Big cardamom crop benefits due to heavy rains in northeastern states

05-Jun-2025 05:19 PM

Guwahati. The big cardamom crop is generally benefitting from the heavy rains brought by the southwest monsoon in the major producing northeastern states of Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Assam, and Meghalaya, as well as the sub-Himalayan region of West Bengal (Darjeeling). However, there are concerns about potential damage in some areas due to flooding.

Reports suggest that there is a low arrival of goods at auction centres, while prices remain high. Naturally, these higher auction prices are also influencing the spot market. In the 2024-25 season, the big cardamom crop suffered significantly due to adverse weather in key growing regions. The production decline in Nepal and Bhutan further pushed prices up, making imports into India more expensive. Moreover, old stock levels are reportedly very low.

The marketing season in India is nearing its end, with the new season set to begin in August. In the auction held on 29 May, big cardamom prices ranged from Rs 1250 to Rs 1835 per kg, considered highly profitable for producers. While spot market stocks are limited, demand is also not very strong, keeping prices relatively stable with minor fluctuations.

The upcoming crop is expected to be better. According to data from the Spices Board, between April 2024 and February 2025 (first 11 months of FY 2024-25), India exported 1,181.22 tonnes of big cardamom, earning Rs 197.07 crore. During the same period in FY 2023-24, 1,055.09 tonnes worth Rs 117.22 crore were exported. All eyes are now on the performance of the next crop.