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Spices
June 1997

United States

According to the American Spice Trade Association (ASTA), per capita consumption of spices in the United States totaled 3.1 pounds in 1995, down from 3.4 pounds in 1994. Total consumption was estimated at 800 million pounds. Domestic production of spices accounted for 40 percent of the total spice market. The United States remained the leading supplier of dehydrated onions, garlic, paprika, chili peppers and mustard seed. According to ASTA, total U.S. production of spices was 338 million pounds in 1995. This information is available in a report. For a copy, call 212-420-8808.

Spices: Approximate Average Monthly New York Spot Prices  
  Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May Jun. Jul. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Annual
Dollars per pound  
                           
Black Pepper                          
Malabar/Lampong/
Brazilian		                          
1995 1.110 1.100 1.142 1.248 1.272 1.260 1.270 1.262 1.182 1.135 1.048 0.990 1.168
1996 0.992 1.032 1.092 1.082 1.112 1.095 1.080 1.198 1.265 1.275 1.276 1.280 1.148
1997 1.386 1.518 1.490 1.618 1.734 1.890              
Tellicherry                          
1995 1.450 1.438 1.400 1.475 1.550 1.550 1.550 1.550 1.550 1.550 1.500 1.550 1.509
1996 1.338 1.450 1.420 1.312 1.350 1.350 1.350 1.400 1.462 1.462 1.450 1.450 1.400
1997 1.450 1.750 1.750 1.762 1.760 2.017              
Muntok White Pepper                          
1995 1.795 1.758 1.680 1.812 1.950 1.842 1.875 1.908 1.910 1.820 1.785 1.742 1.823
1996 1.745 1.775 1.816 1.795 1.726 1.648 1.540 1.696 1.815 1.935 1.918 2.058 1.789
1997 2.560 2.645 2.550 2.500 2.410 2.450              
Cinnamon--Ceylon H-2                          
1995 1.950 1.950 1.950 1.950 1.950 1.950 1.950 1.950 1.950 1.950 1.950 2.950 2.033
1996 2.000 2.000 2.000 2.000 2.000 2.000 2.000 2.000 1.975 1.900 1.900 1.900 1.973
1997 1.900 1.938 2.100 2.200 2.200 2.200              
Cloves                          
Madagascar/Zanzibar                          
1995 0.490 0.470 0.478 0.540 0.598 0.652 0.695 0.700 0.698 0.685 0.680 0.636 0.610
1996 0.612 0.658 0.658 0.645 0.626 0.610 0.610 0.610 0.610 0.610 0.572 0.562 0.615
1997 0.564 0.575 0.645 0.640 0.634 0.607              
Brazilian/Ceylon (Stems)                          
1995 0.290 0.290 0.290 0.300 0.300 0.312 0.320 0.320 0.320 0.320 0.320 0.320 0.308
1996 0.320 0.320 0.320 0.320 0.320 0.320 0.320 0.320 0.320 0.320 0.320 0.320 0.320
1997 0.320 0.320 0.320 0.320 0.320 0.320              
Sri Lanka (Hand Picked)                          
1996 1.500 1.500 1.500 1.500 1.500 1.500 1.500 1.500 1.500 1.500 1.500 1.500 1.500
1997 1.500 1.500 1.500 1.500 1.500 1.500              
Ginger                          
Indian-Cochin                          
1995 0.750 0.775 1.030 1.288 1.400 1.400 1.400 1.300 1.260 1.650 1.650 1.650 1.296
1996 1.650 0.850 0.870 0.900 0.932 0.930 0.930 0.930 0.930 0.930 0.930 0.930 0.976
1997 0.914 0.885 0.842 0.805 0.872 0.910              
Chinese, Whole Peeled                          
1995 0.700 0.668 0.620 0.620 0.620 0.624 0.640 0.655 0.660 0.662 0.685 0.776 0.661
1996 0.808 0.865 0.894 0.900 0.900 0.900 0.900 0.900 0.900 0.940 0.940 1.120 0.914
1997 1.220 1.450 1.625 2.325 2.500 2.500              
Chinese, Sliced                          
1996 0.510 0.542 0.592 0.610 0.698 0.740 0.745 0.750 0.760 0.780 0.808 0.898 0.703
1997 0.920 1.162 1.238 1.300 1.300 1.300              
Jamaica #3                          
1995 2.500 2.500 2.500 2.900 2.900 2.900 2.788 2.750 2.750 2.750 2.750 2.750 2.728
1996 2.750 2.750 2.750 2.750 2.750 4.200 4.200 4.200 4.200 4.200 N/A N/A N/A
Mace                          
#2 Siauw Siftings                          
1995 2.600 2.450 2.390 2.350 2.250 2.250 2.250 2.250 2.250 2.300 2.450 2.450 2.353
1996 2.450 2.450 2.450 2.450 2.450 2.450 2.450 2.370 2.350 2.350 2.350 2.350 2.410
1997 2.690 3.725 3.950 3.950 3.950 3.950              
Nutmeg                          
West Indian Whole                          
1995 1.200 1.200 1.200 1.200 1.200 1.120 1.100 1.100 1.100 1.100 1.100 1.100 1.143
1996 1.100 1.115 1.130 1.130 1.130 1.130 1.130 1.130 1.130 1.130 1.130 1.130 1.126
1997 1.130 1.130 1.182 1.200 1.200 1.200              
East Indian                          
1995 1.020 1.020 1.016 0.960 0.910 0.906 0.950 0.950 0.950 0.950 0.968 0.970 0.964
1996 0.950 0.950 0.950 0.950 0.936 0.930 0.930 0.930 0.930 0.930 0.930 0.940 0.938
1997 0.970 1.060 1.120 1.140 1.140 1.140              
Pimento (Allspice)                          
Guatemalan/Honduran                          
1995 0.920 0.930 0.930 0.930 0.930 0.942 0.950 0.950 0.950 0.950 0.950 0.950 0.940
1996 0.965 0.980 0.986 1.035 1.062 1.050 1.000 0.988 0.955 0.940 0.900 0.900 0.980
1997 0.914 0.950 0.950 0.950 0.970 0.970              
Jamaican                          
1995 1.038 1.100 1.100 1.100 1.100 1.100 1.100 1.100 1.100 1.100 1.100 1.100 1.095
1996 1.100 1.100 1.118 1.150 1.174 1.180 1.180 1.180 1.180 1.180 1.180 1.180 1.158
1997 1.180 1.180 1.180 1.180 1.180 1.180              
                           
                           
Mexican                          
1995 0.905 0.920 0.920 0.920 0.920 0.932 0.940 0.940 0.940 0.940 0.942 0.940 0.930
1996 0.940 0.945 0.966 1.000 1.046 1.050 1.015 0.968 0.928 0.902 0.850 0.850 0.955
1997 0.856 0.880 0.880 0.880 0.880 0.880              
Turmeric                          
Indian Alleppey 5.00 Curcumin                          
1995 0.580 0.595 0.620 0.620 0.620 0.614 0.610 0.625 0.630 0.630 0.630 0.630 0.617
1996 0.630 0.630 0.624 0.610 0.620 0.620 0.620 0.640 0.665 0.680 0.680 0.680 0.642
Indian Alleppey 5.50-6 Curcumin                          
1995 0.650 0.650 0.650 0.650 0.650 0.646 0.640 0.655 0.660 0.660 0.660 0.654 0.652
1996 0.650 0.650 0.640 0.650 0.650 0.650 0.650 0.664 0.685 0.700 0.700 0.725 0.668
Indian Alleppey 5.50 Curcumin                          
1997 0.778 0.820 0.778 0.745 0.740 0.747              
Indian Alleppey 6.00 Curcumin                          
1997 0.802 0.840 0.798 0.765 0.760 0.767              
Peruvian                          
1995 0.440 0.440 0.440 0.440 0.440 0.440 0.440 0.440 0.440 0.440 0.440 0.440 0.440
1996 0.440 0.440 0.440 0.440 0.440 0.440 0.440 0.440 0.440 0.440 0.440 0.440 0.440
Madras                          
1997 0.550 0.550 0.550 0.550 0.550 0.550              
Anise Seed                          
Chinese Star Whole                          
1995 2.450 2.362 2.300 2.288 2.238 2.250 2.225 2.200 2.250 2.250 2.250 2.240 2.275
1996 2.250 2.250 2.250 2.250 2.250 2.250 2.250 2.250 2.250 2.250 2.250 2.200 2.246
1997 2.140 2.100 2.050 2.000 1.950 1.900              
Spanish                          
1995 1.400 1.388 1.350 1.350 1.350 1.350 1.350 1.350 1.350 1.350 1.350 1.350 1.357
1996 1.350 1.350 1.350 1.350 1.350 1.350 1.350 1.350 1.350 1.350 1.350 1.350 1.350
1997 1.350 N/A N/A N/A N/A ERR              
Turkish                          
1995 0.890 0.870 0.838 0.830 0.830 0.830 0.840 0.870 0.854 0.850 0.850 0.834 0.849
1996 0.785 0.760 0.798 0.800 0.800 0.800 0.815 0.824 0.915 0.928 0.962 0.970 0.846
1997 0.974 1.030 1.070 1.070 1.070 1.130              
Cardamom                          
Bleached "AA"                          
1995 12.750 13.000 13.000 13.000 13.000 13.000 13.000 13.000 12.850 12.375 12.000 12.000 12.748
1996 12.000 12.000 12.000 12.000 12.000 12.000 12.000 12.000 12.000 11.938 11.750 11.750 11.953
1997 11.750 11.750 11.750 11.750 11.750 11.750              
Fancy Greens                          
1995 4.950 4.612 4.000 4.000 4.000 4.000 4.000 4.075 4.360 4.500 4.500 4.100 4.258
1996 3.875 3.750 3.750 3.750 3.650 3.500 3.500 3.500 3.500 3.438 3.050 3.000 3.522
1997 3.000 3.000 3.000 3.000 3.000 3.000              
Decorticated                          
1995 3.912 3.650 3.500 3.500 3.325 3.170 3.150 3.050 2.990 3.012 3.012 2.680 3.246
1996 2.525 2.450 2.400 2.400 2.400 2.400 2.400 2.400 2.400 2.000 1.920 1.850 2.295
1997 1.800 1.750 1.775 1.800 1.800 1.800              
Mixed Greens                          
1995 3.025 2.950 2.670 2.600 2.600 2.440 2.400 2.400 2.400 2.288 2.250 2.250 2.523
1996 2.250 2.250 2.250 2.100 2.100 2.100 2.100 2.100 2.100 2.100 2.100 2.100 2.138
1997 2.100 2.100 2.100 2.100 2.100 2.100              
Celery Seed                          
Indian                          
1995 0.635 0.612 0.578 0.555 0.515 0.472 0.468 0.455 0.440 0.425 0.420 0.412 0.499
1996 0.400 0.400 0.396 0.390 0.390 0.390 0.390 0.390 0.385 0.380 0.380 0.380 0.389
1997 0.380 0.380 0.385 0.390 0.390 0.390              
Dill Seed                          
Indian                          
1995 0.530 0.530 0.530 0.530 0.530 0.530 0.530 0.530 0.530 0.530 0.530 0.526 0.530
1996 0.520 0.495 0.480 0.480 0.480 0.480 0.480 0.480 0.468 0.480 0.480 0.480 0.484
1997 0.480 0.480 0.480 0.480 0.480 0.480              
Mustard Seed                          
Canadian #1 Yellow                          
1995 0.260 0.260 0.254 0.250 0.250 0.250 0.250 0.250 0.250 0.250 0.280 0.280 0.257
1996 0.280 0.280 0.296 0.315 0.328 0.382 0.410 0.420 0.420 0.420 0.428 0.440 0.368
1997 0.460 0.460 0.460 0.460 0.460 0.460              
Oriental/Brown                          
1995 0.260 0.260 0.254 0.250 0.250 0.250 0.250 0.250 0.250 0.250 0.280 0.280 0.257
1996 0.280 0.280 0.280 0.295 0.324 0.345 0.350 0.350 0.350 0.350 0.350 0.350 0.325
1997 0.350 0.350 0.350 0.350 0.350 0.350              
Poppy Seed                          
Dutch A-1                          
1995 0.980 0.945 0.846 0.772 0.720 0.674 0.700 0.680 0.632 0.600 0.575 0.572 0.725
1996 0.570 0.522 0.510 0.515 0.540 0.555 0.560 0.638 0.825 0.820 0.820 0.820 0.641
1997 0.796 0.740 0.680 0.655 0.650 0.650              
Australian                          
1995 N/A N/A 0.760 0.755 0.715 0.674 0.680 0.672 0.630 0.600 0.585 0.570 0.664
1996 0.570 0.528 0.510 0.510 0.518 0.525 0.530 0.596 0.760 0.750 0.750 0.750 0.608
1997 0.746 0.715 0.680 0.655 0.650 0.610              
Turkish                          
1995 0.858 0.865 0.778 0.680 0.610 0.582 0.540 0.498 0.482 0.450 0.478 0.520 0.612
1996 0.468 0.408 0.422 0.430 0.430 0.430 0.430 0.522 0.720 0.705 0.700 0.700 0.530
1997 0.668 0.615 0.565 0.550 0.550 0.550              
Sesame Seed                          
Central American Hulled                          
1995 0.838 0.860 0.860 0.860 0.860 0.864 0.898 0.990 0.992 1.010 1.020 1.020 0.923
1996 1.000 0.972 0.960 0.940 0.940 0.900 0.860 0.860 0.825 0.768 0.730 0.720 0.873
1997 0.684 0.660 0.660 0.660 0.660 0.660              
Central American Natural                          
1995 0.680 0.710 0.700 0.700 0.700 0.704 0.720 0.728 0.750 0.750 0.775 0.800 0.726
1996 0.800 0.800 0.800 0.800 0.800 0.765 0.750 0.750 0.735 0.708 0.700 0.690 0.758
1997 0.644 0.600 0.600 0.600 0.570 0.570              
Indian Natural                          
1995 0.590 0.635 0.636 0.620 0.605 0.600 0.622 0.670 0.714 0.730 0.745 0.744 0.659
1996 0.675 0.645 0.594 0.535 0.534 0.550 0.550 0.534 0.502 0.480 0.480 0.458 0.545
1997 0.434 0.420 0.420 0.420 0.420 0.420              
Saffron                          
Spanish                          
1995 275.000 266.250 256.000 245.000 245.000 249.000 250.000 250.000 285.000 285.000 285.000 345.000 269.688
1996 350.000 350.000 350.000 350.000 350.000 350.000 350.000 350.000 350.000 350.000 350.000 350.000 350.000
1997 350.000 350.000 346.250 345.000 345.000 345.000              
                           
                           
Source: New York Area Spice Brokers.                          
                           
Note: For an historical series of prices, see the Tropical Products: World Markets and Trade circular dated December 1996.                          
                           
Latest available month is cumulative through latest available week prior to publication.                          
                           
June 1997           Horticultural and Tropical Products Division, FAS/USDA              

 


Last modified: Thursday, April 06, 2000