Black Cardamom Prices Hit Seven-Year High

Large cardamom, often called the ‘black gold’ of eastern Nepal’s hills, has reached its highest price in seven years at the start of the current harvesting season

According to Anil Dhungana, Executive Director of the Federation of Large Cardamom Entrepreneurs of Nepal, black cardamom was traded at Rs 94,000 per 40 kg in Birtamod, the country’s largest cardamom market, on Sunday.

“This is a very good price,” he said. “During the same season last year, black cardamom was traded at around Rs 40,000 per 40 kg.”

This marks the highest price since 2018, when the price had touched Rs 105,000 per 40 kg during this season and later rose to Rs 107,000 in December. The record high price was set in 2010, when prices reached Rs 120,000 per 40 kg.

Dhungana noted that the current price surge signals a potential further rise in December and January, the peak trading period. “It costs farmers up to Rs 20,000 to produce 40 kg of black cardamom,” he said. “With today’s prices, farmers are very encouraged, and there is a strong possibility that prices will go even higher this year.”

The price hike is expected to directly benefit farmers, who often sell early in the season. Traders, on the other hand, typically store their purchases and sell them later in winter when prices climb, reaping significant profits.

Black cardamom is cultivated in 42 districts across Nepal, but production is concentrated in the districts of Koshi Province including Panchthar, Taplejung, Ilam, Sankhuwasabha, Khotang, Bhojpur, and Tehrathum. Koshi Province alone has more than 7,500 hectares under cardamom cultivation.

In fiscal year 2024/25, Nepal exported black cardamom worth Rs 7.67 billion to India through the Kakarbhitta customs point, according to the Mechi Customs Office. Around 90 percent of Nepal’s cardamom output is exported, mostly to India, which then re-exports it to global markets under Indian branding. Nepalese cardamom still lacks direct access to international markets. -- RSS