Pepper remains firm on rising demand

Black pepper prices firmed up further at the spices market here today owing to susutained demand from stockists and bulk consumers coupled with higher export offtake.

Meanwhile, rest of the spices closed stable in the absence of worthwhile buying support.

Black pepper gained Rs 4 per kilo to Rs 231/245 from Thursday's closing level of Rs 227/245.

Following are today's closing rates in rupees, with the previous rates in brackets:

Black pepper (per kg) 231/245 (227/245), ginger bleached (per kg) 230 (230), ginger unbleached (per kg) 245 (245), copra office Alapuzha (per quintal) 5,700 (5,700)

copra office Kozhikode (per quintal) 5,600 (5,600), copra Rajapur Mumbai (per quintal) 6,700 (6,700) and copra edible Mumbai (per quintal) 6,350 (6,350)