White Pepper Exports Sluggish for the Past Three Years: What is the Government Doing?

Data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) shows that the trend of Indonesia's white pepper export volume has been quite volatile over the last 10 years.

From 2015 to 2019, white pepper export volumes actually increased frequently. The highest export volume in the last 10 years occurred in 2019, reaching 29,000 tons.

In the last three years, however, export volumes have slumped. Recorded figures show 24,780 tons in 2020; 18,530 tons in 2021; and 12,900 tons in 2022.

This series of declines prompted the Ministry of Industry (Kemenperin) to initiate the revitalization of the small and medium-sized industry (IKM) center building in the Jelitik Industrial Estate, Bangka Regency, Bangka Belitung Islands.

Reni Yanita, Director General of Small, Medium, and Diverse Industries (IKMA) at Kemenperin, stated that the budget for the building's revitalization comes from the 2022 Special Allocation Fund for Physical Infrastructure in the Small and Medium Industry Sector (DAK Fisik Bidang IKM).

"In addition to the building's revitalization, the budget is also used for the procurement of 69 units of 28 types of machines and supporting equipment for the center," said Reni in her press release on Thursday (20/7/2023).

The building to be revitalized by Kemenperin is the White Pepper Center Building, also known as Setara. With an area of 1,200 square meters, this building is located in the Jelitik Industrial Area, Bangka Regency.

Kemenperin also explained that Bangka Island is known as a producer of high-quality white pepper in Indonesia.

Thanks to high rainfall, unique soil nutrients, and good sunlight intensity, Bangka Island is able to produce Muntok white pepper with a unique flavor.

"This pepper is known as a premium pepper and has a worldwide reputation. To maintain the quality and uniqueness of Muntok white pepper, this commodity has also been registered in the geographical indication protection system, which is expected to provide added value to Bangka Belitung's Muntok white pepper commodity, thus strengthening the competitiveness of Muntok white pepper exports in the global market," said Reni.