Tropical Storm Agatha heightens concerns over cardamom supplies

CONCERNS over the flow of cardamom supplies out of Guatemala have heightened over the last few days after Tropical Storm Agatha lashed into the South American country on May 29, bringing severe flooding and landslides and resulting in at least 152 deaths.

Agatha followed the eruption on May 27 of the Papaya volcano, which blanketed parts of the area near Guatemala City with ash.

Andrew Barker, managing director of PBA Brokerage,”I hear that heavy wet weather is more of a problem than the volcano, but having both together is really making logistics and harvesting the tail end of the crop very difficult. Prices and availability have tightened considerably in the last week.”

Owing to a smaller crop and steady demand, Guatemala’s cardamom supplies were already running very tight before Agatha hit the South American country.