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)