EXPORT OF PEPPER BY NETHERLANDS
The Netherlands is a country located mainly in North-western Europe. In the past, Netherlands had an important role in the spread of pepper in the world. In 1595, Houtman of Holland made a successful voyage to Indonesia. This was the beginning of monopoly spice trade. Netherlands gradually established a firm grip over the pepper producing centers near Lampung in Sumatera and Banten in Java. Pepper is a thriving agriculture activity in Lampung region even today. Furthermore, Netherlands actively imports pepper from various pepper producing countries for domestic consumption or for re-export.
In 2019, Netherlands was reported to have imported a total of 11,140 Mt which 66% of it comprised of whole pepper. In the following year, Netherlands's import of pepper increased by 11%, totaling at 12,404 Mt. As of January 2021, Netherlands was reported to have imported a total of 1,399 Mt of which 768 Mt went for re-export purposes. The ratio of Netherlands's import and export during 2019 - January 2021 were 1.3:1, 2:1 and 2:1 respectively. The top five countries of origins for Netherlands's pepper as of January 2021 were reported to be Viet Nam with 847 Mt (contributed to 61% of the total pepper imported by Netherlands as of January 2021), Brazil with 248 Mt (18%), Indonesia with 59 Mt (4%), Germany with 52 Mt (3.7%) and Tanzania with 50 Mt (3.6%).
In 2019, Netherlands was reported to have exported a total of 8,313 Mt of pepper which 52% or 4,324 Mt of it comprised of whole pepper and 48% or 3,990 Mt of it ground pepper. Netherlands on average exported a total of 693 Mt per month in 2019 which peaked in March with 791 Mt. The total revenue of Netherlands's export of pepper in 2019 was reported to be as high as USD 38.3 Million. Thus, recording an average price of the total pepper exported by Netherlands at USD 3,920 per Mt for whole pepper and USD 5,357 per Mt for ground pepper.
Year 2020 saw a decrease in term of quantity of pepper exported by Netherlands. Netherlands was reported to have exported a total of 7,804 Mt which 47% or 3,662 Mt of it comprised of whole pepper and 53% or 4,142 Mt of it ground pepper, recording a decrease of 6% when compared to 2019. The average export of pepper by Netherlands in 2020 was reported to be 650 Mt per month which peaked in January with 792 Mt. In accordance with decreasing in term of quantity, Netherlands's revenue from pepper export was reported with a decrease of 14% as compared to the previous year to a total of USD 33.0 Million. Thus, recording an average price of the total pepper exported by Netherlands at USD 4,292 per Mt for whole pepper and USD 4,182 per Mt for ground pepper or an increase of 10% for whole pepper and a decrease of 22% for ground pepper as compared to 2019.
As of January 2021, Netherlands was reported to have exported pepper totaling 768 Mt which 48% or 370 Mt of it comprised of whole pepper and 52% or 398 Mt of it ground pepper. Thus, recording a decrease of 3% when compared to the same period in 2020. As of January 2021, the total revenue of pepper export by Netherlands was reported to have reached USD 3.6 Million recording an increase of 12% as compared to the same period in 2020. The average price of the total pepper exported by Netherlands as of January 2021 was reported to be USD 4,508 per Mt for whole pepper and USD 4,997 per Mt for ground pepper.
Pepper from Netherlands is traded worldwide with most of them being European countries. As of January 2021, Netherlands's top 5 country destinations for its pepper were reported to be Germany with 216 Mt (an increase of 43% as compared to the same period in 2020), Belgium with 131 Mt (a decrease of 16%), France with 111 Mt (an increase of 19%), Spain with 43 Mt (an increase of 93%) and Hungary with 39 Mt (a decrease of 16%). The decrease of Netherlands's pepper export to Belgium was the result of Belgium shifted to import pepper from origin country such as Madagascar (an increase of 61% or 8 Mt as compared to the same period in 2020) and Spain (an increase of 19 Mt).