CARDAMOM oil prices, which rose to spectacular highs throughout last year, have crashed down by around 24% since October 2010 although rumours of a recovery are abound. During 2010 cardamom prices started a rapid ascent from $350 per kg on a spot basis from Guatemala in February to $590 per kg in October, when things took and equally sudden and speedy turn around. The latest price was quoted at $450 per kg on February 8, 2011. "We feel that first fall was caused by saturated markets in the Middle East," said Cesar Vettorazzi of Extract, a Guatemala-based supplier of cardamom and other essential oils. Furthermore, an anticipated increase in the crop did little to slow the oil's descent... Read More