Small cardamom prices slipped last week on heavy arrivals at auctions held in Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

Last week witnessed a record arrival of 1,000 tonnes against the previous week’s 840 tonnes. Of this 95 per cent was sold, trade sources said.

Upcountry dealers were covering to stock for the ensuing festival and wedding season, said PC Punnoose, General Manager, CPMC. Exporters were also active and they have bought an estimated 150 tonnes. The individual auction average slipped and vacillated between ₹620 and ₹650 a kg.

At the Cardamom Growers Association (CPA) Santhanpara auction today in Bodinayakannur, arrivals dropped to 61 tonnes from 70.1 tonnes the previous Monday. The maximum price was at ₹836 a kg. The auction average today fell to ₹599.30 (₹613.80) a kg. Drop in the price was attributed to poor quality of the material, trade sources in Bodi said.

Total arrivals during the season up to October 10 were at around 7,795 tonnes. Prices of graded varieties (₹/kg): 8mm bold good colour 900-970; 7-8 mm 700-720; 6-7 mm 620-640; below 6 mm: 570-580. Average bulk was fetching ₹550-600 while good quality bulk was being sold at ₹630-650 a kg.

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