Weekly Publications

MARKET REPORT

Market this week showed a mixed response. In local market, Malabar black pepper was reported stable at an average of USD 4,444 per Mt. Indonesia black and white pepper were reported stable averaging at USD 2,488 per Mt for black pepper and USD 4,230 per Mt for white pepper. Malaysia black and white pepper were reported with an increase of 3% and 2% respectively as opposed to the previous week, averaging at USD 2,450 per Mt for black pepper and USD 3,920 per Mt for white pepper. Furthermore, Viet Nam black pepper was reported with 2% deficit as opposed to the previous week, averaging at USD 2,169 per Mt. Whilst, Viet Nam white pepper was reported stable at an average of USD 3,048 per Mt. Sri Lanka black pepper was reported with 4% deficit as compared to the previous week and was traded at an average of USD 2,668 per Mt. China white pepper was reported with 1% deficit as opposed to the previous week and was traded at an average of USD 4,888 per Mt locally.

International market was also reported with a mixed response as India black pepper was reported stable at an average of USD 4,718 per Mt. Indonesia black and white pepper were reported with an increase of 1% respectively as compared to the previous week, averaging at USD 3,009 per Mt for black pepper and USD 4,950 per Mt for white pepper. Malaysia black pepper was reported stable and unchanged. Whilst, Malaysia white pepper was reported with an increase of 2% as compared to the previous week, at an average of USD 5,025 per Mt. Furthermore, Viet Nam black pepper 500 g/l, 550 g/l and Viet Nam white pepper were reported with an increase of 1% respectively as opposed to the previous week, averaging at USD 2,845 per Mt, USD 2,926 per Mt and USD 4,420 per Mt respectively. China white pepper was reported with 1% deficit when compared to the previous week and was traded at an average of USD 5,088 per Mt.

US market was reported with less offer for Malaysian pepper while Malaysia continued to export in limited quantity to Japan and Korea.

IMPORT OF PEPPER BY AUSTRALIA

Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and numerous islands. Furthermore, Australia actively imports pepper from various pepper producing countries for its domestic consumption or for re-export purpose.

In 2018, Australia was reported to have imported a total 3,828 Mt of pepper which 55% or 2,103 Mt of it comprised of whole pepper while 45% or 1,725 Mt of it was ground pepper. The average import of pepper by Australia in 2018 was reported to be 319 Mt per month with the highest quantity recorded in January with 528 Mt. The total expenditure of pepper import by Australia in 2018 was reported to be as high as USD 21.0 Million, recording an average price of the total pepper imported by Australia at USD 5,866 per Mt for whole pepper and USD 5,076 Per Mt for ground pepper.

Year 2019 saw a decreasing trend in term of quantity of pepper imported by Australia. Australia was reported to have imported a total of 3,581 Mt which 51% or 1,832 Mt of it comprised of whole pepper and 49% or 1,748 Mt of it was ground pepper. Thus, recording a decrease of 6% when compared to the same period in 2018. The average pepper import by Australia in 2019 was reported at 298 Mt per month which peaked in May with 392 Mt. In relation with the decreasing in term of quantity, Australia's expenditure of pepper import was reported with a decrease of 16% to a total of USD 17.7 Million. Thus, recording an average price of the total pepper imported by Australia at USD 5,868 per Mt for whole pepper and USD 3,998 per Mt for ground pepper or stable for whole pepper and a decrease by 21% for ground pepper as compared to 2018.

As of September 2020, Pepper import by Australia was reported with a decrease of 8% as compared to the same period in 2019, totaling at 2,592 Mt which comprised of 48% or 1,253 Mt of whole pepper and 52% or 1,339 Mt of ground pepper. The total expenditure of pepper import by Australia as of September 2020 was reported with a decrease of 19% when compared to the same period in the previous year, totaling at USD 11.1 Million. Thus, recording an average price of the total pepper imported by Australia at USD 5,178 per Mt for whole pepper and USD 3,483 per Mt for ground pepper.

The top five countries of origins of Australia's pepper as of September 2020 were reported to be Viet Nam with 1,661 Mt (a decrease of 2% as compared to the same period in 2019), India with 404 Mt (a decrease of 20%), South Africa with 130 Mt (a decrease of 5%), China with 106 Mt (an increase of 7%) and Indonesia with 94 Mt (a decrease of 5%). The decreased of Australia import from pepper origin countries could be contributed to the covid-19 global pandemic which affects Australia economy as well as Australia import. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-australia-economy-gdp/australia-records-worst-economic-slump-as-pandemic-ends-golden-run-idUSKBN25T0I8