Indonesia tops world's pepper exports

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's pepper exports jumped to 57,000 metric tons last year, a 59 percent increase from the 36,000 tons in 1999, according to an international organization.

The International Pepper Community (IPC) said on Tuesday the main reason for the surge in the country's pepper exports was better production, which was estimated to have risen by about 63,000 tons

The pepper exports comprised 21,000 tons of black pepper and 36,000 tons of white pepper, the organization said, adding that Indonesia's exports were about 30 percent of the world's total pepper supply during the year.

The IPC ranked Indonesia as the largest pepper exporter in 2000, followed by Vietnam and Malaysia. India, which held the top position in 1999, fell to fourth on the list.

Vietnam recorded a large leap in pepper exports last year, reaching 36,000 tons, or an increase of 28 percent from the 28,000 tons it exported in 1999.

Other pepper producing countries such as Sri Lanka, Thailand, Madagascar and China also booked increases in their pepper exports.

India, however, recorded a steep decline in pepper exports, falling to 23,000 tons last year from 47,000 tons in 1999.

The decline in India's pepper exports was caused largely by a fall in production, IPC said.

The world's total pepper exports reached 172,000 tons in 2000 and is projected to increase 6 percent to 183,000 tons this year.

The IPC said the rise in the pepper supply had resulted in a decline in pepper prices on the international market.

The organization plans to promote the use of pepper for medical purposes and consumer consumption in a bid to reduce the gap between supply and demand in the coming years. (03)