Small cardamom prices continued to rise on strong demand despite higher arrivals at auctions held in Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

Total arrivals last week were up at 892 tonnes last week from 707 tonnes the previous week.

The individual auction average has moved up to ₹936.32 a kg last week from ₹906.32 the previous week.

Depleting inventories in the upcountry markets coupled with buying support from consuming centres could be attributed to the rise in demand. Added to this, the current season’s peak harvesting time is over and hence there exists a fear about squeeze in availability of quality material in the coming days. All these factors have aided the price rise, said PC Punnoose, General Manager, CPMC.

At the auction conducted by the South Indian Green Cardamom Company Ltd, Kochi, the arrivals stood at about 113 tonnes and almost the entire quantity was traded. The auction average was at around ₹950 a kg as against ₹932 the previous week.

Exporters were also active and said to have bought an estimated 130 tonnes last week. The individual auction average vacillated between ₹912 a kg and ₹955 a kg last week. Total arrivals during the current season as on December 23 were at 12,760 tonnes and sales were at 12,505 tonnes. The individual auction average of the season was at ₹959.96 a kg.

Prices of graded varieties (₹/kg): 8mm green bold ₹1,225; 7-8 mm: 980; 6-7 mm 925. Good bulk fetched ₹980-1,000.

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