Small cardamom prices eased at auctions and in the open markets in Kerala and Tamil Nadu on slack demand.

A change in the climate in the cardamom growing regions of Kerala, the absence of export buying and a slowdown in upcountry demand can be cited as reasons, said PC Punnoose, General Manager, CPMC.

Exporters were not active probably because of the higher prices prevailing for long. Meanwhile, upcountry dealers have slowed buying because of the severe cold wave conditions in most of the North Indian States, which have stopped retail activities.

“As a result, prices have slipped by ₹50-₹60 a kg last week” Ranganathan, a Bodi-based dealer, told BusinessLine.

Harvesting of the current crop is almost over and hence arrivals are unlikely to show any increase, they said. Arrivals declined to 331 tonnes last week from 338 tonnes the week before.

The auction average slipped to ₹1,364.91 a kg from ₹1,377.27 the previous week and was vacillating between ₹1,313 and ₹1,368 a kg.

Total arrivals during the season from August 1, 2016 up to January 28 were at 11,566 tonnes and sales were at 10,985 tonnes.

The individual auction average for the season as on January 28 stood at ₹1,110.56/kg.

Prices in ₹/kg : 8mm bold good colour 1,625; 7-8 mm 1,425; 6-7 mm 1,350 and below 6 mm: 1,250. Medium bulk was being traded at ₹1,300-50 a kg. Good bulk was fetching ₹1,400/kg.

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