Price of Big Cardamom to Depend on Demand and Supply Conditions
20-Jun-2025 05:31 PM
New Delhi. The market for big (black) cardamom is currently witnessing fluctuations driven by a tightening in supply and muted demand. Stocks have declined across the country, especially in key producing regions, leading to a rise in prices at auction centres. Imports from Nepal—the main source for re-export—have slowed significantly, while consignments from Bhutan have already arrived.
The ongoing supply season is now in its final stages, and fresh arrivals are expected to begin around August–September.
In the early days of the monsoon season, the northeastern states—where big cardamom is primarily grown—witnessed heavy rainfall and flooding in some areas.
While this has benefited the crop in certain locations, it may have caused damage in others. The main producing regions include Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Assam, and parts of West Bengal.
Currently, demand remains subdued in major trade hubs, which is exerting downward pressure on prices despite the reduced supply. Export demand has also been underwhelming.
In Delhi’s wholesale grocery market, catchy-cut big cardamom is quoted at around Rs 1490–1500 per kg, but trade volumes remain sluggish at this level. At a recent auction in Sikkim, prices ranged between Rs 1250 and Rs 1850 per kg, indicating variability depending on quality.
Supplies from Nepal remain limited, and prices there are also high. Imports from Nepal into India are mostly routed for re-export rather than domestic consumption.
Despite weak short-term demand, export performance has shown year-on-year improvement. According to the Spices Board, India exported 1368 tonnes of big cardamom in 2024–25, up from 1281 tonnes in 2023–24. Export earnings also rose sharply from Rs 148.15 crore to Rs 229.44 crore.
The condition of the current crop in major northeastern production zones remains satisfactory. If favourable weather continues through July, total output may exceed last year’s levels, boosting availability for both domestic use and export. However, prices in the near term will largely hinge on how demand evolves, both locally and internationally.