Despite an upward trend in prices, the black pepper market in North Indian consuming centres is witnessing a slow movement after Deepawali.
Traders said that the consumers are still in a holiday mood in the North and the market is expected to revive by next week. In spite of this slow movement, they said prices are moving up by ₹1 per kg on a daily basis, reaching ₹693 for ungarbled and ₹713 for garbled in the Kochi terminal market.
The market is ruling steady for the time being with masala manufacturers procuring more quantities to meet their production requirements.
Hopes of US tariffs cut
Kishore Shamji of Indian Pepper and Spices Trade Association said that the anticipation of a further reduction in US tariff has created an enthusiasm in the market on the expectation of reviving exports.
However, the availability of Brazilian pepper in the upcountry markets with higher bulk density at Rs750 at traders’ doorsteps is posing a concern. This has affected the sales of domestically produced pepper especially from Tamil Nadu, Wayanad and Coorg. In Brazil, pepper prices are ruling at $6,000 per tonne whereas in India, it is $8,000, Shamji said.
Meanwhile, the Agriculture department based on a survey has revised pepper production to 85,000 tonnes in the 2026 crop calendar from 1,10,000 tonnes. The farmers are concerned of the onset of the North-East monsoon with wind damage in several places and which is likely to have a say in next year’s production, he said.
Published on October 24, 2025
