Spot pepper prices fell on Friday on selling pressure of imported pepper at ₹400 a kg in all the markets across the country. On the terminal market 27 tonneswere traded. Of this 16 tonnes were imported stuff which were traded at₹400 a kg while 11 tonnes of mixed pepper were traded at ₹420 a kg, trade sources told Business Line . Spot prices fell by by ₹200 a quintal to close at ₹41,900 (ungarbled) and ₹43,900 (garbled) a quintal. Indian export prices were at $7,050 a tonne c&f for Europe and $7,300 a tonne c&f for the US.

Meanwhile, according to the International Pepper Community (IPC) Indian pepper output is to improve in 2018 from that of the current year due to comparatively favourable weather conditions. Official sources have projected a total production of 64,000 tonnes at the recently concluded IPC session in Candy, Sri Lanka. The production estimate for 2017 was at 57,000 tonnes. Indian domestic demand next year has been put at 58,000 tonnes as against 55,000 tonnes this year. The exports would be up at 21,000 tonnes from 20,000 tonnes in 2017, official sources told Business Line .

According to them India would import 18,000 tonnes of pepper in 2018 as against 16,000 tonnes in 2017.

Total world pepper production in 2018 is estimated at 4,45,150 tonnes against 4,60,499 tonnes in 2017 registering marginal decline of around 3 per cent.

The combined domestic consumption in producing countries is estimated to move up to1,80,905 tonnes in 2018 from 1,77,618 tonnes this year, they said.

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