EUROPEAN cardamom dealers are becoming increasingly convinced that the 2010/11 Guatemalan crop will come in at the low range of estimates as opposed to the more optimistic forecasts, as prices remain firm. In December, one group of exporters in Guatemala was convinced that the crop should amount to more than 24,000 tonnes and that prices would decline in the first quarter of 2011 (see The Public Ledger, December 17, page 10). In contrast with this, another contingent of exporters was of the firm opinion that the crop would be around 17,000 to 18,000 tonnes, which would match the range estimated for the 2009/10 crop. On January 14, one Rotterdam trader told The Public Ledger that his information indicated that the crop would end up in the low range of estimates, as reflected by the 20% to 30% advance seen in prices in the last few months. The exporter observed that the claims of a 24,000 tonnes-plus crop came from two exporters that were trying to protect their short position... Read More