Black Pepper Prices Likely to Stay Strong on Stock Shortage

09-Sep-2025 11:10 AM

Kochi. Due to the ongoing Onam festival in Kerala and low or negligible imports from other countries including Sri Lanka, the spot stock of black pepper has decreased and due to the imbalance between demand and supply, the environment of strong prices is expected to remain.

The weather and monsoon conditions in both the top producing states - Karnataka and Kerala - remain quite favorable for the black pepper crop. If there is no deterioration in it for the next few weeks, the next production of black pepper can be better.

Some experts say that Indian buyers are confused due to the decrease in production and high prices in Sri Lanka. They are not getting enough success in contracting its import at a reasonable price.

Meanwhile, in India, the harvesting and preparation of new stock of black pepper is expected to start in December. The harvesting and preparation of raw grains (tender capsules) can start before that, which can be used in making spice oil and oleoresin.

The arrival of the new crop of black pepper picks up in December-January in Kerala and March-April in Karnataka. Now the off-season of supply is going on in both the states and the producers are handling their remaining stock carefully.

As a result, the arrival of this important spice in auction centers and terminal market of Kochi is limited. In the season 2024-25, domestic production of black pepper was also affected by adverse weather. The price of black pepper in Kochi was recorded at Rs 700/710 per kg last day.

The export performance of black pepper is going on satisfactorily. In the quarter of April-June 2025, the export of black pepper from India increased to 5339 tonnes,

which was about 11 percent more than the shipment of 4795 tonnes in the same months of the year 2024. Similarly, its export income also increased from Rs 215.88 crore to Rs 316.64 crore.