Sunday, November 21, 2010

Pepper Futures to fall on "Ground Reality"
Sham Nair expresses his opinion

Kochi November 21 2010
With indian farmers releasing close to 5000 mt of black pepper stocks quite unexpectedly from the beginning of the month the tightness of the spot availability of the spice eased off and with 1085 mt stocks of so called mG-1 stocks made available to all the exporters from exchange platform ; the Black pepper futures currently running at a hefty premium will drop in the coming days and one is seeing ground reality of pepper trade currently according to the veterans of Pepper trade in India

We seldom see india as an origin seller when prices are low but they emerge as the principle source when prices peak commented a trader in Germany who didnt want to quote his name. There is no other origin like india who wil keep one crop below their beds and will show to the world when prices reach the usd 5000 mark he added.

Since farmgate pepper is continously availabe between Rs 10- 15 a kg depending on density of the material delivered to warehouses of exporters, major exporters are not running after exchange delivered pepper and in the recently matured November contract Nine exporters have together picked up only 50% of the total delivereis tendered by a major broking houses account of several clientse stocks were loosing validity on december 5th .

With continued availability of farmgate pepper and limited overseas demands currently and hardly any domestic demand, with new crop arrivals just 6 weeks away the expensive pepper futures are likely to fall on Ground reality although Funds will try to hold it for some more time trying to pass the hat to retail investors.

Weekend prices quoted in new York markets on friday 20th november were as follows

Brazil 560 g/l usd 4750 fob Belem Brazi BASTA usd 4850 fob Belem Indonesian ASTA usd 4950- 5050 fob panjnag Indian mg-1 asta usd 4900- 5100 fob cochin according to Newyourk based broking companies of spices.

Sham Nair


Monday, November 08, 2010

India pepper needs long term strategy to stay ahead

November 05, 2010
Well, it seems like Black pepper from India will remain as hot favorite in the international market, as it is almost clear that supplies from Brazil and Indonesia will be inadequate in meeting the global demand, given big daddy Vietnam shows up only in January.

But latest reports also suggest that production from Vietnam will be lower by 10% at 90,000 tonne, compared to previous year. Further, if bad weather persists, Brazilian production will also be down by 40%.

So, who will benefit? Being the second largest producer after Vietnam, Indian pepper is definitely going to benefit from this global pepper production meltdown. Another supporting factor is the narrowing of the price gap between premium quality Indian pepper and other varieties. All these suggest the near term surge in market demand both locally and globally.

In fact, the rush is already evident with the price shooting up and springing over the primary target levels of 15150 earlier in March. If bad weather persist production will be dampened further and there is a good chance for the prices to breaching the 16,000 territory soon.

But the million dollar question is will India be able to handle this surge in international demand? Diseases, erratic climatic changes and obsolete agriculture methods had caused our output to slump to current projected level of 55,000 tonne from the once mighty 1,00,000 tonne. What might have caused this? Multi-crop planting policy in Kerala and Tamilnadu is indicated to be as the prime reason for this decline.

Currently, productivity of pepper in India is only 306 kg , while Vietnam has way ahead producing 1,200 kg – 1,300 kg per hectare. And forecast of International Pepper Community indicates that there will be a shortage of nearly 22, 216 tonnes in the 2010. the forecast also projects a significant rise in the global consumption to be in a range of 3,20,000 – 3,50,000 tonnes.

According to the Directorate of Arecanut and Spices Development, India is expected to produce around 53,000 tonne in 2009-10 , with Kerala contributing around 35,000 tonnes, up 40% from the same period a year ago.

Spices Board of India also points to similar figures with production figures at 55,000 tonnes and consumption figures at 44,000 tonnes, annually. Exports are expected to reach 25,000 tonnes, with imports around 14,000 tonnes. Production might have increased on a sequential basis, but the fact nevertheless is that farmers are increasing turning their face away from the once trust worthy Black Gold.

Falling prices is indicated to be as one amongst the many reasons. Price declines have also caused farmers to migrate to other crops which resulted in the decrease of farming area. Data suggests that there is a 0.3% decline in farming between 2005 and 2006 in Wayanad alone. Increasing cost of production is yet another area of concern to farmers.

For India to surge back to its golden age, answers should be found to all these vexing questions. May be it is now also the right time to voice all these concerns as experts from field will be here at Kochi to discuss all these matters.

Jointly organized by International Pepper Community and Spices Board, the meeting will discuss issues related to farming, production and export. Brazil, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Vietnam are the members of IPC with Papua New Guinea as the associate member. The meeting will be held at Kochi, starting November 8.

What intended to say is that the current edge provided by bad weather won’t last long and in no way can be depended upon as a positive indication on a long term basis. What we need to have is long term planning and its effective implementation.

So, the verdict is that Indian pepper for the time being will definitely get an upper hand in International market amid tight supply and lower production. But to sustain this upsurge we need to device long term plans that would help increase yield per hector as well as total production.

Fueled by strong buying interest both domestic and international, Pepper futures are currently trading high with spot price at Kochi rising to 20,200 per quintal for un-garbled pepper and 20,800 per quintal for MG-1.
Source: CommodityOnLine By Praveen


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Wednesday, September 29, 2010

SMX to launch first global pepper futures contract - What is your opinion ?

The article below might be the most important fact of the year or even of the all the modern history of Pepper Trade worldwide.
We propose a discussion of this item.
Please share your thoughts, opinions, ideas about that


SINGAPORE September 28, 2010(Commodity Online):

Singapore Mercantile Exchange (SMX) has announced it will launch world’s first international Black Pepper Futures Contract (Contract Symbol: SMPEPPER) platform with physical delivery-based settlement, as its first agricultural commodity derivatives product.

SMX has obtained approval from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) to list SMPEPPER on its trading platform. SMX is at present working with relevant industry partners to create awareness about the new Contract, while collecting their feedback to streamline the physical settlement procedure.

Mr. Thomas J. McMahon, Chief Executive Officer of SMX,commented: “Exhaustive
research and close consultation with key industry players is one of our primary objectives. This latest contract constitutes noteworthy fruition of such efforts.”
“We are listing the most commonly traded grade of Black Pepper, from discussions and partnerships with key exporters and importers both on a regional and global basis. Trading hours will span all major markets, providing exciting opportunities for price discovery leading to global benchmarking. Managing price volatilities is a very crucial factor in agricultural products such as Black Pepper, where markets are unpredictable.

The marketplace seems excited by this latest development, and on our part
agriculture commodity derivatives is a key segment for expansion,” Mr. McMahon added.
Mr. Vijaykumar Iyengar, Managing Director of Agrocorp International Pte
Ltd, said: “Over the last two decades we have witnessed Vietnam overtake India as the world’s largest producer and exporter of Black Pepper. Overall the key producers are still in Asia, while the larger consuming nations are in the West. Such listings by SMX essentially bring all market players to the same table, ensuring efficient price discovery.”

Mr. Do Ha Nam, Chairman of the Vietnam Pepper Association, said: “Having a Black Pepper futures contract would give rise to natural price discovery which would benefit the entire value chain participants of Black Pepper.”
Source: Commodity Online



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Thursday, September 23, 2010

Indian Pepper Mart Heading For Serious Trouble

Mumbai / The indian pepper mart is heading towards deep crisis in the next eight weeks unless export orders doesnt come to india or the exagerated 50,000 mt domestic consumption is not really there but instead still in the high 30 K . India onetime the worlds largest producer and exporter besides the largest consumer of black pepper has been becoming a net importer since last year with local indian farmers who do not want cash as banks dont accept cash without getting satisfied with the source of the money are better off keeping their produces under their beds rather than selling it and holding on to cash which they have no space to park. This years bull run has replenished the stocks in the National Commodity exchanges and warehouses of cash rich people who has invested in pepper mainly in the physical stocks of the exchanges. Now that the six monts maximum validity for tendering deliveries in contracts are getting expired in nearmonth October and November contracts for more than 3000 mt everyone is quizzing how this situation can overcome with no export orders since last eight weeks from industries who require pepper for winter and christmas/Newyear blend requirements other than from overseas traders who were playing with the market and currently struck not knowing what to do with the pepper they have covered thinking all others were short and will come to cover for their requirements. we have seen major exporters tendering physical deliveries in the last two expiry contracts are really eyebrow raising with the kind of volumes they do on exports and top of that delivering in the domestic pepper exchange . Although the total stock with the Comexes is only 4300 mt which is just 15 days export of Vietnam but it is too high for Indian exports of just 1000 mt a month on an average this year and most of it is imported pepper reexported.


According to market sources, there is a propaganda amongst some leading traditional pepper traders that the quality lying in the comexes warehouses are substandard and inferior and that is the reason why exporters are shying away from taking physical deliveries . On maturity in the contracts of National Exchanges.99% of the longs during the teure of the contracts are held by people who do not want even 100 grams of pepper for their use but accumulated positions purely for speculation only on buy calls by new born analysts in various leading commodity broking houses who are making charts and make calls for their livelihood against all fundamentals of the market and many times even do not know how to advise clients to exit once they are in the vicious circle .

The indian pepper futures as expected hit the 4% circuit down limits today the first day after maturing of september contracts with 341 mt spot pepper being picked up by couple of exporters who had little commitments and inturn was delivered by the National Cooperative and hedgers who wanted to free their money with the carry becoming neglible these days .

Indonesia the current cheapest ASTA Black pepper source has reduced their prices to usd 1.96/1.98/lb cfc 1.5 ny where as indian mg-1 asta prices despite todays 4% circuit down limits is usd 2.10/lb cfc 1.5 ny for nearby shipments. Vietnam prices were stable with origin shippers quoting usd 4050 pmt fob HCMC for 500 grams/litre pepper and usd 4300 pmt fob Hcmc for 550 grams/litre pepper. Where as brazilian ASTA pepper has come in line with the Indonesian ASTA pepper prices but the fact is it has become hard to find buyers globally for pepper currently.Indian domestic market is looking for marriages which happen every other day and festivals which are coming only in the second week of November as during marriages and festivals indians simply use plenty of pepper to make the pepper growers happy besides Commonwealth Games beginning in October which will halt the truck movements to and fro from Delhi.



Jennifer Larive/21 SEP 2010 21-30 HRS IST

Friday, September 17, 2010

Cloves trend

The International Cloves market too is showing a little weakness with Comoros quoting around USD 5100 /- PMT and Zanzibar Cloves new crop also coming down to USD 5300/-pmt and Indonesia is also quoting around USD 6000/- pmt fob levels.

IPRABA Report

Fall in Indian pepper futures drags other origins to follow suit

Mumbai/ september 17th/03 45 HRS IST/


The sudden sharp fall in the indian pepper futures of usd 225 pmt and the huge amount of stocks which are going to loose validfity for delivery in the National commodity exchange in the next nine weeks with hardly any export orders and major exporters have sold their stocks in the exchange platform as they could sell their stocks usd 500 pmt above other origins in the international market is mounting pressure on the bulls . The market without any reason has been inflated by muscle and money power with totally wrong propaganda about shortage, biz happening at higher prices with india and new generation analysts who had not seen black pepper contradicting veterans in the trade with little or no information or contacts with any overseas markets has literally wiped the money off from retail and small traders with their very invaluable advices in the form of buy calls.

Indonesia the current threat for all other ASTA Black pepper sellers in the world giving no clue regarding their current years production, carry over from previous years and exports during the year and keep on pressing for orders for september and October is driving buyers away from the market who are on hand to mouth buying.Besides current years crop of 22000 mt the country was having an undeclared carryover stock of 25000- 28000 mt which is quitely being sold off by the Indonesian exporters is the reason why the anticipated squeeze and price rise has not come into play yet.For sept and October shipments Indonesian origin sellers are quoting usd 4100- 4125 fob panjang and Brazil Asta new crop is offered at usd 4300 fob Belem against the current indian price of usd 4500 pmt fob cochin . The strong indian rupee against usd is also making indian prices high in the International market. Vietnam who has been holding on to the levels of usd 4150 pmt for their 500 g/l has dropped the prices to usd 4050 pmt and 550 g/l prices from usd 4350 has been dropped to usd 4220 pmt fob cochin. Since white pepper prices are higher the ASTA sellers are not keen to sell as converting it into white is more rewarding monetary wise for them.

The markets will see life only towards end of november or early december when Indonesia and Brazil slowly retreats from agressive selling after sold enough for the year according to experts in Cochin and we will see prices declining in the coming weeks and the October futures are likely to test Rs 180/kg .

Jennifer Larive

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Pepper futures to crash more and India will come in line with International Market

Mumbai /15th Sept 2010 04 45 HRS




The Black pepper futures which were put astronomically high by speculators started falling as expected as the maturity of nearmonth september contract is approaching on next Monday.

The speculators whether they are bulls or bears have been playing with the market making the life of genuine pepper traders difficult making the national exchange platform an online casino without any mechanism to check the unfair play .

The government can close down the watchdog as they do not know how to regulate and control the exchange, said a past chairman of a regional bourse, before the entry of National Exchanges the FMC ( Forward Market Commission) used to suck the blood of the regional bourses inspite the bourses were run in a very systamatic manner, he added.

The pepper market in India has been media driven for quite sometime and the wrong informations which were conveyed to the innocent retail investors and general public by some vested interests who were inturn getting severly hurt these days according to our sources.

Even when a pound of pepper was not traded outside the country because of the price difference of usd 400- 500 pmt between indonesia and indian black pepper asta some of the media was giving false hope to many that indian pepper will be sought for exports because the stocks in Indonesia is exhausted and Vietnam finished selling and pepper will be available from that country only in Jan/Feb 2011.

But the fact is Vietnam has exported 7000 mt of pepper in the month of August also and Indonesia 4000 mt where as Indian imports was more than 1500 mt and the exports which included imported material was hardly 1000 mt.



United States of America, the worlds largest importer and user has imported 5630 mt of Black pepper and 602 mt White pepper and is a five year record imports and their total imports for the first seven months of the calendar year for Black pepper is 29,864 mt which again is a record and white pepper 3346 mt and thats the reason why even Indonesia and Brazil who are usd 400- 500 lower than India are not able to sell currently as the coverage by the importers in the United States is pretty decent and no rush is seen from importers to cover even 2011 first quarter.



The indian Black pepper futures is bought and kept by people who do not need a gram for their own use will have to sell off otherwise they will loose their shirt commented a veteran .

There is an old saying in Kerala from where most of the pepper is exported " unless the pepper crosses the seven seas dont play bullish for long otherwise you will be hurt badly".

Even when the British were ruling India the Queen of England got hurt playing with the Black Gold. The first eight months imports of pepper into the country has been 12000 mt where as the exports have been only hardly 10000 mt according to the trade and chamber of commerce so one should keep in mind most of the pepper exported out of the country is not indian origin because of the higher price tags of the country .

There is a potential that the market can drop another usd 200- 300 mt in the indian futures in the coming 6 weeks and india will be in the lime light again with its sterilised pepper for exports for the months of November/December and January 2011 according to the countries top exporter of pepper.

Jennifer La Rive

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Retail Customers Run for Life as Funds Enter In a Big Way In Comexes

Mumbai/30th August 2010/05 00 HRS IST

Entry of funds in Comexes in a big way scares Retail customers as the financially mighty Fund Houses Push and Pull Markets and create Volatility throughout the trading hours even when there are no takers from Domestic Market and Exporters becoming Processors for funds for the rawmaterial either they procure currently or happy enough with the handsome profits they made in the last six months and some exporters have made more than 60% of their investments and winding down the operations waiting for the next oppurtunity when Several thousand tons of Pepper will be losing Validity in the Months of October and November which cannot be revalidated and at current prices reprocesing will be a nightmare as the carry between months is hardly 1%.

Reading stories everyother day in different Business dailies which are tailor made to suit the needs of certain sections and the TV channels trying to emphasize the news they carry is what the market is and it should head to the levels they predict is making Retail Customers most of the time in two minds and many have left the arena. What we see currently is not Pepper Business but the Tug of war between some whom we do not know really in a loose regulated working of Futures Market mechanism said a veteran in the export sector for more than five decades. We have been selling the pepper we have bben collecting to one company in Cochin who are into exports ina very bigway and very active in local business since last 20 years but we are surprised by the cold approach since last 3 months and the company is not buying a kilo of pepper saying no demand all the time; but we caanot understand if thats the case why the market has moved to Inr 210-220 levels for september contract said a trader in Nedumkandam one of the main centers in Idukki for black pepper and cardamom.


Many upcountry dealers have closed their activities on pepper and only a very few left in the field who just cannot the field for reasons of their own. If the regulator is not looking seriously into the way agricommodities are traded in the national Commodity exchanges they are going to have the same fate of regional exchanges commented an ex chairman of a regional commodity bourse. Everyone is trying to shoot the golden goose and trying to take all the golden eggs together he added.

A major section of the exporters feel that they will be back to Biz after the Ramdan or mid October latest whatever be the prices at that time because by that time the inventories availability from heavy mport purchases made in June and july for July and August shipments will be available in the Processing Hub Cochin for process and buyers who have been staying away for sometime will be back to fill in for Christmas and New year.

Anonymous

Spot Pepper shortage taken care by Comex for September requirements and future prices crash

Kochi/27th August 2010/ 05 45 HRS IST Emmar Jay



The actual users who were confronted with almost nil supplies from farmers and local traders finally learned how to meet their requirement of pepper for immediate needs which they missed at 187/- a kg a fortnight ago by clicking the button of the computer and took home 1403 mt at 206 kg from the national comex in the nearmonth contract which matured on Friday the 20th August. The hue and cry of lack of supplies for some time is now over and in the coming months the stocks lying in the National Comexes will be over which was increasing every other week with indian pepper prices currently highest and outpriced in the world market since last 10 weeks . Throughout this year whenever there was an oppurtunity seen on arbitrage investors were buying exchange delivered Mg1 and the supply to the terminal market has been an issue as upcountry traders have become packers and suppliers to Investors which reduced the movement to the main terminal market Cochin. Another reason for the reduced or almost nil arrival is the lower prices published by the price publishing company IPSTA for sometime which was far from real traded prices and upcountry dealers deserting the terminal market market sources said.

Week 33 was an action packed week with Vietnam increasing the prices from usd 3700 fob Hcmc to usd 4050 fob hcmc for their most traded variety 500 g/l and Brazil increased the asking prices of their B1 variety from usd 3800 fob belem to usd 4100 fob Belem and indonesia increasing the asta prices from usd 4150 cnf Newyork to usd 4550 pmt and some shippers were completely withdrawn waiting for more arrivals to come before making further sales. Actually the Indonesian ASTA pepper sellers are very few and they have to take care of the entire crop as almost 90% ofthe crop is sold during the harvest season itself and exportes need cash to rotate stocks. Although the crop is only 22-25000 mt for Black pepper the huge carry over left behind them which is almost same as the crop of 2010 is said to be the reason why Indonesia has become the biggest ASTA grade pepper supplier since last 2 years and this will continue into 2011.The Vietnamese and Indian speculators are holding the Umbrella for the Indonesians to market their pepper comfortably rhis year too, we can understand Vietnam doing so with more than 100,000 mt pepper being out of the country in the first seven months and said to be having only 40,000 mt more and some say 20,000 mt and according to VPA its all over and they are surprised how their estimates went wrong which was very well arrived by a team of experts of VPA consisting of pioneers in the field such as

- KSS Vietnam Co,.Ltd
- Nedspice Vietnam Co,.Ltd
- Domesco JSC
- An Huy B.T Co,.Ltd
- Comco Co,.Ltd
- Maseco JSC
- Nam Viet Co,.Ltd
- Chu Se Pepper Association
-Olam Vietnam Co,.Ltd
- V.K.L Vietnam Co,.Ltd


source http://www.peppervietnam.com/en/news_detail.php?id=5340&id_groupN=32&id_catN=6

- Authorized provincial departments  came to the conclusion , the average productivity of main provinces would be 20 – 25% less than previous year. So that the total output will be 90,000 MT ( 20% lower than last year)

Black pepper is in the hands of speculators in all origins and one can see heavy volatility in the physical markets there and in the futures market here and its advisable that retail investors should stay awat from the scene as there is no protection availabe as the market watchdog do not know how to regulate and control the futrues market and its high time the fmc is scrapped and the regulation should be handed over to SEBI otherwise the mechanism will be completely destroyed by misinformers and mighty titans who has no role to play in a commodity which they have not even seen.

Emmar Jay

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Heavy Indian Buying Pushes Indonesian Pepper Prices up by usd 200 pmt

Sham Nair/19th August 2010 /04 45 HRS IST

Spectacular shopping by indian value added industries in Indonesia pushed the Indonesian ASTA Pepper prices from usd 3775 pmt fob panjang to usd usd 4050 pmt fob panjang in 72 hours surprised the USA and European buyers on Wednesday.
With Indian futures exchange suddenly exciting its players since Monday with big propaganda by the media that the country is suddenly having good demand from within the country and outside the country speculators came into play and raised the future delivery prices making holders of spot cargo happy as they had a chance to sell their holdings at a very high price which they missed in late july according to our industrial sources.
"I am astonished with the news like this" said a senior trader in a multinational company "how can India have export enquiries when its prices were outpriced by usd 350- 400 pmt compared to Brazil and Indonesian pepper and the selling centers were trading pepper much below the prices indicated in the terminal market Cochin. Its nothing but speculation let loose and uncontrolled by the market watch dog FMC" alleged the Wyanad Pepper Traders association. "Traders like us who have been making a living only on pepper trade for genrations cant do any biz and like farmer suicides you will know hear pepper trader suicide if the speculators are not properly controlled by the FMC" they said. "They are giving a privillege to handful few who had a super chance to cover their reqirements decently till the end of the year with the 120 days re export days adjusted very rightly with the timely purchases from other countries" .

In Vietnam local players were speculating on physical stocks along with two known Dutch companies who are spreading very bullish reports to have high priced sales for long strings for later positions according to our european trade sources and Indonesia has been an hindrance and they acted in Lampung market also picking up substantial quantities of asta rejections rechristened as Indoneian 500 g/l pepper and some good quantity asta along with indian value added industries making the indonesians rising their asking prices. Brazil is closely monitoring Indonesian activities and orchestrating their sales in a small way as the harvest has not gained momentom yet and Indonesian harvest will be over by the month end or early september. Sri lanka who sold as low as usd 3550 pmt has raised their prices to usd 3700 cfr cochin seeing the indian exchanges move..

Prices reported last night in newyork by various origins were India usd 4600 pmt c& f Indonesia usd 4250 pmt c% f Vietnam asta usd 4650 pmt c& f ( with limited sellers) Vietnam 500 gram 3970 fob hcmc vietnam 550 grams usd 4200 pmt Brazil B2 usd 3800 pmt Brazil B1 usd 3900 fob Belem and BASTA usd 4000 fob belem with no trades reported as USA buyers still on watch and wait mode and lately covering on big dips and keeping sidelined from markets and not carried away by the big moves in Vietnam and Brazil as they have Brazil and Indonesia as their most favoured sellers currently.

Heavy Indian Buying Pushes Indonesian Pepper Prices up by usd 200 pmt

Sham Nair/19th August 2010 /04 45 HRS IST

Spectacular shopping by indian value added industries in Indonesia pushed the Indonesian ASTA Pepper prices from usd 3775 pmt fob panjang to usd usd 4050 pmt fob panjang in 72 hours surprised the USA and European buyers on Wednesday.
With Indian futures exchange suddenly exciting its players since Monday with big propaganda by the media that the country is suddenly having good demand from within the country and outside the country speculators came into play and raised the future delivery prices making holders of spot cargo happy as they had a chance to sell their holdings at a very high price which they missed in late july according to our industrial sources.
"I am astonished with the news like this" said a senior trader in a multinational company "how can India have export enquiries when its prices were outpriced by usd 350- 400 pmt compared to Brazil and Indonesian pepper and the selling centers were trading pepper much below the prices indicated in the terminal market Cochin. Its nothing but speculation let loose and uncontrolled by the market watch dog FMC" alleged the Wyanad Pepper Traders association. "Traders like us who have been making a living only on pepper trade for genrations cant do any biz and like farmer suicides you will know hear pepper trader suicide if the speculators are not properly controlled by the FMC" they said. "They are giving a privillege to handful few who had a super chance to cover their reqirements decently till the end of the year with the 120 days re export days adjusted very rightly with the timely purchases from other countries" .

In Vietnam local players were speculating on physical stocks along with two known Dutch companies who are spreading very bullish reports to have high priced sales for long strings for later positions according to our european trade sources and Indonesia has been an hindrance and they acted in Lampung market also picking up substantial quantities of asta rejections rechristened as Indoneian 500 g/l pepper and some good quantity asta along with indian value added industries making the indonesians rising their asking prices. Brazil is closely monitoring Indonesian activities and orchestrating their sales in a small way as the harvest has not gained momentom yet and Indonesian harvest will be over by the month end or early september. Sri lanka who sold as low as usd 3550 pmt has raised their prices to usd 3700 cfr cochin seeing the indian exchanges move..

Prices reported last night in newyork by various origins were India usd 4600 pmt c& f Indonesia usd 4250 pmt c% f Vietnam asta usd 4650 pmt c& f ( with limited sellers) Vietnam 500 gram 3970 fob hcmc vietnam 550 grams usd 4200 pmt Brazil B2 usd 3800 pmt Brazil B1 usd 3900 fob Belem and BASTA usd 4000 fob belem with no trades reported as USA buyers still on watch and wait mode and lately covering on big dips and keeping sidelined from markets and not carried away by the big moves in Vietnam and Brazil as they have Brazil and Indonesia as their most favoured sellers currently.

Monday, August 16, 2010

Indian Pepper remains outpriced but imports surge

Indian Pepper remains outpriced but imports surge
2010/08/16


Kochi/16 th August 2010
Indian Black pepper continue to remain out priced in the international market thanks to the heavy consumption in the domestic market of the spice and infact the country barely produces what it needs and there are no exportable surplus this year according to veterans in the trade. "We expected this scenario earlier this year and began focussing our attention on the domestic front rather than exports" commented the head of a leading Black Pepper exporter who didnt want to divulge his name.

According to the statistics of Chamber of Commerce the country has exported 5,500 mt of the spice in the first four months of the financial year but the import figures were quite alarming which was close to 7,500 mt which means in short, the exporters are not using indian origin Black pepper at all, allowing the domestic prices not to flare up beyond a certain level.
"Although the country has imported 7500 mt in the first four months and more to come till the end of the year I do not think all the pepper we imported are heavy berries used by the grinding industry and possibly 40% of it may be by the grinding industry and rest by the oil and oleoresin industry" said Mr Jojan Malayil of Bafna Enterprises the countrys largest exporter of Indian origin Black pepper. "But the alarming side of it is that we are jobless for almost 9 months in an year and are at the mercy of operators in the national Commodity Exchanges and, new generation experts who give buy and sell calls based on charts" he added. The genuine traditional pepper guys are out of the system said a dealer from Adimaly who is uno of the Kerala pepper supply chain.

With IPC becoming a laughing stock in the past years the new Secretary General is on damage control according to our informations and is trying to put a stop to the nonsensical statistics on carry over, production and exports and balance available crop in producing origins especially in Indonesia and Vietnam who have been misleading the pepper people since last 3 years .

With harvests getting to its peak in Indonesia the prices from there has been dropped to usd 3800 fob Panjang and Brazil where harvest is almost round the corner in the main producing area Para these countries are vying for export orders as cash has become King . The prices from Brazil varies from shipper to shipper and agents from agents. The european claims they have offers of ASTA at USD 3900 fob Belem for August/September shipments the USA Brokers say the lowest they have is usd 4000 pmt but the main broker in Brazil says its all nonesense and may be you can buy at usd 4000 fob Belem but there is no guarantee that it will be shipped if the market is not in the favour of the shipper and one should take nomianl prices of ASTA at usd 4100 pmt fob Belem although there are no buyers at this Juncture.

Mother India the controller and wave setter of prices in the Globe is currently quoting usd 4250 pmt fob cochin for Mg 1 ASTA where as Indonesian ASTA is finding it difficult to find a home today at usd 3800 fob Panjang. Vietnam 500 g/l prices remained strady at usd 3700 pmt fob HCMC during the week and same is the case with ASTA prices which was hovering around usd 4200 pmt fob HCMC. With Bears pressing the markets down in India based on international news, the Indian market is somewhat holding ground with its huge domestic requirement and prices seems to settle between the Rs 180- 185 range for the next four weeks.

Sham Nair

Sunday, August 08, 2010

Pepper to remain flat till mid September

Dear Editor,

London 09th August 2010
With Summer holidays underway in Europe and USA where buyers are away on annual vaccation Black and White pepper which are currently in "Bear Hug" will continue to remain so as the cheer leader India lost steam without finding buyers for pepper at higher levels. Speculators who bought pepper thinking that it was going to hit lifetime high prices like all other commodities were pressed to the wall With Vietnam and Indonesia once again misleading carryforward and production figures for 2010 and was undercutting Indian prices and getting most of the sales for even winter period which was a last resort for indian exporters who are engaged in exporting genuine and pure Malabar Black pepper.Brazil and Indonesia pushed for sales and lowered their price tags below usd 4000 fob Belem/ Panjang couldnt attract many buyers as exporters there for vying sales and some of them even sold below usd 3900 belam for immediate cash and since arrivals peaked up in Lampong exporters were even offering at usd 3925 pmt fob but only for August and september shipments,

India the country which claims to have the highest domestic consumption of 40000- 45000 pmt seems to have dried up available stocks of farmgate as even after prices hitting Indian Rupees 210-215 per kg there was a big reluctance to sell which obviously means two things one is the available stocks are over and the other is the greed continues as all were praying for Inr 200 for a decade and when it came none wanted to sell. The country is still said to be carrying one crop under their bed and not willing to release it as current levels do not seem to be interesting. Meanwhile the monsoon showers has been pretty good so far and the 2011 crop looks promising at this time but it is stilll early as only by October we will get a clear picture. Indonesia the mystery place continue to be the worlds biggest ASTA pepper supplier for 2010 with almost all American orders under their belt and some exporters have quitely sold till the end of the year when indian futures hit the decade high of Rs 220 per kg in the month of july.

Vietnam who projected their exportable surplus for 2010 at 90000 mt have already exported 85000 mt through official custom route and 10000 mt through cross border trades still has 25000 mt according to pessimist exporters and 35000 mt according to optimists but God only knows the real truth and one has to wait till Jan 10 2011 to know the real story.

Sri Lanka the indian neighbour where the new crop is underway are soliciting orders at usd 3700 cnf cochin I(Indian rupees 170.77 per kg ) is still not getting buyers as the indian exporters are heard sitting on a pile of pepper finding no place to sell other than the national commodity exchanges which seems to have depressed the sentiments of the Bulls and markets have fallen to Bear Hug

Emmar Jay for Peppertrade Blog

Wednesday, August 04, 2010

Speculation, poor physical market understanding lead to volatility in commodities

THIS ARTICLE DOES NOT RELATE TO PEPPER ITSELF BUT I FIND IT SOMEHOW USEFULL...
Editor


Kunal Bose / Aug 03, 2010, 00:42


It is not anybody’s case that the financial commodities markets are operating in an ideal environment of transparency and regulation. In fact over the years, commodity exchanges in London, New York and Chicago have been pressured to exercise increasingly rigorous control on trade and improve transparency. Exchanges by their very nature are to face waves of speculation. But controls are generally well in place to avoid undermining of markets.
Even then concerns are expressed from time about speculation money routed through hedge funds sending prices of commodities, particularly oil and gas and iron ore on roller coaster rides. The speculative phenomenon has been much in evidence in the last two years. It no doubt has got much to do with the challenges faced by governments cutting across stages of development of the countries they represent – the developed world besides, both Beijing and New Delhi launched major stimulus programmes and any rollback is now to be done judiciously – to meet the challenges of 2008-09 recession. At the micro level, the almost felled industries are to first put their house in order and then return to the growth path.
But surprisingly for all the imperfections of the commodities markets, government attention invariably turns to the financial segment where because of very low interest rates speculators are finding it profitable to keep industrial commodities in warehouses.
To give one example, funds control over 80 per cent of about 4.5 million tonnes of aluminium in London Metal Exchange warehouses. Speculation is the reason why the funds are these days particularly active in commodities. No doubt aluminium and copper will have fared worse had not funds snapped up large volumes of metals in anticipation of future gains.
Moves by funds, call that speculation if you want, leave an impact on the market in the short term. Javier Blas writes in Financial Times that “over the medium term, prices in commodity markets respond largely to murky supply, demand and inventories signals. And here is the problem that policymakers are ignoring to the perils of the world economy.”
Not only does Blas point to the common ignorance of physical commodities markets, but more significantly laments the fact of our “worsening” understanding of these. One reason of our poor appreciation of the physical market is the rapid rise of China, South Korea and India as users (and producers too) of bulk commodities, while, as Blas points out, “the statistical and policymaking system was put in place in the 1960s-1970s” when such countries were not players of much significance.
Unfortunately, the system has not been sufficiently radicalised since to truthfully reflect the shift in production and consumption focus from developed to emerging nations. Growth in industrial commodities has been mostly in the East as high costs of labour and energy and also increasingly rigid environmental laws have caused shrinkages in metals production capacities in the West.
While there has been a major shift in action to the developing world since the mid 1980s as far as industrial commodities are concerned, the agencies to collect and analyse demand, supply and stocks data are still to be appropriately geared to precisely monitor movements there.
In the process we are left with an imperfect understanding of the physical commodities markets and the governments rather inexplicably are staying focussed on financial side of commodities markets. The International Organisation of Securities Commission has now said in a report on ‘Commodities Futures Markets,’ prepared for G20 that the “relative imbalance in the degree of transparency between financial (commodities) markets versus physical markets – which are, ironically, by far, the most transparent markets –obscures analysis of the many complex inputs into commodity prices.”
The play in commodities financial markets cannot but be based on price movements and demand and supply at a particular point in the physical market. However, much to general dismay, tracking of information in the latter remains imperfect. The blame for this is to be laid largely at the door of concerned industries. Blas, therefore, ruefully says, “Industry lacks enthusiasm to improve statistical flow as companies see their intelligence as proprietary information, key to their trading.”
He further makes the point that some of the more than 25 international organisations tracking physical commodities markets are just “hopeless.” And why is there not a world organisation to collect and analyse prices and supply, of now, as volatile a commodity as iron ore, the principal ingredient of steel making? To give an idea of volatility of this mineral, its prices rose by nearly 50 per cent in the first five months of 2010. But as that squeezed the margins of steelmakers who could not pass on the incremental cost to the buyers of the metal, they started destocking iron ore already with them.
Driving down stocks is much in evidence in China, the world’s largest importer of iron ore. The result is, spot prices are falling. In the process, the Baltic Dry Index, which measures chartering rates of large and very large ships is also taking a hit. The world needs to have a better understanding of the physical market.
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Friday, July 30, 2010

Indonesia

Dear Editor,
30/07
Indonesia which until three weeks ago, has been offering black pepper at usd 4500- 4600 a tonne, has suddenly turned out to be the cheapest source of this spice in the world. Thanks to the recent melt-down in its domestic prices, which happened as the wotlds largest oprerator of Black pepper who was buying the farmgrade pepper also competing local exporters withdrew from the market and indeed has become an agressive seller. The harvest is coming to an end contrary to the news of Indian media that the crops in Indonesia is delayed commented one of the top domestic exporter.Though the price crash comes as a boon to exporters, they are, however, cautious about responding to any new contracts for string shipments till the end of the year and are more comfortable in working for nearby shipments and offers are made at usd 4200-4225 pmt cfc 1.5 Ny . It is estimated by the agricultural department that nearly 25,000 tonnes of black pepper would be harvested in the current year although a section feels the crop is only 15000 mt and another section feels the crop is 35000 mt.

The Indian Black Pepper Futures is dominated by bull operators who have made the prices to usd 4650 pmt fob cochin for the Indian variety Mg-1 asta grade making it the worlds most expensive pepper which was well in line with other producing origins till four weeks ago.Thanks to the huge demand by the domestic operators after the prices crossing above Rs 200 per kg in the producing states kerala and karnataka .You can buy Black pepper much cheaper than what it is quoted in Cochin said an exporter.

Though Indian pepper in value-added forms has great demand in the world market, exporters of such products are sourcing their requirements from Indonesia since last ten days as the landed cost of this pepper in Kochi is only Rs 190/-kg and the neighbouring island nations pepper landed cost in kochi is only Rs 185/-per kg., said a Kochi-based exporter. Attracted by lower price, Indian processors have booked about 500-650 tonnes of pepper from Indonesia in the last week. This has surprised the bull operators as some exporters who were heavily long in the indian exchanges physical stocks are likely to deliver it back to the fellow citizens as they have got replacement Rs 25/kg below indian Black pepper for their value addition. With declining demand for the spice from abroad, and increasing prices domestically India has become a net importer of the spice in the first quarter of this financial year according to the statsistics made available by the Cochin Chamber of commerce and industry.
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Monday, July 26, 2010

INDIAN PEPPER FUTURES LIKELY TO DROP ANOTHER RS15 PER KG IN TANDEM WITH INTERNATIONAL PEPPER PRICES

The Indian Pepper prices which is currently ruling highest in the world because of its huge domestic consumption is likely to drop heavily from the second week of August according to the indications we receive from overseas markets. The neighbouring island nation whose new crop is ready has become agressive and offering its 525 g/l variety cnf cochin for august shipment at usd 3.950 pkg (Rs 185.49 per kg ) without finding buyers and same is the case with Indonesian new crop which is offered in all directions and from all shippers and resellers at usd 4.30 per kg cfc 1.5 (Rs 201.9 Per kg )New york delivered. Brazil very quitely accepting some deals for august/sept shipments on special payment terms by farmers /exporters who require cash at usd 4.20 per kg. Indian mg1 asta prices are currently the most expensive pepper quoted cfc 1.5 ny at usd 4.850 per kg cfc 1.5 Ny ( Rs 227.73 per kg ) With indian pepper futures dropping almost Rs 200 per ton from last weeks high the hunger for pepper has subsided from north indian speculative traders and they have become sellers to book their lossess in the main northern indian markets Delhi and jaipur. I do not think the current higher prices can sustain for long if no export demands coming to the country and since exporters have physical stocks which are already hedged in the exchange platform might become physical deliveries if the expected overseas demand does not show up; and this scenario will make available more stocks in the system and markets can drop substantially from current levels and move down to 190-192 per kg for nearby August deliveries according to expert analysts in the national commodity exchanges.

Saturday, July 10, 2010

Global Pepper availability seen in Deep Red although Production/Demand Mismatch Minimal

Guestimates of International Pepper community put production at 310000 mt of both Black and white pepper for the year 2010 but where as realistically according to the agronomists of leading spice companies in the world the production was some where in the area of minimum 360000 mt against a requirement of 216000 mt by importing countries and home consumption from origin countries to the tune of 90000 mt. Basically there was no mismatch between demand vs supply figures but what went wrong was the miscalculations in assessing availability of the spice when demand was there. Even today many importers feel that asian economy is not faring well and farming community will have to sell their produce when the harvest comes and they could do nothing but to sell, but in reality the farming community has become so rich and they have no rush to sell and the best example was seen when the new crop in india came this year when the farmers decided not to sell it as they felt the current year they will see Rs 200/kg for sure which they have been anticipating for the last two years and decided to hold back.The Value added industry went in for record imports in the first half of the year so that it will keep them going till October as they are not supposed to keep the imported pepper in the country for not more than 120 days. But many has exhausted their stocks and imports totally become unviable and the pressure on indian stocks mounting with many grinders putting on their hands on the exchange stocks which can make things more worse if the sellers do not honour their commitments by not giving physical deliveries.
Vietnam the worlds largest producer and exporter has put 85000 mt across seven seas of the world, and according to VIetnasm Pepper Association the balance available from that country is only 5000 mt according to the production estimates of 90000 mt they furnished with International pepper community (IPC) But the actual production figures according to trusted agronomists who were putting the figures very correctly since 2002 the production of pepper in the country is in the ranger of AROUND 120000 - 125000mt and carry over stocks of 10000 mt and imports of 5000 mt which will make a smooth sailing to 2011 was what the importing countries thought and what happened today is literal hoarding of the commodity by the worlds largest producer and exporter of the spice to the surprise of many importing countries.
Indonesia who were ruling the Black ASTA grade pepper Biz for quite sometime now , thought that they can do it for one more year and were undercutting Vietnam and Indian ASTA pepper prices by usd 200 pmt for no reason are now caught at the wrong foot with the worlds largest pepper importer and pepper trader very active in Panjang buying directly the aslan( farmgate) grade there by making the life of major exporters difficult and quite unhappy.
Malayasia sevicing their traditional markets Japan, Korea and Taiwan with their small crop has also been importing quite a bit from Vietnam in the first half of the year to avoid supply crunch in their local market.Their prices have been totally out of line for the rest of the world other than Japan, Korea and Taiwan who predominetly using sarawak pepper and they didnt want to change the flavour profile for a few hundred dollars.
India the origin which consumes almost 75% of its production internally for home consumption and the land where they have legalised online Casino by the name National Agri Commodity ExchangesNational multi commodity exchanges was the leader in bringng up prices from usd 2850 pmt fob for asta grade in March to the current usd 4150 pmt fob levels has been behaving pretty decent this week even when Vietnam increased its prices to usd 4650 fob levels hcmc for the asta grade and 500 grams/litre prices to usd 4050 pmt fob levels and Indonesia raising their prices from usd 3700 fob panjang levels to 4100 pmt fob panjang levels on friday and Brazil moving up as high as usd 4200 fob Belem levels with buyers paying up even high as usd 4050- 4100 fob belem for august/september shipments.
The USA market which is the worlds largest single importer has been in a total denail mood has finally showed their faces on Friday and picked up all cheap priced offers from all origins and resellers as they have realised that the situation is getting worse and it will be much worse in the coming weeks and better late than never as the next big crop is seven months away and the origins will continue to squeeze as most of the pepper is still with farmers and not intermediaries.
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Thursday, April 29, 2010

Re: Might pepper prices reach U$D 4,000 level again ?

Dear Editor

USD 4000 for pepper will be achieved in India in the futures delivery prices but hard to achieve in the spot segment . We do not have a shortage of the spice but prices are kept by highly speculative elements in India and again followed by Vietnam for no reason but to get hurt. Indonesians continue to ignore this and go forward and selling at usd 3375- 3400 for July/August/Sept shipments and for nearby shipments Vietnam also willing to sell its ASTA pepper at usd 3375 pmt fob Hcmc. India keeping its price at usd 3800 fob cochin is holding the umbrella for other countries to get the lions share of the world market. In the past one year Indonesia has emerged as the dark horse and Villian not allowing the pepper prices to move beyond a certain level with the agressive marketing by the Bold and Beautiful there by kindling the hopes of the Indian Bulls and Vietnamese Bulls to rally the prices further. If the speculators suddenly leave the scene India will become very competetive immediately in the world market and the prospects of exporting 5000 mt to asta markets will brighten according to major players handling Indian Pepper.


What we see currently is heavy inflow of imported Black pepper from Vietnam,Indonesia and Sri lanka into Cochin in the month of april and more to come in May exporters are staying away from the spot market and some of them still buying and selling future deliveries as the arbitrage is very good .


Its true that many industries need to cover pepper for the second half of the year but are not jumping and waiting patiently to see that prices are settled and since Indonesia is already in the market to sell at usd 3375 pmt fob panjang for july/Aug/Sept shipments which is currently picked up by only Indian value added processors and other importing countries still feel the prices of ASTA pepper will drop to usd 3000 pmt


We are seeing a continued fall in Indian pepper futures and this is likely to continue as the holders are the ones who dont require a gram of pepper for their home use and the sellers are mainly hedgers who has pepper in their own warehouse or in dematted stocks of National Exchanges. Unless and until Indian pepper prices come to export parity exporters are not likely to participate and extend their hand to the falling prices in Indian pepper futures which is currently heading to Indian rupees 142/kg in the second week of May 2010 when the conttracts near for its maturity according to some major analysts

Might pepper prices reach U$D 4,000 level again ?


Two weeks ago, around 12 April, the market semed to stop its upward path.
For around 5days the prices slided back giving an impression that international
buyers were right in their very cautious policy of wait-and-watch and buying
small and quietly just for immediate needs. However that "pit-stop" was short.
From monday 19 the uprise resumed with an ever growing strengh.
In Brazil prices rose an average of 25-50 dollars per ton per day during the last couple of days.

Are there fundamentals to support such behavior ?

It has been reported since last year that India´s crop will be barely suficient
to local needs: around 50 Kton crop for around 50 Kton local consumption.
Nevertheless India is still an exporter and bear a tradition in some markets
which allows higher prices. In February alone exports were reported at 1,500 mt.
Therefore India is an Importer this year.

Vietnam previewed a strong drop in 2010 production which is said to be
no more than 100,000 ton this year.
Presumably no carryover stocks or very limited from 2009 when exports reached a record of 130,000 ton.
However high export volumes are reported for every month and some anailst estimate that
possibly some 35,000 tons were shipped already.
Vietnamese growers sensed the taste of blood and begun to hold their produce expecting further rise in prices, at a point that some delays/defaults are being reported.
The misterious Indonesia is said to have no more than 10,000 ton left until the
new crop.
Brazil is confirming a very limited availability and drop / delay in his harvest.
Further, as traditional supplier to USA, Brazil may fulfill the american needs
for ASTA grade as no salmonela was reported from this origin.

Time Frame Factor
USA is having trouble with FDA due to recent salmonela issues which is bringing
some thightness and urgency to the market, especially if the importers were
buying cautiosly expecting prices to correct /adjust (drop).

And last but not the less important - the Ramadan hollyday - which is peak of
pepper consumption will start this year before the Indonesian and Brazilian
crops. All these factors put toghether may create a "hole" in the supply
sky-rocketing the pepper prices.

A good deal for speculators who quietly keep some stocks for that moment (if any...)



Editor Peppertrade

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Will the rally in Pepper continue further?

Sham Nair
New Delhi March 28 2010
The current rally which began on 16th March which moved prices up by 20% in all origins have not helped mother India in the export front in capitalising the exports of indian origin Malabar Black Pepper and in fact its going to cause threat in the coming days when the import lobbys pepper hit the shores of cochin which it has bought from Indonesia , Sri Lanka and Vietnam which according to our sources is some thing close to 3000 mt which is al time record high as far as imports are concerned.
Indian malabar asta pepper prices were ruling at usd 2900 - 2950 fob cochin when Srilankan 525 gl peper was offered to cochin at usd 2425 pmt
Indonesian asta pepper was offered usd 2700- 2750 fob Panjang and Vietnam asta pepper pieces were hovering around usd 2575 to 2625 pmt fob Hcmc The current rally has pushed up Indian mg 1 prices to usd 3425 - 3475 pmt where as Indonesian asta prices are still usd 3175 fob Panjang offered on friday and unsold and Brazilian asata usd 3000 fob offered and unsold and Vietnam asta offered usd 3125- 3175 offered and unsold in Newyork market besides srilankan pepper 525 gl offered at usd 2900 cnf cochin offered and unsold on friday which clearly shows the markets are pausing and with long christaian and jewish holidays in the coming two weeks will make markets calmer and quiet. With only 35% harvest of new crop over in Vietnam and still a lot has to hit the market can Vietnam farmers hold back the entire crop and dictate prices is to be seen or other origins will capitalise and take the sales in their books has to be seen.

The sales activities of Indonesia since last year is creating some sort of doubts in the minds of major players wheher Indonesia is a bigger producer of pepper than the publicised Vietnam. As from Idonesia although being the headquarters of International pepper community.all informations about actual crop size, carry over, exports. imports from Vietnam and India everything is kept as a secret which has made the IPC a laughing stock in recent times.
Many buyers need to buy in europe and usa as the sharp increase of 20% has caught them on the wrong foot so a drastic drop in prices are ruled out but a correction is expected before the next rally

Jupiter Commodities from USA published areport on March 26

Jupiter Commodities from USA published areport on March 26
Black Pepper has continued on the upturn during the week.
The Vietnamese farmers have continued to hold back newcrop arrivals. As prices increased in Vietnam, so did India/Indonesia and Brasil.
Vietnamese traders tried buying aggressively in Vietnam combined with some European and MidEast buying has push levels up and made farmers very wary of selling. Obviously, the buying interest from consuming countries showed up on the doorsteps of the other origins. The activities in all corners, is based on need and not on manipulations.
We feel that the firmer and increasing market shall remain at least through next month provided that buyers remain interested.
We believe that buying shall continue.
This week we saw an average of a 10% increase across the board. Spot USA market remains thin with fresh arrivals/releases being picked up. With the next 2 week holiday schedule it will be interesting see how well the market shall behave itself. White pepper firmer in concert with black but as far as activities are concerned remained lack luster.

Thursday, March 25, 2010

India Today, March 25,2010

Dear Sirs,
Pepper zooms up on speculation and reports of spot pepper buying by exporters. Prices on future deliveries close at its 4 % limits up. Spot pepper finds buyers at higher levels than yday and sensing this, the shorts on futures came forward to cover which imparted the momentum for prices to move upwards. Traders continue to remain in a 'disbelief' kind of a state with this kind of a move. Last 10 days saw markets moving up by about 15 to 17 % on spot and futures.
Higher advises from Vietnam were like fuel to the fire. Market tone at the end of the day is very very firm.

Indian MG I ASTA grade parity at $ 3300 / 3350 PMT FOB Cochin

From www.peppertrade.com.br

India continues to be 3rd largest buyer of Vietnam  pepper in March also

New Delhi 25 March 2010
India the largest consumer of pepper as a producing origin somewhere between 40,000 and 50000 mt with an average production of 45000 - 50000 mt annually continue to be the 3rd largest importer of pepper from Vietnam in the first half of march 2010 with 604 mt already destined for India according to the export statistics released in Hochiminh City.

These imports are besides the ones from Indonesia and Sri Lanka which clearly shows that indian origin black pepper exports are becoming thinner and thinner day by day which on one hand is very good as the country shouldnt end up importing pepper for home consumption but on the hand the cochin pepper mafia will continue to sow the fear psychosis weeds on local traders and farmers scaring with them the news of imported pepper flowing freely anywhere in the country.

United States of America stood first with 1050 mt followed by Germany 1046 mt in the first half of march with regard to imports from vietnam which clearly shows the two major importing countries continued requirement of black pepper.

Reports emanating from Vietnam says that India will go to the No 1 spot in the month of April as two arms of multinational companies who are having processing facilities in india have picked up 1000 mt for shipment in March and will be reaching the indian shores by mid april. Now that India has become outpriced in the indian market heavily the usual delivery pickers from the national exchange might abstain from deliveries which can create some pressure towards maturity of April contract.
If the indian speculators continue to keep the future delivery prices at a premium the imports of pepper into the country will create a new record in 2010.

Sham Nair

Saturday, March 13, 2010

REF: Vietnam is ruling the 2010 World Pepper Market

Dear Mr Editor

Pertaining to the article below would like to make some comments and would request your goodselves to start a discussion forum from pepper lovers and manipulators and speculators why not all stakeholders of the industry.
I think everyone will agree that Vietnam holds the Key of International pricing of Black pepper whether Indonesia and Brazil still trying to compete them with insignificant quantities or indian exchanges play reverse games showing their muscle and money power.

If the VPA managers really orchestrate a clear sales policy Vietnamese farmers and exporters are going to fetch a fantastic return of their produce in 2010. With our sources reporting from Daklak that this year since there is virtually no carry over stocks and most stocks in the hands of farmers unlike previous years when exporters were also holding carryover stocks big arrivals in certain days use to influence the market which resulted in panic selling.
This year such a scenario is not seen and the western world will have to pay the price of the Vietnamese farmers for their pepper if they want it. Indian harvest where almost 50% is over the farmers have harvested and dried it and kept in store and not willing to discuss current prices for any sales activities.

The Hindu Business Line reports out of 7240 mt of pepper exported by Vietnam in the month of January india is the 4th largest importer but quantities and qualities are not mentioned. whether it is bought by oleoresin industries or value addition companies and the respective quantitie are all missing so it is nothing but a fear psychosis treatment for holders of pepper to liquidate by the jewtown based pepper mafia.
When pepper is available at 126 and 127 in rs per kg cannot understand why importers should be importing paying 128 per kg because rupee is strong and its cheap to import. Since the imported pepper has to leave the country in 120 days it does not make this argument good but again an attempt to depress market and corner the commodity.

With regard to EL NINO factor in Brazil so far only your goodselves has brought it up and others seems to not worried and since its your country i am sure that being a seasoned veteran your findings will ultimately prove right.
Best Rgds

Sham Nair

Monday, March 08, 2010

Vietnam is ruling the 2010 World Pepper Market

The first week of March showed a declining trend in Pepper prices lead by the new crop Vietnamese offers. Nevertheless as the week came to the end, the prices stabilized and are getting firmer.
Reports of good sales from Vietnam new crop to India and Europe show that the buyer´s interest is growing, and there is no fundamented reason for Exporters continue to offer further cheaper prices as Vietnam has no competition at the moment and, possibly, for quite a long time.

India´s crop touched its peak and India´s exports fell around 29% in January reduced to mere 1,500 ton, according a report from Reuters earlier this week.According the Hindu Business Line, " Aggravating their fear further, a report today said the Vietnamese exports in January stood at 7,240 tonnes and India was the third top importer from there, market sources told Business Line. No export demand from overseas, especially the US, was coming to India, of late, and it was being directed towards Vietnam and Indonesia which have been offering lower. A strong rupee against the dollar has made the Indian parity not competitive despite the fall in the futures market, they said."

Brazil is facing a very unfavourable weather since last November / December and the drought may reduce the crop in some 40% in 2010 (click here for more detailed report).
Brazilian exports for 2009 crop, measured between June 2009 and February 2010 were at 28,000 tons, so carryover stock might be estimated in around 6,000 tons, with no possibility of strong reinforcment in June due to the crash of Espirito Santo crop.
Further the Real rate begun to appreciate again, pulling thus the export prices further higher.

Last week, prices at the farm gate ranged from U$D 2,210 monday to U$D2,247 friday.
It is true that some sales happened for as low as U$D 2,550 for B1 550 gl but this was a sporadic occasion for making some cash. The lowest prices in Brazil stood at U$D 2,500 for B2 500gl and U$ 2,625 for B1 560 gl and U$ 2,700 - 2,750 for ASTA. However exporters are not interested in trade at these levels and, need just a tiny reason to increase their prices.

The only threat to Vietnam exporetrs might be poised by Indonesia, since in the last couple of years they increased again their sales in to USA. However their prices stood higher most of the time.

Reported prices average for the week were; Brazil ASTA U$D 2,750, Vietnam 580 gl ASTA U$D 2,900, India MG1 U$D 3,000. Cheaper qualities stood at U$D 2,650 500gl CLEAN from Brazil, U$D 2,350 500gl FAQ from Vietnam.

PEPPERTRADE EDITOR