Small cardamom continues to be prized spice for exporters here.

KOCHI: Small cardamom exports from India are likely to earn as much this fiscal as the last one despite a shortfall in volumes, as shippers are getting good price for the spice. In 2015-16, India had exported a record 5,500 tonnes of small cardamom valued at Rs 450 crore following a bumper crop.

This time, however, the production is expected to be nearly half due to a long drought before mon soon. “Low output has been a blessing in disguise as buyers from Saudi Arabia, the principal cardamom consuming country, have been ordering more quantities of good quality cardamom anticipa ting a shortage later,“ said SPGR Nityanandan, a leading exporter of the spice.

Nityanandan is shipping 10 tonnes of cardamom by air every alternate day to Saudi Arabia where the requirement is urgent as stock from Guatemala, the largest cardamom producer, got over during Ramadan.

India is the sole supplier. Compared to the Guatemalan cardamom, the Indian variety is superior and costlier. It is currently fetching a price of $16.50-17 a kg with the bold ones going at $19 per kg.

Source : economictimes.indiatimes.com