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