Spices lead dip in agri futures prices

9,090 16.18 12,941 10,362 -19.93 Maize5785963.11714698-2.24 Mentha oil*57065915.615275290.38 Pepper8,27313,24760.1215,74612,240-22.27 Sugar1,8571,8331.291,3641,301-4.62 Turmeric2,6102,7676.022,2932,054-11.42 Guarseed2,0881,697-18.731,7561,7942.16 Chilli5,2856,38220.764,0724,61113.24 * Rs per kg , ** July 17, 2006  Turmeric is reeling under pressure due to huge stocks and low domestic demand. Cumin seed is slipping despite low production due to lacklustre demand and dull exports. Pepper is a victim of market manipulation, according to commodity experts. According to them, there is good overseas demand for pepper as the Indian variety surpasses the Vietnamese and Brazilian variants. The country has a stock of around 10,000-12,000 tonnes and overseas demand of around 2,500 to 3,000 tonnes a month can comfortably be catered to. The new pepper crop is expected in December-January. However, due to excessive rains in Kerala (major pepper growing state), initial reports suggest the probability of a decline in output.  Excessive production has not left room for any upward rally in sugar. During the period under review, the sweetener dipped by 4 per cent.  Chana, which was ruling above Rs 3,000 a quintal during this time last year has been consolidating between Rs 2,220 and Rs 2,260 a quintal in the last one month. Commodity analysts said that anticipated demand in the spot markets across the country was not picking up. Moreover, the government