Weekly Publications

MARKET REPORT

Market this week showed a mixed response with only Indonesia and Malaysia origins recorded an increase. In local market, Malabar black pepper was traded stable with an average of USD 4,589 per Mt. In local currency, Malabar black pepper was traded at an average of INR 325 per Kg. Indonesia black and white pepper were reported with an increase of 4% and 2% respectively as compared to the previous week at an average of USD 1,828 per Mt for black pepper and USD 3,144 per Mt for white pepper. The increase of Indonesia pepper price could be contributed to pepper stock on the market began to decrease and also the strengthening of Indonesian local currency against US Dollar which reached the lowest level since the beginning of 2019 (IDR 13,648 for USD 1). Malaysian black and white pepper were also reported with an increase by 1% respectively at an average of USD 1,874 per Mt for black pepper and USD 3,317 per Mt for white pepper. On the other hand, Viet Nam black pepper was reported with a 1% deficit as opposed to the previous week at an average of USD 1,706 per Mt. Whilst, Viet Nam white pepper was reported steady at an average of USD 2,626 per Mt. Sri Lanka black pepper continued to be traded with a deficit and this week by 5% as compared to the previous week at an average of USD 3,289 per Mt. China white pepper was reported stable at an average of USD 4,300 per Mt.

International market also showed a mixed response with only Indonesia reported with an increase. FOB price of India black pepper was reported stable at an average of USD 4,871 per Mt. Indonesia black and white pepper were reported with an increase of 4% and 2% respectively as compared to the previous week at an average of USD 2,260 per Mt for black pepper and USD 3,744 per Mt for white pepper. Malaysia black and white pepper continued to be traded stable and unchanged. Furthermore, Viet Nam black pepper 500 g/l and 550 g/l were reported with a 1% deficit respectively as compared to the previous week with an average of USD 2,317 per Mt and USD 2,382 per Mt respectively. Whilst, Viet Nam white pepper was reported stable and relatively unchanged. In international market China white pepper was reported stable at an average of USD 4,400 per Mt.

IMPORT OF PEPPER BY JAPAN

Japan is an island country located in East Asia. It is bordered by the Sea of Japan, Pacific Ocean, East China Sea and Philippines Sea. Japan actively imports pepper from various pepper producing countries for its domestic consumption or for re-export purpose.

In 2017, Japan was reported to have imported a total of 8,193 Mt of pepper which 57% or 4,670 Mt of it comprised of whole pepper while 43% or 3,524 Mt of it was ground pepper. The average import by Japan in 2017 was reported to be 683 Mt per month with the highest quantity recorded in November with 956 Mt. The total expenditure of pepper imported by Japan was reported to be as high as USD 73.6 Million, recording an average price of the total pepper imported by Japan at USD 8,403 per Mt for whole pepper and USD 9,750 Per Mt for ground pepper.

Year 2018 saw an increasing trend in term of quantity of pepper imported by Japan. Japan was reported to have imported a total of 9,485 Mt which comprised of 57% or 5,428 Mt of whole pepper and 43% or 4,057 Mt of ground pepper. Thus, recording an increase of 16% as compared to the same period in 2017. On average Japan was reported to have imported 790 Mt per month which peaked in May with 947 Mt. Although increasing in term of quantity, Japan's expenditure for pepper import was reported to have declined by 25% to a total of USD 55.2 Million, recording an average price of the total pepper imported by Japan at USD 5,442 per Mt for whole pepper and USD 6,332 per Mt for ground pepper or a decrease by 35% respectively as compared with 2017.

Pepper import by Japan as of November 2019 was reported with an increase of 2% as compared with the same period in 2018, totaling at 8,746 Mt which comprised of 5,044 Mt of whole pepper and 3,703 Mt of ground pepper. The total expenditure of pepper import by Japan as of November 2019 was reported with a decrease by 19% as compared to the same period in the previous year, totaling at USD 41.1 Million.

The top five countries of origins of Japan's pepper as of November 2019 were reported to be Malaysia with 3,424 Mt (an increase of 7% as compared with the same period in 2018), Indonesia with 2,748 Mt (a decrease of 3%), Viet Nam with 2,060 Mt (an increase of 7%), India with 416 Mt (a decrease of 10%) and South Africa with 34 Mt (a decrease of 29%).