Pangkalpinang, July 19, 2026 – The Europe Today: Indonesia’s Animal, Fish, and Plant Quarantine Agency in Bangka Belitung Islands Province has stepped up oversight of Muntok white pepper exports to support farmers and strengthen the province’s position as a leading exporter of the premium spice amid sustained international demand.
Head of the Bangka Belitung Islands Quarantine Agency, Herwintarti, said on Sunday that global demand for Muntok white pepper remains strong, encouraging authorities to intensify efforts to enhance export performance and maintain farmers’ confidence in cultivating the commodity.
“The international market continues to show strong demand for white pepper,” Herwintarti said in a statement, adding that the agency is working closely with the provincial government through the Go Export Program to facilitate exports and improve the competitiveness of local producers.
She noted that white pepper continues to offer significant export potential and remains one of the provincial government’s priority commodities for increasing agricultural production, improving quality, and boosting farmers’ incomes.
According to data from the Best Trust (Barantin Electronic System for Transaction and Utility Service Technology), Bangka Belitung exported 1.37 thousand tonnes of white pepper through 184 shipments in 2025, generating Rp180 billion (approximately US$9.7 million) in export value.
Domestic distribution also remained robust, reaching 6,323 tonnes through 308 shipments, with a total value of Rp535.89 billion (approximately US$28.8 million).
Herwintarti said the principal export destinations for Bangka Belitung’s white pepper include Vietnam, Singapore, Japan, Malaysia, and Taiwan, reflecting the commodity’s strong reputation in regional and international markets.
Meanwhile, Head of the Bangka Belitung Islands Agriculture and Food Security Agency (DPKP), Kurniawan, said the provincial government continues to promote the development of smallholder pepper plantations to sustain production and support export growth.
Provincial agricultural data show that white pepper production in 2025 reached 9,646.96 tonnes, with output distributed across Bangka District, Belitung, West Bangka, Central Bangka, South Bangka, and East Belitung.
However, production declined compared with 12,008.66 tonnes recorded in 2024. Kurniawan attributed the decrease primarily to the reduction of pepper plantation areas as agricultural land has increasingly been converted to oil palm plantations and other uses.
Despite the production challenges, Indonesian authorities remain committed to strengthening the white pepper sector through improved cultivation practices, export facilitation, and quality enhancement measures to ensure Muntok white pepper maintains its reputation as one of the country’s flagship agricultural exports.
