Special Issue

India Cardamom Report

India produces a wide range of spices and holds a prominent position in world spice production. Because of the varying climates - from tropical to sub-tropical to temperate-almost all spices grow splendidly in India. In reality almost all the states and union territories of India grow one or the other spices. Under the act of Parliament, a total of 52 spices are brought under the purview of Spices Board. However, 109 spices are notified in the ISO list which include cardamom. Furthermore, India are known for its two types of cardamom which are small cardamom and large cardamom.
The differences between small cardamom and large cardamom are described below:

Harvesting and processing

Cardamom plants normally start bearing two years after planting. In most of the areas in India the peak period of harvest is during October-November. Picking is carried out at an interval of 15-25 days. Ripe capsules are harvested in order to get maximum green colour during curing. After harvest, capsules are dried either in kiln drying or electrical drying or in the sun drying. It has been found that soaking the freshly harvested green cardamom capsules in 2% washing soda solution for 10 minutes prior to drying helps to retain the green colour during drying. For kiln drying, over night drying at 50-60o C is required, for electrical drying, it should be dried at 45-50o C for 14-18 hours, while for sun drying it require 5-6 days or more depending on the availability of sunlight. The capsules kept for drying are spread thinly and stirred frequently to ensure uniform drying. The dried capsules are rubbed with hands or coir mat or wire mesh and winnowed to remove any foreign matterand then sorted out according to size and colour, and stored in black polythene lined gunny bags to retain the green colour during storage.

Area Plantation of Cardamoms in India

In India, small cardamoms are produced in Kerala, Karnatakaand Tamil Nadu State. In 2016, the total area under small cardamoms plantation were reported 70,080 Ha of the 3 states above with Kerala State being reported with the largest planting area, amounting to 39,680 Ha followed by Karnataka States with 25,240 Ha and Tami Nadu with 5,160 Ha. Furthermore, similar to small cardamom, large cardamom was also widely cultivated in India, in the same period, large cardamoms were mostly produced in Sikkim and West Bengal State. The total area of large cardamom plantation in the 2 states was reported amounting 26,387 Ha which 23,082 Ha of it located in Sikkim State and 3,305 Ha in West Bengal State.2017 saw a decreasing trend in cardamoms planting area. India's area of plantation for small cardamom dropped to a total of 69,357 Ha. Thus, recording a decrease by 1% as compared to the previous period, of whichKerala State amounted to 39,080 Ha, Karnataka States with 25,117 Ha and Tamil Nadu State with 5,160 Ha. Furthermore, contrary to small cardamoms, the total area oflarge cardamoms plantation wasreported with an increase of 1% as compared to the previous period with a total of 26,617 Ha of which Sikkim Statewas 23,312 Ha and West Bengal Statewas 3,305 Ha.

2018 saw relative unchangedtrend area plantation for both small and large cardamoms in India. Small cardamoms in India in this period was reported with a total area of plantation 69,330 Ha of which Kerala State 39,080 Ha, Karnataka State 25,135 Ha and Tamil Nadu State 5,115 Ha. Whilst, the total area plantation of large cardamoms in India were reported unchanged.

In 2019, the area of plantation for small cardamoms was estimated stable and relatively unchanged as compared to the period of 2018 with a total 69,132 Ha of which Kerala State 38,882 Ha, Karnataka State 25,135 Ha and Tami Nadu State 5,115 Ha. Contrary to small cardamoms, the total area of plantation for large cardamoms was estimated with a significant increase of 61% as compared to the previous period to a total of 42,826 Ha. The increase of the total area of plantation for large cardamoms in India could be contributed to the opening of large cardamoms plantation in other state in India such as Nagaland State and Arunachal Pradesh State. In2019, estimated area of plantation for India's large cardamom were Sikkim State with 23,312 Ha, West Bengal States with 3,305 Ha, Nagaland States with 6,308 Ha and Arunachal Pradesh State with 9,901 Ha. Furthermore, for the year 2020, the area under cardamoms cultivation was projected to slightly decrease by 0.1% as compared to the previous year to a total of 111,869 Ha in 2020 which 62% or a total of 69,043 Ha was of small cardamoms and 38% or 42,826 Ha was of large cardamoms (Table 2).

Production of Cardamoms in India

Cardamoms production by India in the period of 2016 until 2019 had fluctuated greatly. Production of small cardamoms in 2016 was reported to reach 23,890 Mt of whichKerala State was reported to be the largest producer with 21,503 Mt or 90% of the total production of small cardamom m in India during that period. Furthermore, production of large cardamom in 2016 was reported to reach 5,315 Mt of which Sikkim State was reported to be the largest producer with 4,465 Mt or 84% of the total production of large cardamom in India duringthat period. 2017 saw a decreasing trend for production of small cardamom. India was reported to have onlyproducedsmall cardamoms to a total of 17,990 Mt. Thus, recording a decrease by 25% as compared to previous period. Contrary to small cardamoms, production of large cardamoms was reported with an increase of 5% as compared to the previous period to a total of 5,572 Mt. Furthermore, in 2018 production of small and large cardamom showed increasing trend and were reported with an increase of 15% and 6% respectively as compared to 2017 to a total of 20,650 Mt for small cardamoms and 5,906 Mt for large cardamoms. In 2019, production of small cardamoms was estimated to only reach 12,940 Mt or a decrease by 37% when compared to previous period. Contrary to small cardamoms, production of large cardamoms in 2019 was estimated witha significant increased by 47% or 2,763 Mt as compared to the previous period with total 8,669 Mt. The increase in production of large cardamoms could be contributed to the addition of new plantation area of large cardamoms in Nagaland State and Arunachal Pradesh State.Furthermore, the production of cardamoms in 2020 was projected to slightly increase by 1% as compared to 2019 to a total of 21,928 Mt which 60% of it consisted of small cardamoms and 40% of large cardamoms.The projected increase of cardamoms production could be contributed to favourable weather conditions (Table 2). During 2106-2020, the highest total production of small and large cardamoms in India was reported in 2016 with 29,205 Mt whilst the lowest was estimated to occur in 2019 with 21,609 Mt.

Cardamoms Productivity in India

Cardamoms productivity in India in the past 4 years was reported to be fluctuated with the average of small cardamoms productivity was reported with a decrease of 14% whilst the average of large cardamoms productivity was reported with an increase by 26% (table 3). In 2016, productivity of small cardamoms was reported at 783 Kg per Ha whilst the productivity of large cardamoms was reported at 451 Kg per Ha. In the following year, the productivity of small cardamoms saw decreasing trends to a total of 631 Kg per Ha or a decrease of 19% as compared to the previous period. Contrary to small cardamoms, the productivity of large cardamoms was reported with an increase of 7% to a total 483 Kg per Ha. Furthermore, productivity of small and large cardamoms in 2018 were reported with an increase by 10% and 9% respectively as opposed to previous periodtotalling 693 Kg per Ha for small cardamoms and 524 Kg per Ha for large cardamoms. Small cardamoms productivity in 2019 was estimated to decrease by 33% as compared to the previous period totalling at 464 Kg per Ha. Whilst, large cardamoms productivity was estimated with significant increase by 64% as opposed to previous period at 858 Kg per Ha. During 2015-2019, the highest total productivity of small and large cardamoms was reported in 2019which was estimated at 1,322 Kg per Ha whilst the lowest occurred in 2017 with 1,114 Kg per Ha. Furthermore, for the year 2020, the productivity of small and large cardamoms was projected to increase by 2% and 1% respectively as compared to 2019 totalling 471 Kg per Ha for small cardamoms and 862 Kg per Ha for large cardamoms.

Cardamoms Auction Prices in India

As of February 2020, both small and large cardamoms auction prices in India saw a mixed response. The average auctioned price of small cardamoms in India as of February 2020 was reported with INR 3,317 per Kg (Table 4) with the highest auctioned price recorded in 10 February 2020 with INR 3,766 per Kg. Whilst, the lowest auctioned price was reported at INR 2,721 per Kg in 25 February 2020

Furthermore, the average auctioned price of large cardamoms in India as of February 2020 was reported with INR 456 per Kg (Table 5) with the highest auctioned price recorded in 9 January 2020 with INR 605 per Kg and the lowest was reported with INR 338 per Kg in 13 February 2020.

Export of Cardamoms by India

As one of the producers of cardamoms in the world, India in the past 2 years actively exports cardamoms to various countries. In 2018, India was reported to have exported a total of 5,517 Mt of cardamoms from which 90% or 4,942 Mt of it comprised of whole cardamoms and 10% or 575 Mt of it ground cardamoms. India on average exported a total of 460 Mt per month in 2018 which peaked in February with 650Mt. The total revenue of India's export of cardamoms in 2018 was reported to be as high as USD 78.7 Million. Thus, recording an average price of the total cardamoms exported by India at USD 14,670 per Mt for whole cardamoms and USD 10,853 per Mt for ground cardamoms.

Year 2019 saw a decreasing trend in term of quantity of cardamoms exported by India. India was reported to have exported a total of 3,742 Mt of which 84% or 3,159 Mt of it comprised of whole cardamoms and 16% or 583 Mt of it ground cardamoms, recording adecrease of 32% when compared with 2018. The average export of cardamoms by India in 2019 was reported to be at 312 Mt per month which peaked in September with 514 Mt. In accordance with decreasing in terms of quantity, India's revenue from cardamoms export was reported to have decreased by 20% as compared to the previous year to a total of USD 62.6 Million. Thus, recording an average price of the total cardamoms exported by India at USD 17,426 per Mt for whole cardamoms and USD 13,073 per Mt for ground cardamoms or anincrease of 19% and 20% respectively as compared with 2018.

Cardamoms from India are widely traded in Asia, America, Europe and Africa. In 2019, India's top 5 Country of destinations for its cardamoms were reported to be United Arab Emirates with 1,046 Mt, Pakistan with 502 Mt, Afghanistan with 354 Mt, United States of America with 337 Mt and Kuwait with 224 Mt.

Import of Cardamoms by Consuming Countries

• Singapore

  Singapore actively imports cardamoms from various cardamoms producing countries for its domestic consumption or for re-export purpose. In 2017, Singapore was reported to have imported a total of 1,071,901 Kg of cardamoms which 99.7% or 1,068,563Kg of it comprised of whole cardamoms while 0.3% or 3,338Kg of it was ground cardamoms. The average import by Singapore in 2017 was reported to be 89,325Kg per month with the highest quantity recorded in March with 296,518Kg. The total expenditure of import of cardamoms by Singapore was reported to be as high as USD 11.9 Million, recording an average price of the total cardamoms imported by Singapore at USD 11.1 per Kg for whole cardamoms and USD 18.2 Per Kg for ground cardamoms.

  Year 2018 saw a decreasing trend in term of quantity of cardamoms imported by Singapore. Singapore was reported to have imported a total of 1,002,555Kg which 99.8% or 1,000,432Kgcomprised ofwhole cardamoms and 0.2% or 2,123Kg of ground cardamoms. Thus, recording adecrease by 6% as compared to the same period in 2017. On average Singapore was reported to have imported 83,546Kg per month which peaked in March with 145,791Kg. Although decreasing in term of quantity, Singapore's expenditure for cardamoms import was reported to have increased by 2% to a total of USD 12.2 Million, recording an average price of the total cardamoms imported by Singapore at USD 12.2 per Kg for whole cardamoms and USD 15.5 per Kg for ground cardamoms or an increase of 10% for whole cardamoms and a decrease by 15% for ground cardamoms as compared with 2017.

  Cardamoms import by Singapore in 2019 was reported with an increase of 33% as compared to 2018, totalling at 1,332,633 Kg which 99.8% or 1,330,408 Kg comprised of whole cardamoms and 0.2% or 2,225 Kg of ground cardamoms. The total expenditure of cardamoms import by Singapore in 2019 was reported with anincrease of 80% as compared to the previous year totalling at USD 22 Million, recording an average price of the total cardamoms imported by Singapore at USD 16.5 per Kg for whole cardamoms and USD 12.1 per Kg for ground cardamoms or an increase of 36% for whole cardamoms and a decrease by 22% for ground cardamoms as compared with 2018.

  The top five countries of origins of Singapore's cardamoms in 2019 were reported to be Guatemala with 1,223,305 Kg, India with 43,025 Kg, China with 42,170 Kg, Indonesia with 11,541 Kg and Saudi Arabia with 9,400 Kg.

  

• United States of America

  United States of America also actively imports cardamoms from various cardamoms producing countries for its domestic consumption or for re-export purpose. In 2017, United States of America was reported to have imported a total of 980,907 Kg of cardamoms which 87% or 855,617 Kg of it comprised of whole cardamoms while 13% or 125,290 Kg of it was ground cardamoms. The average import by United States of America in 2017 was reported to be 81,742 Kg per month with the highest quantity recorded in January with 161,682 Kg. The total expenditure of cardamoms import by United States of America was reported to be as high as USD 12.8 Million, recording an average price of the total cardamoms imported by United States of America at USD 12.4 per Kg for whole cardamoms and USD 17.1 Per Kg for ground cardamoms.

  Year 2018 saw an increasing trend in term of quantity of cardamoms imported by United States of America. United States of America was reported to have imported a total of 1,303,000 Kg which 76% or 986,219 Kg of it comprised of whole cardamoms and 24% or 316,781 Kg of ground cardamoms. Thus, recording an increase of 33% as compared to the same period in 2017. On average United States of America was reported to have imported 108,583 Kg per month in 2018 which peaked in December with 162,337 Kg. In accordance with the increasing in term of quantity, United States of America's expenditure for cardamoms import was reported to have increased by 50% to a total of USD 19.2 Million, recording an average price of the total cardamoms imported by United States of America at USD 14.1 per Kg for whole cardamoms and USD 16.6 per Kg for ground cardamoms or an increase of 14% for whole cardamoms and a decrease by 3% for ground cardamoms as compared with 2017.

  Cardamoms import by United States of America in 2019 was reported with a decrease by 2% as compared to 2018, totalling at 1,274,861 Kg which 66% or 841,826 Kg comprised of whole cardamoms and 34% or 433,035 Kg of ground cardamoms. The total expenditure of cardamoms import by United States of America in 2019 was reported with an increase of 16% as compared to the previous year totalling at USD 22.3 Million, recording an average price of the total cardamoms imported by United States of America at USD 18.7 per Kg for whole cardamoms and USD 15.0 per Kg for ground cardamoms or an increase of 33% for whole cardamoms and a decrease by 9% for ground cardamoms as compared with 2018.

  The top five countries of origins of United States of America's cardamoms in 2019 were reported to be India with 585,649 Kg, Guatemala with 532,886 Kg, Honduras with 86,232 Kg, China with 35,125 Kg and United of Kingdom with 11,555 Kg.

  

• United Kingdom

  United Kingdomis one of European country which actively imports cardamoms from various cardamoms producing countries for its domestic consumption or for re-export purpose. In 2017, United Kingdom was reported to have imported a total of 727,685 Kg of cardamoms which 95% or 688,238 Kg of it comprised of whole cardamoms while 5% or 39,447 Kg of it was ground cardamoms. The average import by United Kingdom in 2017 was reported to be 60,640 Kg per month with the highest quantity recorded in December with 148,911 Kg. The total expenditure of import of cardamoms by United Kingdom was reported to be as high as USD 8.8 Million, recording an average price of the total cardamoms imported by United Kingdom at USD 12.3 per Kg for whole cardamoms and USD 9.6 Per Kg for ground cardamoms.

  Year 2018 saw a decreasing trend in term of quantity of cardamoms imported by United Kingdom. United Kingdom was reported to have imported a total of 695,552 Kg which 95% or 663,814 Kg comprised of whole cardamoms and 5% or 31,738 Kg of ground cardamoms. Thus, recording a decrease by 4% as compared to the same period in 2017. On average United Kingdom was reported to have imported 57,963 Kg per month which peaked in April with 128,024 Kg. Although decreasing in term of quantity, United Kingdom's expenditure for cardamoms import was reported to have increased by 5% to a total of USD 9.2 Million, recording an average price of the total cardamoms imported by United Kingdom at USD 13.1 per Kg for whole cardamoms and USD 17.1 per Kg for ground cardamoms or an increase of 7% and 77% respectively as compared with 2017.

  Cardamoms import by United Kingdom in 2019 was reported with anincrease of 17% as compared to 2018, totalling at 810,381 Kg which 94% or 763,765 Kg comprised of whole cardamoms and 6% or 46,616 Kg of ground cardamoms. The total expenditure of cardamoms import by United Kingdom in 2019 was reported with an increase of 39% as compared to the previous year totalling at USD 12.9 Million, recording an average price of the total cardamoms imported by United Kingdom at USD 15.8 per Kg for whole cardamoms and USD 17.1 per Kg for ground cardamoms or an increase of 21% for whole cardamoms and stable for ground cardamoms as compared with 2018.

  The top five countries of origins of United Kingdom's cardamoms in 2019 were reported to be Guatemala with 457,032 Kg, India with 173,750 Kg, Netherlands with 44,690 Kg, United States of America with 32,300 Kg and Panama with 21,000 Kg.

  Table 14. Import of Whole Cardamoms by United Kingdom
  

  

• India

  Although India known to be one of the major cardamoms producing countries in the world, India was also reported to actively import cardamoms from other origins for the purpose of domestic consumption as well as for industry-use. In 2017, India was reported to have imported a total of 6,319,193 Kg of cardamoms which 98% or 6,178,379 Kg of it comprised of whole cardamoms while 2% or 140,814 Kg of it was ground cardamoms. The average import by India in 2017 was reported to be 526,599 Kg per month with the highest quantity recorded in December with 846,595 Kg. The total expenditure of import of cardamoms by India was reported to be as high as USD 57.8 Million, recording an average price of the total cardamoms imported by India at USD 9.2 per Kg for whole cardamoms and USD 6.8 Per Kg for ground cardamoms.

  Year 2018 saw a decreasing trend in term of quantity of cardamoms imported by India. India was reported to have imported a total of 5,041,625 Kg which 97% or 4,885,051 Kg comprised of whole cardamoms and 3% or 156,574 Kg of ground cardamoms. Thus, recording a decrease by 20% as compared to the same period in 2017. On average India was reported to have imported 420,135 Kg per month in 2018 which peaked in January with 1,086,790 Kg. In accordance with decreasing in term of quantity, India's expenditure for cardamoms import was also reported to have decreased by 23% to a total of USD 44.7 Million, recording an average price of the total cardamoms imported by India at USD 8.7 per Kg for whole cardamoms and USD 11.4 per Kg for ground cardamoms or a decrease of 5% for whole cardamoms and an increase of 67% for ground cardamoms as compared with 2017.

  Cardamoms import by India in 2019 was reported with an increase of 3% as compared to 2018, totalling at 5,175,728 Kg which 98% or 5,052,936 Kg of it comprised of whole cardamoms and 2% or 122,792 Kg of ground cardamoms. The total expenditure of cardamoms import by India in 2019 was reported with an increase of 1% as compared to the previous year totalling at USD 44.9 Million, recording an average price of the total cardamoms imported by India at USD 8.2 per Kg for whole cardamoms and USD 26.2 per Kg for ground cardamoms or a decrease of 6% for whole cardamoms and an increase of 129% for ground cardamoms as compared with 2018.

  The top five countries of origins of India's cardamoms in 2019 were reported to be Nepal with 2,946,902 Kg, United Arab Emirates with 692,581 Kg, Bhutan with 611,643 Kg, Guatemala with 345,841 Kg and Singapore with 221,025 Kg.

  

• Other Consuming Countries

  In 2017, other consuming countries (the reset of the world) were reported to have imported a total of 11,437,938 Kg of cardamoms which 91% or 10,374,884 Kg of it comprised of whole cardamoms while 9% or 1,063,054 Kg of it was ground cardamoms. The average import by other consuming countries in 2017 were reported to be 953,162 Kg per month with the highest quantity recorded in February with 1,218,118 Kg. The total expenditure of import of cardamoms by other consuming countries were reported to be as high as USD 100.1 Million, recording an average price of the total cardamoms imported by other consuming countries at USD 8.5 per Kg for whole cardamoms and USD 10.5 Per Kg for ground cardamoms.

  Year 2018 saw anincreasing trend in term of quantity of cardamoms imported by other consuming countries. Other consuming countries were reported to have imported a total of 12,127,293 Kg which 92% or 11,123,212 Kg of it comprised of whole cardamoms and 8% or 1,004,081 Kg of it ground cardamoms. Thus, recording anincreaseof 6% as compared to the same period in 2017. On average other consuming countries were reported to have imported 1,010,608 Kg per month in 2018 which peaked in January with 1,450,334 Kg. In accordance with increasing in term of quantity, other consuming countries expenditure for cardamoms import were also reported to have increased by 12% to a total of USD 112.4 Million, recording an average price of the total cardamoms imported by other consuming countries at USD 8.9 per Kg for whole cardamoms and USD 12.9 per Kg for ground cardamoms or an increase of 4% and 22% respectively as compared with 2017.

  Cardamoms import by other consuming countries in 2019 were reported with adecrease by 34% as compared to 2018, totalling at 7,989,199 Kg which 88% or 6,993,247 Kg of it comprised of whole cardamoms and 12% or 995,952 Kg of ground cardamoms. The total expenditure of cardamoms import by other consuming countries in 2019 were reported with adecrease of 2% as compared to the previous year totalling at USD 110.3 Million, recording an average price of the total cardamoms imported by other consuming countries at USD 13.3 per Kg for whole cardamoms and USD 17 per Kg for ground cardamoms or an increase of 49% and 32% respectively as compared with 2018.

  The five top importers of cardamoms of other consuming countries in 2019 were reported to be Pakistan with a total of 1,207,550 Kg, Netherlands with 973,878 Kg, Germany with 884,000 Kg, China with 759,293 Kg and Malaysia with 449,876 Kg.

  

Source:
• Spices Board India (Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India)
• International Trade Centre (ITC) - Geneva
• Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO)
• Agricultural Commodity Export-Import Database, Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Indonesia
• Agricultural Commodity Price Information, Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Indonesia
• Directorate General of Estate Crops, Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Indonesia

Note: Some of the data in this publication are from the IPC database. The data are obtained from official reports and correspondence between the IPC and relevant partiesand have been processed based on statistical norms that can be accounted for.