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 1.273 1.260 1.270 1.263 1.182 1.135 1.048 0.990 1.168 1996 0.993 1.033 1.092 1.083 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 1.938 2.295 2.550 2.513 2.648 2.663 2.450 2.067 1998 1.994 2.055 2.438 2.628 2.628 2.500 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 1.313 1.350 1.350 1.350 1.400 1.463 1.463 1.450 1.450 1.400 1997 1.450 1.750 1.750 1.763 1.760 2.063 2.450 2.740 2.800 2.840 2.875 2.850 2.258 1998 2.770 2.800 2.950 2.838 2.850 2.817 Muntok White Pepper 1995 1.795 1.758 1.680 1.813 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 2.488 2.803 3.240 3.325 3.620 4.338 4.075 3.046 1998 3.480 3.463 3.625 3.900 3.930 3.617 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 2.200 2.440 2.600 2.624 2.718 2.738 2.321 1998 2.870 2.950 2.950 2.950 2.950 2.950 Cloves Madagascar/Zanzibar 1997 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 0.613 0.658 0.658 0.645 0.626 0.610 0.610 0.610 0.610 0.610 0.572 0.563 0.615 1997 0.564 0.575 0.645 0.640 0.634 0.605 0.600 0.582 0.585 0.650 0.650 0.635 0.614 1998 0.630 0.630 0.678 0.795 0.770 0.750 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 0.309 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 0.320 0.320 0.320 0.320 0.320 0.320 0.320 1998 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 1.500 1.500 1.500 1.500 1.425 1.400 1.485 1998 1.400 1.400 1.400 1.400 1.400 1.400 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 0.843 0.805 0.872 0.928 0.960 0.960 0.945 0.894 0.885 0.850 0.895 1998 0.832 0.835 0.885 0.923 0.908 0.873 Chinese, Whole Peeled 1995 0.700 0.668 0.620 0.620 0.620 0.624 0.640 0.655 0.660 0.663 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 2.500 2.500 2.500 2.500 2.500 N/A 2.193 1998 N/A N/A N/A 1.233 1.020 0.983 Chinese, Sliced 1996 0.510 0.543 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 1.163 1.238 1.300 1.300 1.300 1.400 1.400 1.400 1.400 1.400 N/A 1.293 1998 N/A N/A N/A N/A 0.795 0.770 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 3.475 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 4.188 4.400 4.400 4.400 4.475 5.588 4.139 1998 6.070 6.050 5.725 5.500 5.500 5.500 Nutmeg West Indies 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 1.183 1.200 1.200 1.200 1.400 1.400 1.400 1.400 1.400 1.950 1.333 1998 2.000 1.963 1.950 1.950 1.950 1.950 East Indies 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 1.260 1.350 1.300 1.300 1.370 1.950 1.258 1998 2.000 1.983 1.850 1.850 1.940 1.900 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 0.965 0.950 0.950 0.928 0.950 0.965 0.970 0.951 1998 0.970 0.970 0.970 0.985 0.990 0.970 continued 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 1.180 1.180 1.180 1.180 1.180 1.180 1.180 1998 1.180 1.180 1.180 1.250 1.250 1.250 Mexican 1995 0.905 0.920 0.920 0.920 0.920 0.932 0.940 0.940 0.940 0.940 0.943 0.940 0.930 1996 0.940 0.945 0.966 1.000 1.046 1.050 1.015 0.968 0.928 0.903 0.850 0.850 0.955 1997 0.856 0.880 0.880 0.880 0.880 0.880 0.880 0.880 0.880 0.900 0.900 0.900 0.883 1998 0.920 0.950 0.950 0.950 0.950 0.950 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 0.755 0.780 0.780 0.780 0.780 0.780 0.790 0.775 1998 0.838 0.955 0.993 1.000 0.996 0.980 Indian Alleppey 6.00 Curcumin 1997 0.802 0.840 0.798 0.765 0.760 0.778 0.810 0.810 0.810 0.810 0.810 0.820 0.801 1998 0.868 0.975 1.015 1.020 1.016 1.000 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 0.550 0.550 0.550 0.550 0.550 0.550 0.550 1998 0.550 0.550 0.550 0.550 0.550 0.550 Anise Seed Chinese Star Whole 1995 2.450 2.363 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 1.900 1.900 1.900 1.900 1.900 1.900 1.962 1998 1.900 1.900 1.897 1.890 1.778 1.750 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 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 1.350 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 1.135 1.158 1.238 1.393 1.348 1.335 1.618 1.203 1998 1.698 1.675 1.610 1.540 1.514 1.480 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 11.750 11.750 11.750 11.750 11.750 10.750 11.667 1998 10.750 10.750 10.750 10.750 10.550 10.500 Fancy Greens 1995 4.950 4.613 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 3.000 3.000 3.000 3.000 3.000 3.000 3.000 1998 3.000 3.000 3.000 3.000 3.000 3.000 Decorticated 1995 3.913 3.650 3.500 3.500 3.325 3.170 3.150 3.050 2.990 3.013 3.013 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 1.800 1.800 1.800 1.800 1.800 1.800 1.794 1998 1.800 1.800 1.800 1.800 1.760 1.750 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 2.100 2.100 2.100 2.100 2.100 2.100 2.100 1998 2.100 2.100 2.100 2.100 2.100 2.100 Celery Seed Indian 1995 0.635 0.613 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 0.390 0.390 0.390 0.390 0.390 0.390 0.388 1998 0.386 0.370 0.362 0.360 0.358 0.350 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 0.480 0.480 0.470 0.460 0.455 0.440 0.472 1998 0.440 0.440 0.440 0.440 0.440 0.440 continued 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 0.383 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 0.460 0.380 0.360 0.356 0.330 0.320 0.414 1998 0.320 0.320 0.320 0.320 0.320 0.320 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 0.350 0.350 0.350 0.346 0.320 0.310 0.344 1998 0.310 0.310 0.310 0.310 0.310 0.310 Poppy Seed Dutch A-1 1995 0.980 0.945 0.846 0.773 0.720 0.674 0.700 0.680 0.632 0.600 0.575 0.572 0.725 1996 0.570 0.523 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 0.650 0.784 0.900 0.900 0.870 0.810 0.757 1998 0.828 0.988 1.050 1.050 1.050 1.050 Australian 1995 N/A N/A 0.760 0.755 0.715 0.674 0.680 0.673 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 0.600 0.570 0.714 0.850 0.850 0.825 0.800 0.721 1998 0.782 0.883 0.855 0.860 0.890 0.890 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 0.550 0.620 0.700 0.700 0.700 0.700 0.622 1998 0.720 0.800 N/A N/A N/A N/A 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 0.973 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 0.660 0.660 0.660 0.660 0.703 0.750 0.673 1998 0.750 0.750 0.750 0.735 0.730 0.730 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 0.570 0.570 0.570 0.572 0.587 N/A 0.587 1998 N/A 0.600 0.600 0.600 0.600 0.600 Indian Natural 1995 0.590 0.635 0.636 0.620 0.605 0.600 0.623 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 0.503 0.480 0.480 0.458 0.545 1997 0.434 0.420 0.420 0.420 0.420 0.420 0.420 0.420 0.420 0.420 0.420 0.420 0.421 1998 0.408 0.400 0.400 0.415 0.440 0.440 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 350.000 350.000 346.250 345.000 345.000 345.000 345.000 345.000 357.500 384.000 385.000 385.000 356.896 1998 385.000 362.500 355.000 355.000 355.000 363.333 Source: A. A. Sayia & Company, Inc. 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. N/A--not available. 1/ Available price quote is for March. June 1998 Horticultural and Tropical Products Division, FAS/USDA