Weekly Publications

With a good stock in store and expecting a normal crop, pepper prices in Viet Nam were relatively stable. In Malaysia, pepper prices increased significantly. The average price of black pepper at the farm level in Malaysia this week was reported to be MR 8.82 per Kg, recording a 7% increase compared to last week's price of MR 8.28 per Kg. The average price of pepper in Indonesia at the farm level has decreased slightly. The price of Muntok White Pepper was reported at IDR 56,000 per kg, and Lampung Black Pepper reported at IDR 37,000, decreased by 2% and 1% respectively from last week's price. Following the strengthening of Local currency toward US Dollar, the average price of Lampung black pepper in International market recorded slight increase. The price of black pepper in India also increased although not significant. Furthermore, the price of black pepper at the farm level in Sri Lanka was reported at LKR 666, experienced a 3% increase from last week's price of LKR 650.

IMPORT OF PEPPER BY THAILAND:
As one of the major agriculture exporter in Southeast Asia with Rice as the leading Product, Thailand also produces pepper though in small quantity. It is recorded that in 2016 Thailand produced 1,511 MT of pepper from area of 465 Ha. Furthermore, in 2016 Thailand was reported to import 3,381 MT of pepper consisting of 2,513 MT whole pepper and 868 MT ground pepper, with a value of USD 35.8 million. Thailand's major exporter in 2016 were Viet Nam with total of 3,099 MT pepper. In the year that follows Thailand imported pepper as much as 3,821 MT with a value of USD 30 million, recording a 13% increase in quantity but 16% decrease in value. In the same year it was reported that 90% of pepper coming to Thailand was exported from Viet Nam. The increase in Thailand's import quantity in 2017 as compared to the previous year was dominated by imports of ground pepper, which is 30% higher.

Furthermore, as of September 2018 Thailand imported 3,887 MT of pepper, an increase of 23% from 2017 in the same period. Even though there was an increase in quantity, import by Thailand in the first 9 months in 2018 experienced a 14% decline in value as opposed to 2017 in the same period. In addition the local average pepper price in Thailand as of September 2018 was ฿ 141.11 Per Kg.

Until the 9th month of 2018 the imports of whole pepper and ground pepper by Thailand were mostly supplied by Viet Nam with a total of 2,487 MT and 661 MT respectively, thus, recording an increase of 14% and 47% respectively compared to the same period in 2017.