Weekly Publications

MARKET REPORT

The beginning of 2021 was opened with a rather positive outlook for pepper market with only Viet Nam white pepper farm gate price was reported with a decrease. In local market, Malabar black pepper was reported with an increase of 1% as compared to the previous week at an average of USD 4,555 per Mt. Indonesia black and white pepper were reported with an increase of 6% and 1% respectively when compared to the previous week, averaging at USD 2,473 per Mt for black pepper and USD 4,098 per Mt for white pepper. Malaysia black and white pepper were reported stable at an average of USD 2,318 per Mt for black pepper and USD 3,799 per Mt for white pepper. Furthermore, Viet Nam black pepper was reported with an increase of 1% as opposed to previous week, averaging at USD 2,260 per Mt. Whilst, Viet Nam white pepper was reported with 1% deficit when compared to the previous week, averaging at USD 3,048 per Mt. Sri Lanka black pepper was reported stable and was traded at an average of USD 2,806 per Mt. China white pepper was reported stable and was traded at an average of USD 5,075 per Mt locally.

International market was reported with a rather positive outlook as India black pepper was reported with the same increase of 1% as compared to the previous week at an average of USD 4,828 per Mt. Indonesia black and white pepper were reported with an increase of 5% and 1% respectively when compared to the previous week, averaging at USD 2,990 per Mt for black pepper and USD 4,800 per Mt for white pepper. Furthermore, Malaysia black and white pepper as well as Viet Nam black pepper 500 g/l, 550 g/l and Viet Nam white pepper were reported stable and unchanged. China white pepper was reported stable with a marginal decrease and was traded at an average of USD 5,275 per Mt.

IMPORT OF PEPPER BY UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

The United States of America (USA), commonly known as the United States, is known as the largest pepper importer in the world and actively imports a lot of pepper from various pepper producing countries for domestic consumption or for re-export.

In 2018, United States of America was reported to have imported a total 74,930 Mt of pepper which 76% or 57,255 Mt of it comprised of whole pepper while 24% or 17,675 Mt of it was ground pepper. The average import of pepper by United States of America in 2018 was reported to be 6,244 Mt per month with the highest quantity recorded in July with 7,217 Mt. The total expenditure of pepper import by United States of America in 2018 was reported to be as high as USD 305.0 Million, recording an average price of the total pepper imported by United States of America at USD 3,867 per Mt for whole pepper and USD 4,730 Per Mt for ground pepper.

Year 2019 saw an increasing trend in term of quantity of pepper imported by United States of America. United States of America was reported to have imported a total of 84,312 Mt which 75% or 62,970 Mt of it comprised of whole pepper and 25% or 21,342 Mt of it was ground pepper. Thus, recording an increase of 13% when compared to the same period in 2018. The average pepper imported by United States of America in 2019 was reported at 7,026 Mt per month which peaked in May with 8,864 Mt. Although increasing in term of quantity, United States of America's expenditure of pepper import was reported with a decrease of 12% to a total of USD 269.3 Million. Thus, recording an average price of the total pepper imported by United States of America at USD 2,955 per Mt for whole pepper and USD 3,900 per Mt for ground pepper or a decrease by 24% and 18% respectively as compared to 2018.

As of October 2020, Pepper import by United States of America was reported with an increase of 3% as compared to the same period in 2019, totaling at 74,161 Mt which comprised of 76% or 56,677 Mt of whole pepper and 24% or 17,484 Mt of ground pepper. The total expenditure of pepper import by United States of America as of October 2020 was reported with a decrease of 6% when compared to the same period in the previous year, totaling at USD 217.9 Million. Thus, recording an average price of the total pepper imported by United States of America at USD 2,727 per Mt for whole pepper and USD 3,625 per Mt for ground pepper.

The top five countries of origins of United States of America's pepper as of October 2020 were reported to be Viet Nam with 48,737 Mt (an increase of 1% as compared to the same period in 2019), Brazil with 13,721 Mt (an increase of 58%), Indonesia with 5,073 Mt (an increase of 15%), India with 3,954 Mt (a decrease of 36%) and Ecuador with 759 Mt (a decrease of 46%). The decreased of United States of America's import from India and Ecuador could be contributed to United States of America preference of importing from Brazil which offered more competitive price (an increase by 5,041 Mt as compared to the same period in 2019) and Indonesia (an increase by 657 Mt).