Indian pepper prices are ruling on the higher side overseas at $8650 tonne compared to $7200 of Sri Lanka, Vietnam ($7100), Brazil ($7000), Indonesia ($7500). 

Rising imports of Sri Lankan pepper has hit the prices of the commodity in the domestic market, witnessing a ₹25 per kg drop in the last fortnight.

Traders said that prices in the Kochi terminal market are ruling at ₹695 for ungarbled and ₹715 for garbled varieties after reaching a high price of ₹721 this year. The traded quantities in the past two weeks were 616 tonnes. At the same time, Sri Lankan pepper is available in the consuming markets at ₹675-690. They pointed out that masala manufacturers are showing interest in cheap Sri Lankan raw material to meet their production requirements.

Kishore Shamji, President of Indian Pepper and Spice Trade Association, said that the buyers are holding back their purchase in view of the declining prices. Farmers in in all centres in Tamil Nadu including Gudalur, Yercaud, Namakkal started releasing their stocks.

Indian pepper prices are ruling on the higher side overseas at $8650 tonne compared to $7200 of Sri Lanka, Vietnam ($7100), Brazil ($7000), Indonesia ($7500). As the Indian prices are on the higher side, major producing countries are eyeing India to dump their produce. Quoting figures, Shamji said Sri Lankan imports into India in 2023 were 14,000 tonnes, while the figure reached 24,000 tonnes during 2024-25.

It is feared that the start of harvest in Sri Lanka by June is expected to increase pepper arrivals to India further from that country.

On the domestic front, Shamji said the production figure this year is expected at around 75,000 tonnes with completion of 50 per cent of the harvest in key producing areas.

Published on May 6, 2025