The continuing demand from inter-Condition consumers has lifted pepper rates by ₹1 a kg in Kochi on Friday.

Kishore Shamji of Kishor Spices said the demand from Tamil Nadu is continuing and the provides from Karnataka are in comprehensive swing, specially with the availability of pepper in more portions.

The current market appears to be steady and the rates are inching up on a daily basis, he said.

Today’s offtake was 22 tonnes, of which 20 tonnes came from Wayanad and the remaining from the plains of Kerala.

Ungarbled types realised ₹314 a kg, when MG1 garbled types stood at ₹334.

New pepper was quoted at ₹304.