Though the Indian new crop, which already started arriving in the market is seen down, production in countries like Brazil, Indonesia and Malaysia is estimated to be significantly higher this year, according to the figures published by the International Pepper Community (IPC).

The new forecast has set aside the rumours about a decline in global production during the forthcoming crop mainly due to bad weather in South East Asian origins.

Significantly, the new season will also see the entry of China into the global pepper market in a big way. China was so far a net importer of pepper.

According to the IPC figures, the total global production is poised to increase by 4,964 tonnes to 2,17,164 tonnes in 2000 AD compared to 2,12,200 tonnes in 1999.

The increase mainly stemmed fromthe increased planting and crop by some leading producing countries like Vietnam, Indonesia and Brazil.

The Brazil crop is estimated to be higher by 5,500 tonnes to 25,200 tonnes next year. Similarly, the Indonesian crop is poised to go up by 6,500 tonnes followed by Sri Lanka by 2,500 tonnes, Vietnam 2,000 tonnes and China 3,000 tonnes, the IPC estimates say.

As a corollary to the increased crop, the global pepper exports is also estimated to increase by over 49,000 tonnes to 1,60,000 tonnes next year.Except for Thailand, the IPC has projected the export of pepper to increase by leaps and bounds lead by Brazil, Indonesia and Vietnam.

The revised IPC estimates has arrested the bull run in the global pepper market with buyers in major centres withdrawing from the market.``Prices had started falling since last week and the market is in the hands of bear,'' the president,IPSTA Kishir Shamji has said.