2022 Q1 Spices Report

In 2021, black pepper production totaled 180,000 mt, down 25% YoY. The new crop is projected to fall by 10,000 mt to 170,000 mt. The most substantial reasons behind the pessimistic sentiment are the lack of labor available for harvesting caused by COVID-19, a reduction in the acreage, and the delay in harvesting given adverse weather conditions. Amid smaller output, domestic prices remained firm in Q1 2022.