Buyers are not covering from Kerala and Karnataka following availability of imported pepper at ₹370 a kg. Meanwhile, bolder and high bulk density Cambodian pepper mixed with Vietnam pepper is reportedly being imported at $3,500 a tonne by paying 54 per cent duty and that is also dissuading buyers from covering, market sources told BusinessLine .

On the terminal market, 12 tonnes were traded at ₹370-395 a kg on Wednesday. Spot prices fell further by ₹300 a quintal to ₹39,300 (ungarbled) and ₹41,300 (garbled). Export prices were at $6,675 a tonne c&f for Europe and $6,925 for the US.