The small cardamom prices continued to show a firmer trend at auctions and in the open markets following apprehensions about a crop failure this season due to erratic weather conditions.

Add to this is depleted inventories in the producing and consuming centres. Both these factors have created a bullish sentiment in the market pushing the prices up, P C Punnoose, General Manager, CPMC told Business Line .

The uptrend was visible at today's auction also. At the auction held in Bodinayakannur by Idukki District Traditional Cardamom Producer Company, 23.7 tonnes of cardamom arrived and almost the entire quantity traded. The auction average rose to ₹1,083.79 a kg from ₹1,017.70 a kg last Monday. The maximum price stood at ₹1,482 a kg.

Sharp fall in south west monsoon in the cardamom growing regions this year so far is negatively affecting the crop at present, growers in Idukki said.

Good export enquiries were pouring in. But, the prevailing high prices coupled with non-availability of exportable grade capsules have limited the export buying, Punnoose said.

Arrivals moved up to 391 tonnes last week from 384 tonnes the previous week.

The weekly auction average soared to ₹1,053.83 a kg from ₹1,011 .30 a kg the week before last.

Individual auction average surged to above ₹1,000 a kg at each auction and was vacillating between ₹1,018 and ₹1,086 a kg.

Total arrivals during the current season up to July 29, 2017 were at 20,310 tonnes and the sales were at 19,358 tonnes.

Individual auction average for the season as on July 29 was at ₹1,092.75 a kg.

Prices today at Bodinayakannur, the main trading hub for the aromatic spice, were (in ₹/kg) : 8mm green bold 1,525; 7 -8mm 1,250; 6-7mm 925 ; below 6 mm 880-900. Good bulk was being traded at Rs1,125 a kg.

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