Black pepper continues to rally on firm demand; copra slips

Black pepper maintained its uptrend for the fourth consecutive day at the spices market today due to robust demand amid supply squeeze.
Pepper prices has been witnessing a steady uptrend owing to consistent buying from stockists and retailers coupled with good export demand. Restricted arrivals from key growing areas following heavy rains also supported the trend.
Meanwhile, select copra varieties declined owing to reduced off-take from millers.
Black pepper spurted by Rs 15/10 per kg to Rs 410/445 from overnight closing level of Rs 395/435.
Copra office Alapuzha and copra office Kozhikode both fell by Rs 50 per quintal to Rs 4,900 and Rs 4,800, compared to Rs 4,950 and Rs 4,850, respectively.

Copra edible Mumbai also moved down by Rs 25 per quintal to Rs 5,875 from Rs 5,900 previously.
Following are today's closing rates in Rs with previous rates in brackets:
Black pepper (per kg) 410/445 (395/435), ginger bleached (per kg) 180 (180), ginger unbleached (per kg) 190 (190), copra office Alapuzha (per quintal) 4,900 (4,950), copra office Kozhikode (per quintal) 4,800 (4,850), copra Rajapur Mumbai (per quintal) 6,300 (6,300) Copra edible Mumbai (per quintal) 5,875 (5,900).