INDIA - Spice industry faces huge crisis after suspension of exports in wake of COVID-19

While Gulf countries had already suspended cardamom import, the export of cardamom, pepper and other spices has now been temporarily suspended due to coronavirus fears.

Even as the COVID-19 pandemic spreads across the globe and India has announced a nation-wide lockdown, the spice industry is facing a huge setback. Farmers and traders are facing an enormous crisis after the export of cardamom, pepper and other spices was temporarily suspended due to coronavirus fears.

Last week the Spices Board suspended the cardamom e-auctions scheduled at e-auction centres at Bodinayakanur in Tamil Nadu and Puttady in Kerala with immediate effect until March 31. This has only added to the farmers’ woes. Within a week, the price of cardamom dropped by more than Rs 1,000 per kg. Till the last week of January, the price of cardamom was nearly Rs 4,000 to 4,500 per kg in the retail market. But now it fallen to Rs 2,000 to Rs 2,300. Pepper prices also fell to Rs 290 from Rs 330 per kg. Vendors are also not willing to buy spices such as cardamom, pepper and coffee from farmers.

Johny Joseph Vattathara, who runs Spice More Trading Company in Kumily in Kerala’s Idukki which trades in black pepper, cinnamon, cardamom and coffee, said that the COVID-19 pandemic has severely affected the spices trading and market. “Cardamom is mainly exported to Gulf countries. When COVID-19 started spreading across the world, the Gulf countries temporarily suspended cardamom import from other countries. We lost many export orders from the Gulf, presently we have no idea when the issue will be resolved,” he said.

Cardamom is firstly bought by vendors from Tamil Nadu and they export the product to other countries including the Gulf. But after the coronavirus scare, foreign countries stopped buying cardamom and the price continues to dip,” Johny added.

“Now the auctions have been suspended in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, so the movement of spices from Idukki district has stopped entirely. In the last cardamom auction, the average price quoted was only Rs 2,336 per kg,” Johny said.

Idukki district in Kerala is India’s largest producer of cardamom. Most of the natives in Idukki are farmers and live solely on income from agricultural produce. So when the traders stopped purchasing spices from them, the farmers are now in dire straits.

Small-scale traders are also upset over the present situation in the spices industry. “We vendors normally purchase spices from the farmers. But now we don’t know how to sell the products purchased through auction. With the lockdown in place, the market will also be suspended till April 14. We have already purchased and stored huge amounts of cardamom and pepper from the farmers. Now we don’t know when we’ll be able to sell it to wholesalers,” said MJ Joseph Mattapparampil, a spices vendor in Idukki.

AA George, a cardamom vendor, said, “In the present situation we can’t buy cardamom or other spices from the farmers. We don’t know when we can sell to wholesale vendors or through auction. The vendors have also stocked large quantities of cardamom and they are facing a big problem in selling their product.”

“Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, there is trade uncertainty in all countries and this will affect the import of cardamom and other spices. In the present situation, the vendors are not willing to purchase,” George added.

PM Thomas, a farmer, said, “Agriculture is my only source of income. But three days ago I tried to sell 10 kg of pepper but no vendor was ready to buy the product. I don’t know how to manage the situation.”

This report by
https://www.thenewsminute.com

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IPC MARKET REVIEW - February 2020

PRICE HISTORY

As the outbreak of Corona Virus continued affecting around 109 countries all over the world with a death toll reaching 3,831 cases (as of 09 March), pepper price index for the 2th month of 2020 was reported with a negative outlook. The price index of black pepper for February was reported with a major decrease of 11.4% as compared with the previous month at 30.30 point (Table 1). In addition, when compared with February 2019, the price index of black pepper experienced 7% loss. Following the same trend, the price index of white pepper for February 2020 was also reported with a significant decrease as it recorded a 6.9% decrease as compared with previous month at 32.36 point. In comparison with the same period in 2019, the price index of white pepper experienced a more significant decrease by 13%.


In the 2th month of 2020, the composite price for both black and white pepper was reported with a negative outlook. Composite price of black pepper in February was reported at USD 2,254 per Mt, recording USD 290 per Mt loss as compared with January. Aligned with composite price of black pepper, composite price of white pepper was also reported with a rather significant loss as it dropped to USD 3,349 per Mt. Thus, recording USD 249 per Mt loss as compared with the previous month.


Pepper prices in the 2nd month of 2020, showed a negative outlook with Viet Nam origin recorded the highest decrease as opposed to the previous month. The farm gate price of black pepper in India was reported with a decrease by 3% as opposed to January, averaging at USD 4,390 per Mt (Table 3). In the local currency farm gate price of India black pepper was traded at an average of INR 313 per Kg. The decrease of India black pepper price could be contributed to the harvest season currently in full swing as well as the depreciation of Indian Rupee against US Dollar.

The price of black pepper in Indonesia (Lampung black pepper) was reported with a decrease by 3% as opposed to the previous month, averaging at of USD 1,742 per Mt. The decrease of Indonesia black pepper could be contributed to the sluggish demand and the weakening of Indonesia's local currency against the US Dollar (IDR 13,776 for USD 1). In local currency, the price of Indonesia black pepper decreased to an average of IDR 24,000 per Kg from IDR 24,614 per Kg

In February 2020, the farm gate price of Malaysia's black pepper was reported with a decrease by 4% as compared to the previous month, averaging at USD 1,800 per Mt. The decrease of Malaysia black pepper could be contributed to the decrease of pepper price in local currency and the weakening of Malaysia's local currency against the US Dollar (MYR 4.16 for USD 1) or a depreciation by 2% when compared with the January. In local currency, the price of Malaysia black pepper decreased to an average of MYR 7,490 per Kg from MYR 7,621 per Kg.

Furthermore, farm gate price of black pepper in Viet Nam was reported to have decreased by 6% as opposed to January averaging at USD 1,613 per Mt. The decrease of Viet Nam black pepper price could be contributed to the harvest season currently in full swing. In local currency, the price of Viet Nam black pepper decreased to an average of VND 38,500 per Kg from VND 40,875 per Kg.

Sri Lanka black pepper was reported with a staggering 11% deficit as opposed to January and was reported at an average of USD 2,931 per Mt. The decrease of Sri Lanka black pepper could be contributed to sufficient stock following end of harvest in January. In local currency, the price of Sri Lanka black pepper decreased to an average of LKR 531.92 per Kg from LKR 586.72 per Kg.

BLACK PEPPER
FOB price of black pepper for February 2020 also showed a negative outlook with only Malaysia origin was reported stable. India was reported with the same 3% decrease when compared to the January, averaging at USD 4,670 per Mt (Table 4). Furthermore, the FOB price of black pepper in Indonesia was also reported with a decrease by 2% as opposed to January, averaging at USD 2,161 per Mt. FOB price of Malaysian black pepper was reported stable at an average of USD 3,685 per Mt. Furthermore, FOB price of Viet Nam black pepper 500 g/l and 550 g/l were reported with a significant decrease by 16% and 14% respectively as compared to the previous month at an average of USD 1,964 per Mt and USD 2,060 per Mt respectively.

WHITE PEPPER
Farm gate prices of white pepper in February 2020 also showed a negative outlook (Table 5) as only Indonesia origin was reported stable. Indonesia Muntok white pepper was reported stable at average of USD 3,122 per Mt. In local currency, the price of Muntok white pepper was reported at an average of IDR 43,000 per Kg. Farm gate price of Malaysia white pepper was reported with a decrease by 3% as opposed to January at an average of USD 3,211 per Mt. Furthermore, Viet Nam white pepper was reported with a significant decrease by 8% when compare to the previous month, averaging at USD 2,409 per Mt. China market continued to be reported inactive in February as no business took place due to the outbreak of Corona Virus.


FOB price of white pepper showed a rather stable outlook with only Viet Nam origin was reported with a decrease. FOB price of Indonesia white pepper for February 2020 was reported stable, averaging at USD 3,716 per Mt. Furthermore, FOB price of Malaysia white pepper continued to be reported stable and unchanged. Whilst, FOB price of Viet Nam white pepper was reported with a significant dropped of 12% at an average of USD 3,069 per Mt .

 

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#Coronavirus impact: Global pepper market witnessing a grim scenario

Rajesh Ravi |
March 18, 2020
Global pepper market is witnessing a grim scenario with no demand seen in the past two weeks as the coronavirus outbreak impacts its prices in Europe and the US, bringing down by 6-8 % in 2020. This could fall further with COVID-19 as it spreads to key markets of the US and Europe.

Jojan Malayil, chief executive officer of Kochi-based Bafna Enterprises, said the situation was very grim and buyers were not even asking for the rates.
“There is an extreme fear in the market and our regular buyers are in the wait and watch mode. Suppliers of spices in the US market fear a drop in demand if the disease spreads to more cities and people. Prices could drop further if the situation continues like this,” he said.

Jojan said Vietnam was offering American Spice Trade Association (ASTA) grade pepper for $1,950 per tonne, while Brazil and Indonesia are quoting lower than that. However, Rajiv Palicha of Nedspice India told FE that there was not much disruption in pepper trade except in container movements slowing down due to problems in China. “Prices of all spices have declined 8-10% and arrival of the new crop in pepper has added to the pressure. There is a slight slowdown in demand from China and Italy but overall, the trade has not seen big disruptions,” he added.

Pepper Crop Report by Nedspice in January 2020 reported that new crop arrivals were expected to peak between February and April putting further pressure on pepper prices over the upcoming months. The report added global production was estimated to drop by 12% this season, but the overall stocks were expected to be still well above the total market demand.

Palicha said domestic demand for pepper and trade has not so far been disrupted due to the virus outbreak. India is the largest consumer of pepper in the world and the second largest producer after Vietnam. Traders believe that a revival in Chinese demand could help support pepper prices to a certain extent in the short run.



Published: March 18, 2020 3:00:05 AM
https://www.financialexpress.com/market/commodities/








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# CORONAVIRUS - UPDATES

#PEPPER MARKET UPDATE 9TH MARCH 2020 – WEEK 11

Vietnam has exported roughly 25,600 tons of pepper in February, bringing the total pepper exported in the last 2 months to 40,600 tons, an increase of 11% compared to the first 2 months of 2019. We forecast March the total export volume will be easy to reach from 32 to 35,000 tons. All details data that we will collect and send you within next week.

Under the influence of #Corona Virus, the pepper market in Vietnam has had certain effects when prices decreased slightly over the weekend due to low demand and psychological factors affecting commodity prices. Furthermore, almost exporters covered enough raw material for Feb/First week March shipment and now keep sidelined.

After easier tone, the market has shown signs of recovery with some demand from India/Nepal and Eastern Europe. The USA market also recorded some demand for further shipment from June to December. However, business were slow due to collector/exporters/speculator prefer to offer promptly shipment and hesitating to offer full year shipment. In contrast to many other countries, Vietnam currency has strengthened against the USD and expected to continue until the second quarter of 2020 (equivalent to a price increased of about 10$/Mt).

China It seems has better control of the disease and we hope the situation will settled down soon. Border traded still tight and under strict control with costly. However, likely demand are returning soon. China reported trading its white pepper internationally with an average of USD 4,375 per Mt.

India as the harvest come to full swing Malabar black pepper was traded with a 4% discount on the price as compared to the previous week, averaging at USD 4,203 per Mt. Currency depreciation than USD from  last week.

Indonesia black and white pepper also down around 1 and 2% respectively at an average of USD 1,684 per Mt for black pepper and USD 3,053 per Mt for white pepper. Indonesian Rupiah also weakening than USD with 2% depreciation.

Malaysian an increase of 1% as opposed to the previous week, averaging at USD 1,767 per Mt for black pepper and USD 3,172 per Mt for white pepper.

Sri Lanka was also reported steady at an average of USD 2,937 per Mt.

Brazil market we heard continue firm and less offer from farmers/collectors. USD stronger against with Real.

 









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#PEPPER #INDIA - Pepper imports from Brazil worry Indian growers

Kochi March 03, 2020

 #Coronavirus
Spice meet put off on virus scare

Pepper farming community has voiced concern over the presence of Brazilian pepper in India. It is reported that markets in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Delhi and Maharasthra are getting Brazilian pepper for re-export at ₹340 +GST paid and freight delivered at the buyer’s doorstep.
The price of Indian pepper comes to around ₹360. Traders claim Brazilian pepper has 600 gm/litre bulk density.

According to Kishore Shamji of Kishor Spices, pepper farmers are worried over the new entrant into the Indian markets, which is selling below the Vietnam pepper prices. The latter rules at $2,000 per tonne against the Brazilian pepper’s $1,800-1,900. It is estimated that over 600 tonnes of Brazilian pepper were imported into the country during December and January.

Normally, Vietnam bolder berries would slip into the domestic market as No 13 quantity that had snatched away Wayanadan and Karnataka pepper share from the domestic market.

Meanwhile, pepper prices in Kochi were down by ₹1 per kg with limited sellers from Kerala. The arrivals in the market was lower at 13 tonnes. The average price realised for ungarbled varieties was ₹308 per kg, while MG1 garbled stood at ₹328. New pepper was quoted at ₹298.
However, traders expect arrivals to pick up in the coming days, mainly from Wayanad and Karnataka, to be followed by Tamil Nadu.

Meanwhile, the coronavirus scare has forced organisers in Kochi to postpone the International Spice Conference 2020 slated to be held from March 8 to 11.
The organisers pointed out that many of the delegates from countries such as Italy, Europe, West Asia have informed their inability to attend the meet.

V Sajeev Kumar
The HinduBusinessLine

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