India spices mixed; pepper falls on weak exports

MUMBAI, Nov 28 (Reuters) - India pepper futures opened down on Friday due to low export demand and hopes of higher output, analysts said.

Pepper exports from India during the April-October period fell 35 percent to 14,750 tonnes as the credit crunch hit major importers, according to the Spices Board.

However, tight supplies and low warehouse stocks ahead of fresh arrivals in December may restrict losses in the short-term, they said.

Sentiment in futures will remain cautious ahead of the official decision to relist suspended commodities, said an analyst with Anand Rathi Commodities.

A suspension on soyoil, potato, rubber and chick pea futures is set to lapse on Nov. 30.

At 10:25 a.m., the benchmark January contract NPEF9 was at 11,035 rupees per 100 kg, down 0.4 percent.

TURMERIC:

Turmeric futures opened lower on expectations of early arrival of new crop but soon turned positive on low inventories, analysts said.

Turmeric carryover stocks for 2009 are seen at 500,000 bags, down 58 percent from last year's 1.2 million bags, due to lower output in 2007/08, traders said last month.