West Asia crisis triggers payment concern in Keralam’s cardamom sector

A cardamom plantation in Idukki. | Photo Credit: Sandeep Vellaram

The ongoing West Asia crisis has disrupted payments to cardamom exporters from Gulf countries, triggering liquidity concerns and widespread uncertainty across the sector.

​Cardamom growers have voiced serious concernover extended delays in receiving payments from auctioneers. Usually, auction houses cleared dues to planters within 15 days; currently, disbursements take over a month.

​Exporters attribute the cash crunch directly to geopolitical tensions in West Asia .

Clearance delays

​”Earlier, shipments to Gulf nations were settled within seven days. Now, ittake between 60 and 70 days because consignments face unexpected shipping and clearance delays,” said Santhosh Allus, a cardamom exporter based in Kumily. “This is an industry worth roughly ₹4,500 crore, and a choke in cash flow has a cascading effect on every stakeholder.”