The average and minimum prices for cardamom worked out to Rs 751.02 and Rs 610 per kg respectively.

The total quantity of cardamom offered at the auction was 4,317 kg, out of which 1,338.500 kg was withdrawn as there were no buyers for it at offered control price, the auctioneers said. The remaining 2,978.500 kg cardamom fetched a total value of Rs 22,36,927.500.

The cardamom for auction was offered by six companies, namely: Nellianpathy Tea & Produce Company Ltd, Highland Produce Co Ltd, Kalpeta Estate Ltd, Midland Rubber & Produce Co Ltd, Muthucard Estate Ltd and Nellianpathy Plantations Co Ltd.

Mumbai had its first ever cardamom auction on October 23, 1997. Subsequently 24 auctions were held. Against total fresh arrivals of 91,703 kg ofcardamom 81,806 kg was auctioned fetching an average price of Rs 312.97 per kg last year.

Perfect Cardamom & Spices Co, the agency that conducts the auctions at Navi Mumbai expects to auction 1.25 lakh kg of cardamom this year, the company's managing director Mayur Desai said.