Weekly Publications

MARKET REPORT

As the total death from COVID-19 outbreak nearly reached 100,000 people, many countries enforced more rigorous measures in trying to lessen the spread of the Virus. Indonesia reportedly implemented a large-scale social restriction in their capital city which would last for the next two weeks, as market this week showed a mixed response. In local market, Malabar black pepper was reported with 1% deficit when compared to the previous week averaging at USD 4,177 per Mt. The decrease of Malabar black pepper price could be contributed to the weakening of Indian Rupee against US Dollar. Indonesia black and white pepper were reported with a slight increase by 1% respectively as opposed to the previous week averaging at USD 1,467 per Mt for black pepper and USD 2,628 per Mt for white pepper. The increase of Indonesia black and white pepper price could be contributed to the slight strengthening of Indonesia Rupiah against US Dollar. Malaysia's black and white pepper were reported stable averaging at USD 1,705 per Mt for black pepper and USD 3,059 per Mt for white pepper. Furthermore, Viet Nam black pepper was reported stable and unchanged whilst Viet Nam white pepper was reported with 1% deficit as compared to the previous week and was traded at an average of USD 2,347 per Mt. Following the significant weakening of Sri Lankan Rupee against US Dollar, Sri Lanka black pepper was traded with a 4% deficit as opposed to the previous week at an average of USD 2,660 per Mt. China white pepper was reported with an increase of 1% and was traded at an average of USD 4,239 per Mt locally.

In contrary, international market showed a rather positively outlook with only India origin recorded a deficit. India black pepper was reported with the same 1% deficit as compared to the previous week at an average of USD 4,440 per Mt. Indonesia black and white pepper were reported with an increase of 1% respectively as compared to the previous week averaging at USD 1,819 per Mt for black pepper and USD 3,129 per Mt for white pepper. Malaysia black and white pepper continued to be traded stable and unchanged. Furthermore, contrary to local price, Viet Nam black pepper 500 g/l, 550 g/l and Viet Nam white pepper were reported with an increase of 4%, 3% and 2% respectively as compared to the previous week averaging at USD 2,050 per Mt, USD 2,080 per Mt and USD 2,980 per Mt respectively. China white pepper was reported with an increase of 1% as opposed to the previous week and was traded at an average of USD 4,439 per Mt internationally.

EXPORT OF PEPPER BY MALAYSIA

Malaysia, divided by the South China Sea into two regions; the Peninsular Malaysia and Malaysian Borneo, shared land borders with Thailand, Indonesia and Brunei Darussalam. Malaysia, known to be one of the major pepper producing countries in the world with pepper production estimated at 24,000 Mt in 2019, produces more than 98% of its pepper in the State of Sarawak. Producing both black and white pepper, Malaysia is reported to actively export pepper to various countries.

In 2017, Malaysia was reported to have exported a total of 20,969 Mt of pepper from which 50% or 10,484 Mt of it comprised of whole pepper and 50% or 10,484 Mt of it ground pepper. Malaysia on average exported a total of 1,747 Mt per month in 2017 which peaked in August with 2,575 Mt. The total revenue of Malaysia's export of pepper in 2017 was reported to be as high as USD 72.6 Million. Thus, recording an average price of the total pepper exported by Malaysia at USD 5,543 per Mt for whole pepper and USD 1,386 per Mt for ground pepper.

Year 2018 saw a decrease in term of quantity of pepper exported by Malaysia. Malaysia was reported to have exported a total of 13,882 Mt of which 73% or 10,119 Mt of it comprised of whole pepper and 27% or 3,763Mt of it ground pepper, recording a decrease of 34% when compared with 2017. The average export of pepper by Malaysia in 2018 was reported to be at 1,157 Mt per month which peaked in March with 1,954 Mt. In accordance with decreasing in terms of quantity, Malaysia's revenue from pepper export was also reported to have decreased by 31% as compared to the previous year to a total of USD 50.1 Million. Thus, recording an average price of the total pepper exported by Malaysia at USD 3,762 per Mt for whole pepper and USD 3,205 per Mt for ground pepper or a decrease by 32% for whole pepper and an increase of 131% for ground pepper as compared with 2017.

At the end of 2019, Malaysia was reported to have exported a total of 9,860 Mt which 87% or 8,537 Mt of it comprised of whole pepper and 13% or 1,322 Mt of it ground pepper. Thus, recording a decrease of 29% when compared to 2018. The average export of pepper by Malaysia in 2019 was reported to be at 822 Mt per month which peaked in August with 1,131 Mt. By the end of 2019, the total revenue of pepper export by Malaysia was reported to have reached USD 35.2 Million, recording a decrease by 30% as compared to 2018. The average price of the total pepper exported by Malaysia in 2019 was reported at USD 3,086 per Mt for whole pepper and USD 6,743 per Mt for ground pepper or a decrease by 18% for whole pepper and an increase of 110% for ground pepper as compared with 2018.

Pepper from Malaysia is widely traded in Asia, Europe, America, Australia and Africa. In 2019, Malaysia's top 5 Country of destinations for its pepper were reported to be Japan with 3,599 Mt (a decrease of 6% as compared to 2018), China with 1,991 Mt (a decrease of 48%), Taiwan with 1,172 Mt (a decrease of 25%), Viet Nam with 820 Mt (a decrease of 41%) and South Korea with 635 Mt (a decrease of 16%). The significant decrease of export to China was the result of China starting to shift importing pepper from other origins such as Indonesia and Viet Nam instead of Malaysia (an increase of 4,534 Mt and 2,617 Mt respectively as compared to the same period in 2019).