Small cardamom last week showed an easier trend on weak domestic demand at auctions held in Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

However, good export demand has kept the market buoyant. Exporters have bought an estimated 120 tonnes, P C Punnoose, General Manager, CPMC told Business Line .

Upcountry buyers have slowed down buying following forecasts of good summer rains. Besides they believe that the growers are holding stocks.

Availability of imported cheap Guatemala cardamom in the north Indian markets is also aided fall in demand, market sources said.

Severe drought conditions continued to exist in the growing regions.

Arrivals last week stood at 390 tonnes as against 452 tonnes the previous week. Last week auction average slipped and was vacillating between ₹1,191 and ₹1,266 a kg.

Total arrivals during the season from August 01 up to March 4, 2017 were at 13,696 tonnes and sales were at 13,061 tonnes.

The individual auction average for the season as on March 4, 2017 stood at ₹1,145.65 a kg.

Prices in the local market in the main trading hub for the aromatic spice, Bodinayakannur in Tamil Nadu, have declined marginally and they were in ₹/Kg : 8mm bold good colour 1,450 - 1550 ; 7- 8mm 1,300-1,400; 6mm -7mm 1,250- 1,300 and below 6 mm: 1,150-1,250.

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