Guatemala sees slide in cardamom sales

GUATEMALAN cardamom exports showed a substantial decline over the first six months of this year due to lower output, although there has been some marginal recovery in volumes to key markets from the slump seen in the first quarter of 2010.

The country shipped a total of 10,081 tonnes to global destinations between January and June this year, which was 22.3% down from the 12,981 tonnes exported in the same period of 2009.

Sales to leading destination Saudi Arabia were 13.5% lower at 3,013 tonnes. However, in the first three months of this year, exports to this key destination were running 33.8% behind (see , June 21, page 5).

Exports to second top market the United Arab Emirates were 7.48% down over the six month period at 2,136 tonnes, representing a rebound from the first quarter year-on-year dip of 36.4% to 955 tonnes.

Unfortunately, shipments to Syria were still lagging significantly behind over the six month period, being 28.17% lower at 732 tonnes.

Sales to Pakistan were also among those being much lower, plummeting by 64.2% to 433 tonnes.

Guatemalan cardamom has been in very short supply this season, with the 2009/10 crop being pegged in the region of 14,000 to 16,000 tonnes compared with 18,000 tonnes in 2008/09, 20,000 tonnes in 2007/08 and 24,000 tonnes in 2006/07.