PEPPER

Import pattern

The global export of pepper was around 2-2.5 lakh tonnes, with 2.29 lakh tonnes being exported in 2003. The major exporters of pepper are Vietnam (91000), Indonesia (57000 tonnes), Brazil (37940 tonnes), Malaysia (18500 tonnes) and India (17200 tonnes).

India has been importing pepper from more than a dozen countries, Vietnam, Sri Lanka and Indonesia are the three major sources. The import pattern over the period 2003-04 to 2005-06 shows that approximately half the import is from Vietnam, one third from Sri Lanka and approximately one-eight from Indonesia. The cost of imported pepper ranged from Rs 42.8/kg from Thailand, 57 in Vietnam, Rs 63.6 in Sri Lanka and Rs 71.1 from Madagascar.

• Pepper is imported by 27 countries.
• The United States was the largest importer with 54541MT.
• Singapore imported 16958 MT and India 16357 MT.
• Among the top producers, India is the only country with substantial pepper imports.

USA has been the major export market for India accounting for 45% followed by Canada (11%) in 2002-03. It is striking to note the steep decline in the export of pepper from india to US from 11035 tonnes in 2000 to just 2196 tonnes in 2004. During the same period the export of Vietnam to US rose by almost 5 tonnes from 3744 to 18313 tonnes. This was mainly due to the cost competition of Vietnam.

Though quantity of pepper exported to India by Sri Lanka increased considerably from 2001 to 2002, subsequently declined in both 2003 and 2004 compared to the quantity exported in 2002. Sri Lanka's share in India’s import of pepper (quantity) from 2001 to 2004 was as follows

However, Sri Lanka’s export of pepper to India represents approximately 6.6% when compared with the total quantity of pepper produced by India. (Average from 2001 to 2004)