Select spices strengthen on strong demand, tight supply

In a fairly active trade, black pepper and ginger prices rose at the spices market here today due to heavy domestic as well as strong exports demand amid lower stock positions.

Elsewhere, copra Rajapur and copra edible prices continued to rise on persistent buying by stockists and retailers. Meanwhile, copra Alapuzha and copra Kozhikode eased owing to reduced offtake.

Black pepper firmed up by Rs 4/5 per kilo to Rs 200/215 from yesterday's closing level of Rs 195/211. Ginger bleached and ginger unbleached both gained by Rs 5 per kilo each to Rs 235 and Rs 255, respectively.

Copra Rajapur Mumbai and copra edible Mumbai hardened by Rs 100 per quintal each to Rs 5,800 and Rs 4,500 as against Rs 5,700 and Rs 4,400 previously.

However, copra office Alapuzha and copra office Kozhikode both moved down by Rs 25 per quintal to Rs 3,750 and Rs 3,550.

The following are today's closing rates in rupees, with the previous rates in brackets:

Black Pepper (per kilo) 200/215 (195/211), ginger bleached (per kilo) 235 (230), ginger unbleached (per kilo) 255 (250), copra office Alapuzha (per quintal) 3,750 (3,775)

copra office Kozhikode (per quintal) 3,550 (3,575), copra Rajapur Mumbai (per quintal) 5,800 (5,700) and copra edible Mumbai (per quintal) 4,500 (4,400)