Indonesia steps up Muntok white pepper exports
“The international market continues to show strong demand for white pepper,” Head of the Bangka Belitung Islands Quarantine Agency Herwintarti said in a statement on Sunday.
The Quarantine Agency, in collaboration with the Bangka Belitung Islands provincial government, has intensified support for white pepper exports through the Go Export Program to maintain farmers’ enthusiasm for cultivating the commodity.
“The export potential of white pepper remains very high, and we want this commodity to continue as one of the provincial government’s priority programs to improve both production and quality,” she said.
According to data from Best Trust (Barantin Electronic System for Transaction and Utility Service Technology), white pepper exports from Bangka Belitung reached 1.37 thousand tons through 184 shipments in 2025, with a total value of Rp180 billion (approximately US$9.7 million).
Domestic distribution of white pepper reached 6,323 tons through 308 shipments, with a total value of Rp535.89 billion (approximately US$28.8 million).
“The main export destinations for Bangka Belitung’s white pepper include Vietnam, Singapore, Japan, Malaysia, and Taiwan,” Herwintarti said.
Meanwhile, Head of the Bangka Belitung Islands Agriculture and Food Security Agency (DPKP) Kurniawan said the provincial government continues to develop smallholder pepper plantations to increase production of the export commodity.
Based on provincial agricultural data, white pepper plantations in 2025 totaled 9,646.96 tons, spread across Bangka District (1,198.68 tons), Belitung (3,831.82 tons), West Bangka (115.91 tons), and Bangka Belitung (115.91 tons).
Furthermore, Central Bangka District recorded 161.36 tons, South Bangka District recorded 3,331.45 tons, and East Belitung District recorded 1,007.73 tons.
In comparison, white pepper production in 2024 reached 12,008.66 tons, comprising 878.78 tons in Bangka District, 4,321.86 tons in Belitung District, 1,502.70 tons in West Bangka District, 225.60 tons in Central Bangka District, 3,893.06 tons in South Bangka District, and 1,186.66 tons in East Belitung District.
“The decline in white pepper production was mainly caused by the shrinking plantation area due to land conversion to oil palm plantations and other uses,” Kurniawan said.
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Translator: Aprionis, Resinta Sulistiyandari