The Hindu Business Line : Value-added pepper exports to US decline

Indian exports of value-added pepper to the US declined during January-February, while the shipments of ungarbled black pepper showed an upward trend.

Indian exports of whole black pepper moved up to 873 tonnes in the first two months from 543 tonnes in the same period last year.

However, shipments of value-added pepper such as crushed and ground pepper, which were on the higher-side trend last year, fell to 352 tonnes from 598 tonnes.

During January and February, US imports stood at 10,299 tonnes, representing an increase of 8.24 per cent compared with 9,515 tonnes imported during the same period last year, according to International Pepper Community (IPC) sources.

Black pepper imports

Imports of whole black pepper during the period amounted to 8,005 tonnes, an increase of 11 per cent or 761 tonnes compared with imports during a year-ago period. Indonesia is the largest supplier, shipping around 2,680 tonnes, followed by Brazil at 2,568 tonnes. Vietnam was third, supplying 1,613 tonnes.

During January-February, the US imported 1,084 tonnes of white pepper, an increase of 175 tonnes or 19 per cent against 909 tonnes imported during the same period last year. Indonesia continues to maintain its position as the largest supplier of whole white pepper to the US, exporting around 605 tonnes, followed by Vietnam and Brazil, shipping around 205 tonnes each.

Imports of ground pepper, however declined by 11 per cent. The US imported 1,363 tonnes of ground pepper during January-February last year, while US imports for the same period this year was recorded to be 1,210 tonnes.

Largest exporter

India continued to be the largest exporter of ground pepper to the US, with 352.4 tonnes shipped, although the quantity supplied has declined by 41 per cent compared to the 598 tonnes shipped in 2005, the sources said. Brazil surpassed Germany as the second largest supplier of ground pepper, with 341 tonnes. US imports of ground pepper from Brazil have more than doubled compared to the same period in 2005.

There has been a consistent increase in imports of pepper by the US from 2000. Imports, which was 57,738 tonnes in 2000 moved up to 60,811 tonnes in 2001 and 63,820 tonnes the next year. From 65,992 tonnes 2003 it increased to 66,895 tonnes in 2005.

The increase in demand in the US market, is a positive trend for the Indian pepper, export sources here said.

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