Indonesian pepper exports down 28 percent in February

Indonesian pepper exports down 28 percent in February

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's pepper exports plunged 28 percent in
February to 1,564 metric tons from 2,170 tons in the same month
last year, according to the International Pepper Community (IPC).

The association said in a statement on Wednesday that
Indonesia's pepper exports began to decline in January due to a
fall in production.

Pepper exports in February were lower than in January, the
association said, adding that the total pepper exports in January
and February dropped 2 percent to 4,042 tons from 4,107 tons in
the same period last year.

The country's pepper exports jumped to 57,000 tons last year,
a 59 percent increase from the 36,000 tons in 1999. This increase
was attributed to increased production. The exports comprised
21,000 tons of black pepper and 36,000 tons of white pepper.

The IPC ranked Indonesia, which accounted for about 30 percent
of the world's total pepper supply in 2000, as the world's
largest pepper exporter last year, followed by Vietnam and
Malaysia. India, which held the top position in 1999, fell to
fourth.

But the organization estimates the country's pepper crop will
be smaller than last year, particularly white pepper.

Vietnam, which recorded a significant jump in pepper exports
last year to 36,000 tons, a 28 percent increase from the 28,000
tons it exported in 1999, currently is the top pepper exporter,
the organization said.

"Of the world's total exports as of February, which stood at
14,998 tons, Vietnam accounted for more than 50 percent," it
said.

The world's total pepper exports reached 172,000 tons in 2000
and are 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 for consumption to try and reduce this gap
between supply and demand in the coming years. (03)