The Hindu Business Line : Cardamom steady on buying support

Upcountry buyers and some of the exporters were active. The prices moved up marginally at the auction on Wednesday at Kumily in Kerala. The maximum price fetched was Rs 571 and the minimum Rs 216, with the average price moving up to Rs 346.39 a kg. The arrivals at Kumily were 28 tonnes, which was sold out. As the prices have shown an upward trend there has been a spurt in the arrivals, market sources said.

Prices of graded varieties remained at previous week's levels. AGEB was sold at Rs 450 - Rs 460 per kg, AGB Rs 330 - Rs 340, AGS Rs 315 - Rs 320 and AGS 1 Rs 290 - Rs 300 a kg.

The total quantity arrived at the auction during the current season up to May 5 was 5,001 tonnes and of this 4,624 tonnes were sold and the weighted average price stood at Rs 362.88 a kg. During the corresponding period last season, 4,012 tonnes arrived and of this 3,853 were sold. The average price was Rs 573.65 a kg, official sources told Business Line.

According to them exports in April 2004 is estimated at around 50 tonnes and some of the exporters are having orders in hand for May.

Though the growing areas in Kerala are receiving incessant showers in recent days, it would not help revive crops destroyed during severe drought in March/April, market sources pointed out.