Weekly Publications

MARKET REPORT

Market this week showed mixed response with a rather negative outlook as only black pepper Indonesia reported an increase. In local market, Malabar black pepper was traded with a 1% deficit as compared to the previous week with an average of USD 4,581 per Mt. Indonesia black pepper was reported with a 2% increase as compared to previous week with an average at USD 1,939 per Mt, the increase of black pepper price in Indonesia could be contributed by strengthening of Indonesian Rupiah against the US Dollar. Whilst, Muntok white pepper was traded with a 1% deficit as compared to the previous week with an average of USD 3,384 per Mt. In local currency, Muntok white pepper was traded with an average of IDR 48,000 per Kg decreasing marginally by IDR 500 per Kg. Malaysian black and white pepper were reported with the same 2% deficit as opposed to the previous week averaging at USD 2,060 per Mt and USD 3,609 per Mt respectively as the price in local currency dropped to an average of MYR 8.6 per Kg and MYR 15.1 per Kg respectively. Viet Nam black pepper was also reported with a decrease by 1% as compared to last week, averaging at USD 1,845 per Mt. Whilst, Viet Nam white pepper was reported stable with an average of USD 2,838 per Mt. Furthermore, Sri Lanka black pepper and China white pepper were reported stable with an average of USD 2,451 per Mt and USD 4,775 per Mt respectively.

In international market, FOB price of India black pepper was reported with the same 1% deficit as compared to the previous week at an average of USD 4,858 per Mt. Indonesia black pepper was reported with an increase by 2% as compared to the previous week averaging at USD 2,380 per Mt. Whilst, Indonesia white pepper was reported stable with an average of USD 4,003 per Mt. Malaysia black and white pepper continued stable and unchanged. Furthermore, Viet Nam black pepper 500 g/l, 550 g/l and Viet Nam white pepper were also reported stable with an average of USD 2,260 per Mt, USD 2,325 per Mt and USD 3,410 per Mt respectively. China also recorded a stable international trade for its white pepper with an average of USD 4,975 per Mt.

IMPORT OF PEPPER BY ITALY

Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a Southern European country consisting of a peninsula delimited by the Alps and surrounded by several islands. Italy actively imports pepper from various pepper producing countries for domestic consumption or for re-export. In 2017, Italy was reported to have imported a total 4,792 Mt of pepper which 83% or 3,991 Mt of it comprised of whole pepper while 17% or 801 Mt of it was ground pepper. The average import by Italy in 2017 was reported to be 399 Mt per month with the highest quantity recorded in June with 548 Mt. The total expenditure of pepper imported by Italy was reported to be as high as USD 33.2 Million, recording an average price of the total pepper imported by Italy at USD 6,526 per Mt for whole pepper and USD 8,967 Per Mt for ground pepper.

Year 2018 saw a decreasing trend in term of quantity of pepper imported by Italy. Italy was reported to have recorded a total of 4,586 Mt which comprised of 3,773 Mt of whole pepper and 814 Mt of ground pepper. Thus, recording 4% decrease as compared to the same period in 2017. The average pepper imported by Italy was reported at 382 Mt per month which peaked in January and November with 474 Mt. In accordance with decreasing in terms of quantity, Italy was recorded to have spent 30% less on its pepper import, totalling at USD 23.3 Million and recording an average price of the total pepper imported by Italy at USD 4,892 per Mt for whole pepper and USD 6,055 per Mt for ground pepper or decreasing by 25% and 32% respectively as compared to 2017.

Pepper import by Italy as of April 2019 was reported with a decreased of 3% as compared with the same period in 2018, totalling at 1,547 Mt which comprised of 1,300 Mt of whole pepper and 248 Mt of ground pepper. The total expenditure of pepper imports by Italy as of April 2019 decreased by 34% as compared to the same period on the previous year, totalling at USD 6.1 Million.

The top five countries of origins of Italy pepper both for whole and ground as of April 2019 were reported to be France with 339 Mt (a decrease of 31% as compared with the same period in 2018), Viet Nam with 314 Mt (an increase of 8%), Brazil with 277 Mt (an increase of 58%), Germany with 132 Mt (a decrease of 43%) and Indonesia with 113 Mt (a decrease of 31%). The significant decreased of Italy import from France and Germany could be contributed that Italy preferred to shift import from origins countries such as Brazil (an increase by 102 Mt as compared to the same period in 2018) and India (an increase by 55 Mt).