India pepper ends down as weak export demand weighs

MUMBAI, Nov 20 (Reuters) - India pepper futures ended down on Friday as weak overseas demand weighed on sentiment, analysts said.

The Brazilian crop, which is quoting lower and attracting international demand, is hurting sentiment, they said.

"The high price of Indian pepper in international markets as compared to the other origins has dented exports and demand for Indian pepper," said Mehul Agrawal, an analyst with Sharekhan Commodities.

Pepper exports in October 2009 fell to 1,750 tonnes from 2,275 tonnes in the same period a year earlier.

Spot pepper fell by over 20 rupees to end at 14,809.55 rupees per 100 kg in Kochi, a major trading hub in Kerala.

Following are the closing prices of pepper futures in rupees per 100 kg on the National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange Ltd. <0#NPE:>

Contract Reuters code Price Change in %

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Nov NPEX9 14,577 -1.88

Dec NPEZ9 14,996 -1.32

(Reporting by Nandita Bose; editing by Sunil Nair)