The Spices Board has revealed that over the course of the last five months, pepper exports from India have dropped by around 50% compared to same period figures for last year.Representatives from the Indian Pepper and Spice Trade Association (IPSTA) commented that other countries such as Malaysia and Brazil have increased production and are selling at lower prices, which are too competitive for the Indian pepper industry, whose higher prices are dictated by domestic demand.8,500 tonnes of Indian pepper were exported between April and August, at a value of Rs 174.2 crore, which compares poorly with the same period in 1999, which exported 21,150 tonnes worth Rs 401.75 crore.The latest pepper figures will affect the overall export statistics from India, which have registered an 18% fall in terms of quantity. Export quantities of all the major spices, with the exception of cardamom, mint, coriander, curry powder, spice oils and oleoresins, have also dropped.