Cardamom had lost about Rs 50 per kg on an average despite lower arrivals. However, the situation has changed drastically over the last week with most planters in Kerala's Kumali, Vandanmedu and Santhanpara areas reporting the end of the season's pickings. "We feel that by January 15 fresh crop pickings will come to an end," said the sources pointing out that prices are then bound to move up.

At the auctions held by the KCPMC on the last day of 1998, five tonnes of cardamom was available. This is lower than last week's arrival of 11 tonnes and still lower than the previous week's arrivals of 19 tonnes. This is an indication of the shape of things to come. Past thenew year holidays, prices will move up, trade sources said in Kochi.

At the same time, a concerted effort from traders at upcountry centres have not dampened the price of cardamom at the auction at centres on the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border. It is believed that reports of crop loss this season has led the traders to play their cards close to their chests. Although the Spices Board has not officially confirmed or denied a drop in production this season, it is widely believed that there has been a 15 to 20 per cent drop in production this season.

Export quality cardamom (AGEB) was continuing to fetch good prices at all the auction centres in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. In fact, sources in Vandanmedu said on Thursday that about 300 tonnes of cardamom has already been exported. The exports have been done mostly through a firm in Chennai. The AGEB variety has fetched Rs 800 per kg during the last week while the average price ruled at about Rs 650 per kg. This was lower by Rs 50 over the previous week, sources in KCPMCconfirmed on Thursday. Meanwhile, the total quantity of cardamom sold during the new season till the first half of December stands at 7,16,057 kg. This is against the 8,39,433 kg during the same period in the previous season. The average price so far this season stands at Rs 566.05 per kg compared to the Rs 262.99 during the previous season.