ASHORTAGE of cardamom in the two main producers, Guatemala and India, appears to be behind recent price rises for cardamom oil. Cardamom oil was recently quoted at a spot price $140 a kg, compared with $120 a kg in the previous week. Sources who spoke to The Public Ledger said that Guatemala's cardamom crop appeared to be down from last year. Combined with lower production in India, this has resulted in a shortage of cardamom globally. Cesar Vettorazzi, director of Extract, a Guatemalan cardamom oil supplier said that prices were high because of low production in these two countries. Reports in the Indian press have claimed that the crop there was reduced by hot weather in April and May followed by rains and storms in the June to August monsoon period... Read More