By Preeti Bhagat
NEW DELHI – Futures contracts of all spices on domestic exchanges, barring mentha oil and jeera, ended lower today.
Coriander futures on National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange hit a 10-week low of 5,810 rupees per 100 kg because of imports from Ukraine, Russia and Bulgaria, said Kamal Vijayvargia, a Kota-based dealer.
"Weather is very favourable right now for next season's sowing, which is a negative factor for prices… Imports have also risen a lot and are coming into India at $650 per tn," he said.
Contracts of jeera ended higher as investors covered their short positions after prices hit an over four-month low of 16,810 rupees per 100 kg in early trade today.
The rise in prices today was also because arrivals in Gujarat's Unjha market fell by 4,000 bags (1 bag = 55 kg) to 6,000 bags, said Mahesh Yadav, a local dealer.
Turmeric futures ended in the red because of profit booking after prices hit a three-week high of 7,198 rupees a 100 kg on Tuesday.
Futures contracts of mentha oil on Multi Commodity Exchange hit a two-month high of 1,324 rupees per kg due to strong demand from domestic stockists and pharmaceutical companies, said Rajiv Gupta, a Sambhal-based spice oil trader.
Cardamom futures hit the 4% maximum lower circuit today as heavy rainfall in Kerala is likely to help plantations with better fruit formation and growth, traders said.
Heavy-to-very heavy rainfall is likely over Kerala during the next 48 hours due to a cyclonic circulation over northwest Arabian Sea, India Meteorological Department said. It also issued a 'red alert' for the state today.
On Indian Commodity Exchange, the August pepper contract traded lower following reports that the Sri Lankan government is likely to hold talks with India for relaxing the minimum import price of the spice.
Currently, Sri Lankan exports up to 2,500 tn of pepper to India at zero duty under the Indo-Sri Lankan Free Trade Agreement. Exports over and above this quantity are subject to 8% duty under the South Asia Free Trade Agreement.
This copy was first published on the Cogencis WorkStation
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