IMPORT OF PEPPER BY THAILAND

Thailand, officially the Kingdom of Thailand and formerly known as Siam, is a country at the center of the Southeast Asian Indochinese peninsula. Thailand is also one of pepper producing country known to have cultivated its pepper partially in southern of Thailand. However, Thailand’s pepper production is unable to meet the domestic consumption which resulting to the import of pepper by Thailand from various pepper producing countries.

In 2018, Thailand was reported to have imported a total 4,764 Mt of pepper which 65% or 3,109 Mt of it comprised of whole pepper while 35% or 1,655 Mt of it was ground pepper. The average import of pepper by Thailand in 2018 was reported to be 397 Mt per month with the highest quantity recorded in May with 718 Mt. The total expenditure of pepper imported by Thailand was reported to be as high as USD 26.4 Million, recording an average price of the total pepper imported by Thailand at USD 4,436 per Mt for whole pepper and USD 7,618 Per Mt for ground pepper.

Year 2019 saw an increasing trend in term of quantity of pepper imported by Thailand. Thailand was reported to have recorded a total of 5,700 Mt which 74% or 4,191 Mt of it comprised of whole pepper and 26% or 1,509 Mt of it was ground pepper. Thus, recording an increase of 20% when compared to the same period in 2018. The average pepper imported by Thailand was reported at 475 Mt per month which peaked in July with 676 Mt. Although increasing in terms of quantity, Thailand was recorded to have spent 12% less on its pepper import, totaling at USD 23.2 Million and recording an average price of the total pepper imported by Thailandat USD 3,469 per Mt for whole pepper and USD 5,755 per Mt for ground pepper or a decrease by 22% and 24% respectively as compared to 2018.

As of February 2020,Pepper import by Thailand was reported with an increase of 19% as compared to the same period in 2019, totaling at 888 Mt which comprised of 66% or 589 Mt of whole pepper and 34% or 299 Mt of ground pepper. The total expenditure of pepper imported by Thailand as of February 2020 was reported stable when compared to the same period in the previous year, totaling at USD 3.3 Million. Thus, recording an average price of the total pepper imported by Thailand at USD 3,222 per Mt for whole pepper and USD 4,902 per Mt for ground pepper.

The top five countries of origins of Thailand’s pepper as of February 2020 were reported to be Viet Nam with 700 Mt (an increase of 32% as compared to the same period in 2019), Indonesia with 99 Mt (an increase of 99 Mt), India with 58 Mt (a decrease of 65%), Malaysia with 19 Mt (an increase of 49%) and Philippines with 5 Mt (a decrease of 74%). The decreased of Thailand import from India and Philippines could be contributed to Thailand preference of importing from other origins countries which offered more competitive price such as Viet Nam (an increase by 168 Mt as compared to the same period in 2019) and Indonesia (an increase by 99 Mt).

 (VPA & IPC)