Indian Cumin market update

On 7 April, the price of cumin dropped by 0.54% to USD 300-320/MT as the export of cumin in April-January declined by 23% YoY to 188,000/mt compared to 244,000/mt in 2021. Pressure is also seen due to tensions between Ukraine and Russia, disrupting shipments of spices to Europe and other destinations.

On the other hand, there were reports of a decline in sowing areas and improving domestic demand. In 2021-22, the site under cumin in Gujarat was only 307,000 hectares as compared to 469,000 hectares in the same period of 2021, and production is expected to decline by 41% to 237,000/mt compared to 2021 400,000/mt as per second advance estimates.

The area under jeera has decreased by about 30% in Rajasthan in 2021, to 539,000/ha from 770,000/ha last year, Spices Board officials confirmed. According to the data released by the commerce department, cumin exports in January 2022 increased by 19% to 14,725 tones as compared to 12,385 techniques in December 2021. As a result, carry-forward stocks would be approximately 25 million bags. Last year's jeera crop was 9.3 million bags, with a carryover stock of 2 million bags. The decline in the jeera area is more pronounced in Rajasthan, where farmers have shifted to mustard because prices for the oilseed crop were favorable during the sowing season.