pay the farmer the price of cardamom within 10 days of the auction. The traders and industrial units that purchase the produce have to pay the auctioneer the price within 21 days. The mechanism was going on unhindered with the daily auctions, he said.

Cardamom’s price is decided at the auctions, without which there is total uncertainty. The price would be known only when the auctions restart, Mr. Mathew said.

Last price

It is estimated that the traders have to pay the auctioneers more than ₹200 crore for the last two to four consignments in the auctions. When the auctions were stopped following the COVID-19 scare the price was at ₹3,500 per kg.

Marketing sources said prices could dip as the next crop, predicted to be a bumper one, is set to arrive in the market by June/July, and a major quantity produced in the last season has remained unsold. Moreover, the crop’s export prospects will depend on the stance of Saudi Arabia, the main buyer, sources said.

No buyers

The last harvesting season witnessed the highest ever prices quoted in the auctions, reaching up to ₹9,000 per kg.

The absence of trading has affected not only the plantations but also small-scale farmers. Lalichan, a farmer in Peerumade, said there were no buyers with small-scale hill produce merchants ceasing to buy cardamom. A trader had agreed to take the produce without making payment now. A meagre price was offered.
“How can one sell the produce without knowing the price and without being paid,” he added.

Giji K. Raman for
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala

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INDIA #Cardamom Price Falls Due to Week-Long Holiday

10 March, 2020  
Due to the week-long holiday in many North Indian markets on account of Holi festival, cardamom sales got affected. Besides, price fluctuations in the past one week kept the buyers away. Moreover, the harvest is not over in plantations and sufficient stocks are still available.
Lack of buyer support and subdued upcountry demand dragged cardamom prices down by Rs. 200 a kg at Puttady auctions.

Above all, forecasts on likely summer rains this week in growing regions has affected market sentiments, as intermittent showers would give more yields. There was not much buying by exporters as they seem to be in wait-and-watch mode for a further price drop, traders said.

The auctioneers KCPMC offered 37.23 tonnes in 180 lots. The average price realized was only Rs.2,745 per kg. According to traders, the market is likely to be stable as major buyers have come forward to participate. With the conclusion of the harvest season, traders are worried about the inferior quality of capsules coming from the plantations.
Meanwhile, there was no trading session in the afternoon as poor arrivals forced auctioneers to cancel the auctions.

Trade analysts Acumen Capital Markets said cardamom March futures fell by 3.6 percent or Rs.103.7 to Rs.2,785.6 at close.


By: Chander Mohan
https://krishijagran.com/commodity-news









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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 -Cardamom prices stable at Bodinayakanur auctions

Published on February 25, 2020

Cardamom prices remained stable on Tuesday at Bodinayakanur because of more active participation.

According to traders, upcountry buyers are keenly assessing market sentiments even though they have not yet started procurement in a big way. Liquidation of some of the high-priced inventory also helped bring stability to the market.

Contrary to weather forecasts, plantations have not received any showers in the last few months. Small and marginal farmers are facing acute water shortage in the region, traders said.

Any rise in prices is likely to depend on the summer rains. Delay in summer showers and the intensity of the summer will drive up prices, traders said.

The total quantity offered in the auction was 43.5 tonnes, which recorded a combined average price of R$2,745. In the morning session, Cardamom Growers Federation offered seven tonnes, in which 6.3 tonnes realised an average price of R$2,720.68. The highest price quoted for selected lots was R$3,276.

The offer made by KCPMC in the afternoon trading session was 36.5 tonnes, in which 35.9 tonnes realised an average price of R$2,769.32. The highest price quoted for selected lots was R$3.266.


According to trade analysts Acumen Capital Markets, the March futures fell by 3 per cent or R$89 to R$2,879.30 when last traded on Monday.

V Sajeev Kumar  Kochi | Published on February 25, 2020

https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/

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#CARDAMOM - In India High-priced inventory drives cardamom prices down

High-priced inventory drives cardamom prices down
V.Sajeev Kumar Kochi | Updated on January 29, 2020 Published on January 29, 2020

High-priced inventory, both at primary trade centres and consuming markets, seemed to have a say on cardamom prices, which dropped at Puttady auctions on Wednesday.
Because of this, traders remained inactive in the two trading sessions and that impacted the prices in spite of lower arrivals. There was no active involvement of buyers. Many of them are on a wait-and-watch mode to liquidate stocks and this led to lesser sales, lean buying and higher credit cycle.

Besides, the current harvest from the plantations are of inferior quality and smaller in size at the fag end of the season. This has also added to the sentiments.


The arrivals in the two trading session was 23.6 tonnes, which realised a combined average price of ₹3,660 per kg. The upcountry buyers were not active because of the huge time gap between the two trading sessions. The morning auction was completed in one hour, forcing buyers to wait for long for commencement of the second session, traders said.

In the morning session, the auctioneers Idukki Dist Traditional Cardamom Producer Company offered 11.8 tonnes, which realised an average price of ₹3,655.21 per kg. The highest price quoted for selected lots was ₹3,898.

In the evening session, Vandanmedu Green Gold Cardamom Producer Co offered 11.8 tonnes in which 10.8 tonnes realised an average price of ₹3665.92. The highest price quoted for selected lots was ₹3,905.
Trade analysts Acumen Capital Markets said that most active cardamom March futures gained by 1.64 per cent or ₹64.5 to ₹3,989.90 when last traded on Wednesday.

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CARDAMOM INDIA - MARKET UPDATE

Cardamom prices had an unbelievable move last year from around U$D 20/kg asked in October/November 2019 to U$D 30 - 40 asked these days.
What´s happening ? Will this trend continue, stop, or revert ?
Below some consideration about the possibilities

Current climate may prove unfavourable for cardamom crop
V Sajeev Kumar  Kochi | Updated on January 24, 2020  Published on January 24, 2020

Cardamom growers are worried over the climatic conditions prevailing in the growing tracts, which is likely to be unfavourable for the next crop season. Traders pointed out that the heavy winds lashing the growing regions may be a bad sign for the crop, as winds are always an indication of a dry spell. The moisture in the top soil will be absorbed by the breeze and result in the heating up of soil and, in turn, affect the plants. This could affect the reproductive phase of the plant by way of reduction in flowering and also in falling cardamom capsules.

THE WEATHER FORECAST
The IMD's forecast of delayed summer showers is causing concern in the cardamom growing belt of Kerala. With showers expected only by April, growers are worried how the next crop season will turn out.
Absence of rains in January, February and March will affect the growth of the plants. A normal crop can be expected when growing tracts receive a rain at least once a month.
The weather forecast is likely to affect the sentiments in the market and jack up prices. Growers are already worried over the heavy winds lashing across the growing regions, which may harm the crop.

THE AUCTIONS - JANUARY 24
Meanwhile cardamom prices edged lower when arrivals rose slightly at the auctions conducted at Spices Park in Puttady. There was an improvement in arrivals with a total quantity of 52.44 tonnes in two trading sessions, realising a combined average price of R$,711 per kg.

The majority of planters are holding their stocks and do not want to liquidate them in the wake of the price drop. The market has been witnessing a declining trend in arrivals after the Pongal holidays, and the decline is expected to continue.
Traders are anticipating a revival only after the Delhi polls, and an uptick in demand in many North Indian markets. Cold weather conditions are also a contributing factor for slow demand, coupled with a cash shortage in many markets.

Traders have also a raised concerns on the quality of capsules available in the market in the wake of the last round of harvest this season.

In the morning session on Thursday, auctioneers SpiceMore Trading Company offered 30.2 tonnes in 146 lots, of which 28.5 tonnes realised an average price of  R$ 3,746.17 per kg. The highest price quoted for selected varieties was R$ 4,042 per kg.
In the evening trade on Thursday, auctioneers Sugandhagiri Spices Promoters and Traders offered 22.2 tonnes of 124 lots, which realised an average price of R$ 3,676.81 per kg. The highest price quoted for selected lot was R$ 4,351 per kg.
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REFERENCES
1 U$D =71,35 INDIAN RUPEES
3784 INDIAN RUPEES = 53 U$D
3676 INDIAN RUPEES = 51,52 U$D
4351 INDIAN RUPEES = 63,50 U$D

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