Tuesday, December 17, 2019

TRYING TO UNDERSTAND BLACK PEPPER MARKET



A Client asked me today:

" Why Brazilian Black Pepper has been cheaper then Vietnam for such long time ?
I´ve been in the market for 6 years now and I never seen such situation !"


Well, neither I know.
I´ve been trying to understand the reasons but cannot find a reasonable answers for 2 questions:
Why brazilian pepper had been cheaper for all year long, and
Why Pepper price in general decreased that much in the last seasons ?

Average prices for B1 550g black pepper in 2002 were U$D 1,500/ton
Than in 2006/2007 it started to rise to U$D1,800 /U$R 2,000 / U$D 2,250... ended the 2007 quoted at U$D 3,700
After a relatively smooth 2008 and 2009 it climbed to U$D 4,200 at the end of 2010.
Beginning 2011 it went from U$D4,200 to U$D 7,000 and from then it was always quoted in the range ofU$  7 - 8,000, with a peak of U$D 9,000 in 2015.
In the middle of2017 it started to fall ending the year at U$D 3,600 and now is averaging U$D 2,000 - back to 12 years ago !
If inflation is considered, the present price is even lower that the one of 2002.

WHY ??? What happened to pull the prices to such behaviour ?  And what´s is to come now ???

Therefore I invite you to write a guess about these 2 questions and further try to make a preview for the next year or even more extended. Please write to manager@peppertrade.com.br

The answers for these questions will be published on our blog and FB page, and if you desire we´ll mention your name and mail adress.

Let´s see if we find a consensus

Thank you all
Michail Wagapoff


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Thursday, December 12, 2019

VIETNAM - SPICES MARKET UPDATE 12TH DECEMBER 2019

November, Vietnam has exported 16,484 tons of pepper, including 14,941 tons of black pepper and 1,543 tons of white pepper.  Export turnover reached 38.85 million $ with black pepper 33.98 million$ & white pepper 4.87 million $. Compared to the October, the export volume decreased by 3.9%, the turnover decreased by 5.8%.

Accumulated from Jan to November 2019, Vietnam has exported 271,067 tons including 243,174 tons of black pepper & 27,893 tons of white pepper with export turnover reached 682.9 million $. Compared to the same period in 2018, the export volume increased by 21.7%, equivalent to 48,281 tons, but the export turnover decreased by 6.8%, equivalent to 49.8 million $.

The average export price of black pepper in the first 11 months of 2019 reached 2,446 USD/ton, white pepper at 3,026 USD/ton. The export price of black pepper decreased by 23.4% and white pepper decreased by 21.3% compared to the same period of 2018.

China is Vietnam's largest pepper import with 56,095 tons, USA is 46,210 tons, follow is India, Germany…

Pepper market slightly firmer due to exporters covering December shipment, farmers/collectors offer limited raw material. USD is in weakening trend compare with Vietnam currency from this year.






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Monday, November 25, 2019

IPC REPORTS -IMPORT OF PEPPER BY DENMARK



Denmark, officially the Kingdom of Denmark is a Nordic country. Denmark proper, which is the southernmost of the Scandinavian countries, consists of a peninsula, Jutland, and an archipelago of 443 named islands. Denmark actively imports pepper from various pepper producing countries for domestic consumption or for re-export.
In 2017, Denmark was reported to have imported a total of 1,122 Mt of pepper which 27% or 300 Mt of it comprised of whole pepper while 73% or 822 Mt of it was ground pepper. The average import by Denmark in 2017 was reported to be 93 Mt per month with the highest quantity recorded in July with 139 Mt. The total expenditure of pepper imported by Denmark was reported to be as high as USD 12.2 Million, recording an average price of the total pepper imported by Denmark at USD 11,083 per Mt for whole pepper and USD 10,905 Per Mt for ground pepper.
Year 2018 saw a decreasing trend in term of quantity of pepper imported by Denmark. Denmark was reported to have recorded a total of 1,071 Mt which comprised of 23% or 246 Mt of whole pepper and 77% or 825 Mt of ground pepper. Thus, recording a decrease of 5% as compared to the same period in 2017. On average Denmark was reported to have imported 89 Mt per month and peaked in April with 132 Mt. In accordance with decreasing in terms of quantity, Denmark's expenditure for pepper import was reported to have declined by 15% to a total of USD 10.4 Million, recording an average price of the total pepper imported by Denmark at USD 11,037 per Mt for whole pepper and USD 9,407 per Mt for ground pepper or a decrease by 0.4% and 14% respectively as compared with 2017.
Pepper import by Denmark as of June 2019 was reported with a decrease of 17% as compared with the same period in 2018, totalling at 460 Mt which comprised of 97 Mt of whole pepper and 363 Mt of ground pepper. The total expenditure of pepper import by Denmark as of June 2019 was reported with a decrease by 27% as compared to the same period in the previous year, totalling at USD 4.0 Million.
The top five countries of origins of Denmark's pepper both for whole and ground as of June 2019 were reported to be Germany with 225 Mt (a decrease of 7% as compared with the same period in 2018), Sweden with 83 Mt (an increase of 6%), Netherlands with 53 Mt (an increase of 464%), Spain with 43 Mt (an increase of 40%) and India with 12 Mt (a decrease of 48%). The significant decrease of Denmark import from India could be contributed that Denmark started to shift import to Netherlands as one of the re-export hub to European countries (an increase by 44 Mt as compared to the same period in 2018).












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IPC MARKET REPORT No. 47/19, 18 - 22 November 2019


LOCAL MARKET 
Market this week showed mixed response with only Indonesia and Malaysia recroded decreses.
In local market, Malabar black pepper was traded with an increase by 2% as compared to the previous week with an average of USD 4,523 per Mt.
Indonesia black pepper was reported stable with an average of USD 1,632 per Mt.
Whilst Indonesia white pepper took a dive with a 9% deficit as compared to the previous week with an average of USD 3,015 per Mt, recording the lowest price of Muntok white pepper in the past year. The significant decrease in price of white pepper in Indonesia could be contributed to market being flooded by product. Thus, pressuring the price in the local currency to an average of IDR 42,500 per Kg from IDR 46,500 per Kg in the previous week.
Malaysian black and white pepper was also traded negatively with a 2% and 1% deficit respectively as opposed to previous week at an average of USD 1,930 per Mt for black pepper and USD 3,433 per Mt for white pepper. Furthermore, Viet Nam black pepper was reported an increase by 2% as compared to the previous week with an average of USD 1,740 per Mt whilst Viet Nam white pepper was reported stable and unchanged.
Sri Lanka black pepper showed a strong outlook this week and returned to be traded at an average above USD 3,000 per Mt with an increase by 7% as compared to the previous week at an average of USD 3,093 per Mt. Whilst, China white pepper was reported stable with an average of USD 4,563 per Mt.


INTERNATIONAL MARKETIn international market, the trend also showed mixed response with only Indonesia recorded decrease.
FOB price of India black pepper was reported with the same 2% increase as compared to the previous week at an average of USD 4,801 per Mt.
Indonesia black pepper was reported steady with an average of USD 2,031 per Mt.
Whilst Indonesia white pepper was reported with an 8% deficit as compared to previous week at an average of USD 3,592 per Mt.
Malaysia black and white pepper continued to be traded stable and unchanged.
Furthermore, Viet Nam black pepper 500 g/l, 550 g/l and Viet Nam white pepper were reported with an increase by 3%, 3% and 2% respectively as opposed to the previous week averaging at USD 2,326 per Mt, USD 2,391 per Mt and 3,476 per Mt respectively.
China reported a stable international trade for its white pepper with an average of USD 4,763 per Mt.














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VIETNAM PEPPER MARKET UPDATE 25TH NOVEMBER 2019.



According statistics of the Vietnam Pepper Association/Customs, by the end of October 2019, Vietnam exported 254,583 tons, including 228,233 tons black pepper and 26,350 tons of white pepper, total export turnover reached 644.1 million USD.
Compared to the same period in 2018, exports increased by 21.1% in volume to 44,302 tons, but decreased value by 7.0% equivalent to 48.7 million USD. The average export price of black pepper in the first 10 months of 2019 reached 2,473 USD/ton, white pepper reached 3,019 USD/ton.
The export price of black pepper decreased by 662$/ton and white pepper decreased by 1,556/ton compare with the same period 2018.
China is still the largest import market of Vietnam Pepper in the first 10 months, reached 54,649 tons, up 22,991 tons, roughly 21.46% of Vietnam Pepper. However, in the last 2 months is only around 800 tons due to border trade continue is still stuck and increased a lots cost when clear customs. We foreseen this situation more difficult and maybe China customer have to official buying pepper pay full tax from Vietnam. This may also keep pepper prices stable/up or down not much and less volatile sudden as before.
The second largest is USA was 43,102 tons, an increase of 5,034 tons, accounted for 16.9%. Followed by Indian markets imported 17,785 tons, down 72 tons; Germany imported 9,605 tons, up 2,567 tons; Arabs imported 9,478 tons, up 912 tons.
Market is still moving very steady and firm from last week. The main reason were due to exporters big short for Light Berries to extra oil (density from 280 – 300gr/l) while Vietnam Light Berries  in this year very less than usual. Nepal and other Asia countries also buying December/Jan shipment beside China covering few boxes white pepper. However, USA/EU quiet at our side and asking big discount for first half 2020 shipment.









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Wednesday, November 13, 2019

SAFRON - USA TESTS GROWING POSSIBILITY

Researchers in Rhode Island have been growing test plots of the pricey plant—and it's thriving. Some think this could disrupt the global saffron economy.

 Jessica Fu








Dr. Rebecca Brown thought that the sun had set on this year’s saffron harvest. The autumn-blooming plants—which she and her colleague had planted in the University of Rhode Island’s agronomy farm to the northwest of campus—hadn’t produced flowers in days, and winter was imminent.

“We were already a couple of weeks into harvest,” she says. “We thought it was finished.”

Then on Thursday morning, Brown discovered that, unexpectedly, fresh flowers had sprung out from the soil overnight—a sign of just how suitable growing conditions on the Northeast could now be for a lucrative plant that Americans have traditionally imported.

This is the third year that Brown and her colleague, Dr. Rahmatallah Gheshm, have harvested saffron in Rhode Island. Brown is an associate professor of plant sciences, and Gheshm is a postdoctoral fellow in agro-ecology. Their harvests are part of an ongoing research project aimed at assessing how viable commercial farming of the crop could be in the Northeast.

Saffron flower in handRahmatallah Gheshm   

The disproportionate amount of work that goes into producing each strand makes saffron the most expensive spice in the world, commanding up to $10,000 per pound

“We’re just trying to answer some very basic questions starting with: Can we grow saffron outdoors in Rhode Island?” Brown says. “[We’re] looking at whether we needed to provide winter protection or not, and what sort of planting density would be best here.”

At the center of every saffron flower are three thin, red threads, called stigma. Once extracted, producers sell these stigma as a valuable and aromatic spice, also called saffron, a coveted ingredient in Middle Eastern, South Asian, and European cooking. Its labor-intensive production and the disproportionate amount of work that goes into producing each strand makes saffron the most expensive spice in the world, commanding up to $10,000 per pound. This means that farmers in the Northeast stand to make a lot of money if commercial saffron harvesting could be incorporated into their production schedule.

Saffron plants in Rhode Island don’t appear to need the protection of hoop houses during the winter, when the leaves sprout in scallion-like grasses.

To conduct their research, the scientists planted 6,000 corms—the bulbous beginnings of every saffron flower—into a field measuring approximately 158 square feet. The land was divided into 16 separate plots, each measuring about 13 by 2.5 feet. To find saffron’s optimal growth conditions, Brown and Gheshm varied density among the plots, protected some with hoop houses during the winter, and left others uncovered year-round.

The idea to grow saffron in Rhode Island came to Gheshm after he was inspired by the Vermont-based saffron research of a friend and former classmate he’d met in their shared home country, Iran. He was curious about how harvest of the spice could be transferred to the particular climate of the Ocean State.

“The milder winters encouraged us to try planting saffron outdoors in Rhode Island, in southern New England,” Gheshm says. In Vermont, researchers needed to transfer their saffron plants into hoop houses during the winter to protect them from the cold.

The study’s results won’t be final until after this season’s harvest is over, but Brown and Gheshm tell me that they’ve already gleaned some preliminary findings. For one, saffron plants in Rhode Island don’t appear to need the protection of hoop houses during the winter, when the leaves sprout in scallion-like grasses. After this year’s harvest, Brown and Gheshm plan to conduct a follow-up experiment, looking at how saffron farming might be able to co-exist—particularly in the summer when saffron plants are dormant—with other crops that local farmers already grow. The project has secured funding from the Department of Agriculture’s Specialty Crop Block Grant Program.
Saffron samplesRahmatallah Gheshm   

At the center of every saffron flower are three thin, red threads, called stigma. Once extracted, producers sell these stigma as a valuable and aromatic spice

“Could we grow something else like basil or lettuce on that land while the saffron is sleeping underneath?” Brown asks. If so, farmers “could make more money off the space.”

Right now, Iran is the highest saffron-producing country in the world, exporting nearly half of the world’s market, according to UN trade data. However, compared to the sunny, dry conditions in Iran, Rhode Island has a much higher humidity level—the impact of which Brown and Gheshm wanted to observe in their study. So far, however, it appears that the humidity might not be a problem. U.S. is a major saffron buyer, and its demand has never been higher. In 1992, the U.S. imported $3.17 million worth of the spice, a value that has since risen steadily to $16 million last year, according to Census data.

Because of issues like America’s economic sanctions against Iran, Gheshm explains, most of the U.S.’s saffron imports come from through Spain, which is both a major importer and exporter of the spice. Brown believes that local production of saffron can meet the rising demand from American consumers, which she attributes to an increasingly diverse population. What better way to get around a middle man than to grow it in our own backyards?

https://newfoodeconomy.org/saffron-northeast-university-of-rhode-island-iran/

Jessica is a reporter for The New Food Economy. Reach her by email at jessica.fu@newfoodeconomy.org and on Twitter @JessTiaFu.

Monday, November 04, 2019

IPC MARKET REPORT No. 44/19, 28 October - 1 November 2019



LOCAL MARKET
Market this week showed mixed response with a rather static outlook.
In local market, Malabar black pepper was traded with a 1% deficit as compared to the previous week with an average of USD 4,202 per Mt.
Indonesia black and white pepper was reported stable with an average of USD 1,639 per Mt for black pepper and USD 3,313 per Mt for white pepper. Farmers in Lampung were reported to hold selling their pepper in the hope of better price.
Malaysian black and white pepper was also reported stable at an average of USD 1,993 per Mt and USD 3,505 per Mt respectively.
Furthermore, Viet Nam black and white pepper was also reported stable and unchanged.
Sri Lanka black pepper continuously moving up, in local market it recorded an increase by 2% as compared to the previous week and was traded at an average of USD 2,708 per Mt.
Whilst, China white pepper was reported stable with an average of USD 4,595 per Mt.

INTERNATIONAL MARKET
In international market, the trend also showed mixed response. FOB price of India black pepper was reported with the same 1% deficit as compared to the previous week at an average of USD 4,484 per Mt. Indonesia black and white pepper was reported steady with an average of USD 2,040 per Mt for black pepper and USD 3,926 per Mt for white pepper. Malaysia black and white pepper continued to be traded stable and unchanged. Furthermore, Viet Nam black pepper 500 g/l, 550 g/l and Viet Nam white pepper were reported stable and unchanged averaging at USD 2,250 per Mt, USD 2,315 per Mt and USD 3,400 per Mt respectively. China reported a stable international trade for its white pepper with an average of USD 4,795 per Mt.






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