Clove prices have jumped. Should you keep buying, or pause?
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Clove prices have jumped. Should you keep buying, or pause?
JIVN Market Note • 28 August 2026 • 4–5 minute read
Laung has become dearer in a short time. Shopkeepers, caterers and household buyers are asking the same question: is this the time to purchase, or should I wait for the rate to come down?
This note gives a straight answer in simple language.
First, the short answer
If your stock is running low, buy what you will use in the next one to two months.
If your tin or bag is still comfortable, pause extra buying. Do not fill the cupboard just because the rate is rising.
A big fall in the next few weeks does not look likely. That is why waiting for “the old rate” can be risky if you actually need clove.
What has happened to the rate
In Eastern India trade talk over the last two weeks, the move has been sharp:
- Madagascar clove: about ₹780 per kg earlier, now about ₹950 per kg
- Indonesia clove: about ₹880 per kg earlier, now about ₹1,000 per kg
These are market indications, not a printed government rate for every bag. Quality, moisture and packing can change the exact number.
A published Kerala mandi quote is in the same zone: cloves at ₹940 per kg in Kattappana (Idukki) on 17 August 2026. So the rise is not only a local rumour.
Why the rate is moving up
India grows very little clove of its own. Most of what we cook and pack comes from outside.
The usual supply picture is simple:
- Madagascar is a major source of whole cloves that travel to other countries. Its recent harvests have been hit by cyclones. Trees and godowns on the east coast were damaged again in early 2026. A clove tree does not bounce back in fifteen days.
- Zanzibar (Tanzania) has also shipped much less. Official figures for the year to September 2025 showed a steep fall in export quantity and value. Ageing trees and irregular rain have not helped.
- Comoros, another island origin, has seen weaker export earnings over the last two years.
- Indonesia is the world’s largest grower. Its crop is not in collapse. The catch is different: a large share is used inside Indonesia itself, especially for local clove cigarettes. So a “normal” Indonesian season does not always mean cheap bags landing in Kolkata.
When the island origins tighten, sellers ask more. That extra cost reaches Indian shops quickly.
There is also season. Ganesh Chaturthi, Durga Puja, Navratri and early wedding cooking lift demand for whole spices. Tight supply plus festive buying is enough to push the rate.
Keep buying, or pause at this range?
Use your own stock, not the neighbour’s fear.
Keep buying — a working quantity — if:
- the jar, tin or bag in your shop is low
- you have confirmed kitchen or festive orders
- you last bought near ₹780–₹880 and that lot is almost finished
- you cannot afford an empty shelf through Puja
Buy one to two months’ use. Not six months. Not a full godown.
Pause extra buying if:
- you already hold six to eight weeks of stock
- sales are slow
- cash is tight and other items need the money first
Pause means do not add more than you need. It does not mean “the rate will surely fall next week.”
Our view: at this range, most buyers should cover need, then stop. Waiting for ₹780 again is a hope, not a plan. Filling bags for profit on a further jump is a gamble.
A simple rule for this week
- Count how much laung you will actually use or sell in 4–8 weeks. Buy that much.
- Check the lot, not only the rate. Cheap clove with too much stem or dampness is not cheap.
- If you still have stock bought at the older rate, do not dump it in a hurry. Price the next bag at today’s replacement cost.
- Do not buy from a forwarded screenshot. Ask origin, pack size and condition before you lock the rate.
What this means at JIVN
JIVN by Mahabir Stores supplies whole spices to shops, wholesalers and kitchens across West Bengal, Odisha, Assam, Tripura, Jharkhand and Bihar.
We will quote the lot that is actually in hand. Rates change. Stock changes. A blog cannot freeze tomorrow’s invoice.
If you need clove now, send an enquiry on https://jivn.in. Write your quantity, city and whether you want a small pack or a carton.
Next step: https://jivn.in — use the Enquiry Basket.
This is a market note, not a fixed price list. Final rate depends on origin, grade, packing, GST and freight on the day of billing. Confirm live stock before you buy.