Exports of ground and unground black pepper commodities reached USD 17 million in the first quarter of 2022. Exports increased by 44.05% compared to the same period in the previous year or year on year (yoy). The increase in the export value of Indonesian black pepper was also in line with the export volume during that period which reached 4,850 tons or an increase of 10.16% yoy. This continued the trend in the first quarter of 2021 with export value reaching USD 11.80 million or up 48.8% yoy and export volume reaching 4,400 tons or growing 29.34% yoy. The Head of the Indonesia Eximbank Division (IEB) of the LPEI Institute, Rini Satriani explained that the increasing demand for spice products, including black pepper, was caused by the recovery of the world economy following the easing of the Covid-19 pandemic. "In addition, the competitiveness of Indonesian black pepper which is fairly good in the global market is a competitive advantage for Indonesia in exporting and is also supported by the utilization of black pepper products in the food and beverage industry," Rini said in a written statement on Tuesday (12/7).

Black pepper is one of the commodities from the plantation sector which has an important role for Indonesia's economic growth. As an export commodity, black pepper has a role in generating foreign exchange, increasing people's income, and providing job opportunities for farmers. LPEI as a special mission vehicle (SMV) of the Ministry of Finance (Kemenkeu) RI also participated in supporting the increase in black pepper exports through a series of consulting service programs, including the inauguration of the Black Pepper Foreign Exchange Village Program (23/6). When detailed, for the commodity of black pepper that was not ground in the first quarter of 2022, it increased by 40.47% yoy to reach USD 15.64 million when compared to the same period in 2021 of USD 11.12 million. Likewise, exports of ground black pepper increased by 103.78% yoy or reached USD 1.36 million from USD 0.67 million previously, continuing the 38.74% increase in the first quarter of last year in 2021. Based on data on the distribution of black pepper exporters Indonesia in 2020, Lampung Province is the largest black pepper export contributor in Indonesia with an estimated 58.33% of the total value of Indonesia's black pepper exports. Therefore, LPEI sees the potential of Lampung Province as a potential area for increasing exporter capacity through the Black Pepper Cluster Foreign Exchange Village program which is currently being implemented with the Indonesian Ministry of Industry (Kemenperin).

Source: https://keuangan.kontan.co.id/news/lpei-mencatat-nilai-ekspor-komoditas-lada-hitam-us-17-juta