| ANISEED |
FIRM |
Although H1N1 flu is no longer a cause for concern, and the new crop is just becoming available, there is so much pent up demand for Chinese Aniseed that prices are expected to rise further. |
| BASIL |
FIRM |
Quality of the last crop has proved to be variable, thus product derivative yields have been unexpectedly low, causing an adverse effect on prices. |
| BAY |
STEADY |
The ongoing market position is that the supply of WI Bay Oil is good and price is stable. |
| BUCHU |
WEAK |
No change in a weak market. |
| CAPSICUM |
STEADY |
The Indian Chilli crop was reported to have been excellent. There has been an increased incidence of quality problems regarding azo dye contamination, similar to the situation for Paprika - see comments under Paprika. |
| CARAWAY |
STEADY |
The market is well balanced at present. |
| CARDAMOM |
FIRM |
The shortage situation for Cardamoms of all origins goes from bad to worse. Coupled to unprecedented high prices, there is a fear that adulteration of Cardamom Oil is a temptation which buyers should be vigilant for. |
| CASSIA |
FIRM |
Higher prices are encouraging growers to start distilling oil in China. Crops from other origins such as Indonesia, used for the extraction of oleoresin, are also moving up in price. |
| CELERY HERB |
STEADY |
No change to report in the general market situation. |
| CELERY SEED |
FIRM |
The yield from the recent Indian crop was reported -35% down due to hot weather and drought conditions in the growing regions. Prices are expected to rise. |
| CHAMOMILE |
FIRM |
Due to a very cold and late spring, the English crop of Roman Chamomile will be harvested at the end of July. Low yields are predicted because recent weather has been too hot and dry. |
| CINNAMON LEAF |
STEADY |
The market is stable. |
| CINNAMON BARK |
STEADY |
The market is stable. |
| CLOVES |
FIRM |
The Indian Ocean crops starting to come in are reported to be good. Due to the prevailing firm market situation Comores may have pitched their pricing a little high, as there have been signs through the Indian market that demand is weakening. Buyers will wait to see the outcome from Zanzibar and Madagascar at the end of August before making long term commitments. |
| CORIANDER LEAF |
FIRM |
The market is firm but prices remain stable. |
| CORIANDER SEED |
FIRM |
Supply and demand are well balanced as we wait for news of the 2010 Russian Coriander crop. Areas under plantation in India are reduced, which means they will import the deficiency from Russia, thus keeping the market firm. |
| CUMIN |
FIRM |
All major producing countries (Syria, Turkey, Iran & India) reported +30% larger crops last season. However early reports of 2010 crops are being revised downward due to adverse rainy weather conditions in Turkey and Syria. Recently there has been a spate of buying which has moved up market prices and is playing into the hands of the speculators. |
| DILL SEED |
FIRM |
The Indian market has recovered with renewed buying interest after a subdued quarter. The outlook is firm but stable. |
| DILL WEED |
FIRM |
While we wait for news of the 2010 crops in Europe and North America, the market remains unchanged. |
| FENNEL |
FIRM |
This year's Indian crop was short, and over 75% of it has been sold already. This underlying situation is firming up the market. |
| FENUGREEK |
STEADY |
Stable market with low buying interest. |
| GARLIC |
FIRM |
The new crop in China starting being harvested in June. To date there have been no significant changes to report as the market remains short due to increased domestic demand for fresh Garlic. The frequency of adulteration of Garlic Oil is on the increase again. |
| GINGER CHINESE |
FIRM |
The continuing high demand for fresh ginger is keeping the market firm. Chronic shortages in other regions are making the situation worse. |
| GINGER OTHER |
FIRM |
The price of Nigerian Ginger has reached an unprecedented high level. This staple origin is traditionally sets benchmark from which other regions mark up. Supply and demand are hugely out of kilter with buyers chasing each other to obtain supplies of diminishing global stocks. We will have to To endure until new crops in early 2011 is the challenge facing us all. |
| JUNIPER |
STEADY |
Stable market. |
| LAUREL |
STEADY |
Stable market. |
| LEMONGRASS |
STEADY |
The upcoming Guatamalan crop is not changing the stable market situation. |
| LITSEA CUBEBA |
FIRM |
With ongoing problems of harvesting and distillation in China, the market is very short. Prices will need to increase to encourage supplies to make up the deficiency. |
| LOVAGE |
STEADY |
Crops grown in Eastern Europe continue to be readily available with no problems of supply. |
| MACE |
FIRM |
The market remains rock solid. |
| MARJORAM |
STEADY |
The market is steady, and demand is strong. |
| NUTMEG |
FIRM |
The market continues to firm up. There is no end in sight. |
| ONION |
STEADY |
No change to report in the general market situation. |
| OREGANO |
STEADY |
The market is stable while we wait for news of the 2010 crop. |
| PAPRIKA |
FIRM |
Oleoresins being shipped from India are showing increased prevalence of illegal azo dye contamination, albeit at very low levels (<50ppb) or subject to suspicion as being possible false positive results. Confounding this situation is the long held difficulty to find consistency in agreement of results from the different and well respected European independent laboratories, due to factors such as sampling error and oleoresin matrix interference. This is making it increasingly challenging, despite adequate stocks of raw materials, to provide end users with peace of mind and continuity of supply. |
| PARSLEY HERB |
STEADY |
Stable market. |
| PARSLEY SEED |
STEADY |
Stable market. |
| PEPPER BLACK |
FIRM |
Global Pepper prices are firming as demand outstrips supplies. The main origin Vietnam has sold most of its February crop. The next crop coming into the market is from Indonesia at the end of July, and this will determine the shape of the market from that time. |
| PEPPER WHITE |
FIRM |
The market remains firm. |
| PEPPERMINT |
FIRM |
The Indian Arvensis crop started late, and distillation will continue until early August. As mentioned in our previous reports, there is a firming upward tendancy which will not be reversed as long as demand continues at current levels. The market for Piperita oil is expected to firm up also. |
| PIMENTO |
STEADY |
The market remains steady. We are now at the start of the hurricane season in the Caribbean, so this stable situation can quickly be reversed if Jamaica is unlucky to be in the path of a storm. |
| ROSEMARY |
STEADY |
Stable market. |
| SAGE |
FIRM |
The market remains firm. |
| SAVORY |
STEADY |
Stable market. |
| SPEARMINT |
STEADY |
Stable market. |
| TARRAGON |
STEADY |
Supply of English grown Tarragon will sustain demand for our new and interesting herb oleoresin. |
| THYME |
STEADY |
Crops from Spain and Morocco have been good this year, so prices are expected to remain stable. |
| TURMERIC |
FIRM |
There has been a complete reversal to the situation we reported last quarter. The principle crop from India is completely sold out. Other smaller origins such as Vietnam have reduced area of cultivation. Processors are being forced to use uneconomic varieties for extraction. Prices have gone up 400% already, and there will be no end in sight before the next Indian crop in early 2011. There may be a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel as good monsoon rains are falling in the main growing regions of India. |
| VANILLA |
STEADY |
The recent Madagascan crop was decent, despite fears of fusarium blight. With other origins well balanced, it would seem that the market will be stable for a while. |
