Kochi, Feb. 2 Cardamom exports have increased substantially this fiscal due to non-availability from other sources.
The shipments have crossed 1,100 tonnes level after a long time. In 2000-01, 1,545 tonnes of small cardamom were exported at an average unit value of Rs 548.09 and the next year, 1,031 tonnes at an average unit value of Rs 598.23 a kg were shipped out
Shipments crossed 1,000 tonnes during April – December to 1,190 tonnes at a unit value of Rs 756.62 a kg. Against this, exports in the same period last fiscal were 435 tonnes at a unit value of Rs 640.73 a kg.
Shipments from 1977-78 onwards till 1985-86 were above 2,000 tonnes, except in 1983-84, and touched a record of 3,272 tonnes in 1985-86 at a unit value of Rs 163.39 a kg.
The individual auction average price, which has been ruling above Rs 1,000 a kg for past few weeks, declined around Rs 75 a kg at the auctions last weekon weak demand from upcountry markets probably because of higher prices and consequent drop in retail trade, according to dealers in Kumily and Bodinayakannur.
At the last Wednesday auction conducted by the Kumily-based Cardamom Processing and Marketing Company (CPMC) at Vandanmettu, the individual average price was Rs 1,024.60 a kg.
Thereafter, the average price declined gradually to Rs 957.45 a kg at the Saturday auction. As the prices showed a declining trend, there were withdrawals last week.
At the CPMC auction on Sunday, arrivals were 50 tonnes of which three tonnes were withdrawn by growers following drop in the prices, Mr P. C. Punnoose, General Manager, CPMC, told Business Line.
He said that the growers who were bringing their produce anticipating prices above Rs 1,000 were reluctant to sell at lower levels. There is a sluggishness, of late, in the retail sales in North India, as the cardamom prices continued to rule above Rs 1,000 a kg. The demand is likely to pick in February and may last till the Holi festival, Mr Punnoose said.
However, according to trade, 25 tonnes were bought by exporters last week. Non-availability from the lone other source Guatemala has paved the way for increased shipments from India.
Total arrivals during the current season that began in August stood at 6,843 tonnes. Of this 6,705 tonnes have been sold.
Arrivals and sales in the same period last season were 6,062 tonnes and 5,694 tonnes respectively.
Weighted average price as on January 31 increased to Rs 759 kg from Rs 521.53 a kg the same day a year ago.
Prices quoted for graded varieties on Monday in rupees a kg were: AGEB 1,170 – 1,180 ; AGB 1,120 – 1,130; AGS 1,110 – 1,120; AGS1 1,090 –1,110. Prices in the open market in Bodinayakannur were AGEB 1,155 –1,165 ; AGB 1,105 – 1,115 ; AGS 1,090 – 1,100 ; AGS1 1,070 – 1,080.
Bulk prices were Rs 975 to Rs 1,200 a kg. The weather conditions so far in the growing areas are moderate. However, the growers said that this was the time for tiller formation and emergence of panicles and therefore, a shower now would be advantageous to the next crop.
Source : Business Line