Pepper trade up as spot prices increase

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| Exporters said the increase in prices in Karnataka was the main factor behind the spurt in prices here. Karnataka traders are now selling pepper at a price of Rs 6,200, which they sold at Rs 5,500-5,800 few weeks back. |
| In Karnataka stocks have dropped drastically, that have resulted in increase in prices. Short covering by a group of traders from Malabar region also caused the sudden increase in spot and futures prices in Kochi. |
| In global markets, including Vietnam, there is a slowdown in trading due to lower offtake by the major consuming countries such as the US. At present, Vietnam is selling at lower rates of $1,170 for 500 gm/litre and $1,120-1,125 (550 gm/litre). |
| Price of ASTA grade in Vietnam is in the range of $1,270-1,280. Vietnam is now selling aggressively and in July alone they had exported 8,254 tonne of pepper, of which the US had bought 1,500 tonne. |
| India had imported 485 tonne of pepper from Vietnam in July, Russia had bought 471 tonne and and Pakistan bought 316 tonne from Vietnam. |
| Lower quotations by Vietnam exporters forced Brazil and Indonesia to lower their prices to $1,300 for ASTA. |
| Experts said globally there was a slowdown in the pepper trading as new crop was expected in countries like India within three months. |
| The latest parity in India's and world prices is $1,575 and export is almost nil at present. |
| The increased activity in the futures market by a section of traders ahs resulted in the current scenario in the Indian pepper market. |
First Published: Aug 06 2005 | 12:00 AM IST