New Delhi (PTI): Spices futures pack on Thursday fell on the National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange on profit-booking by speculators amid higher supplies in the physical markets and subdued export and

Pepper suffered the most due to subdued export demand and its November delivery fell Rs 280, or 2.3 per cent, to Rs 11,765 per quintal at the NCDEX counter. The contract recorded business turnover of 126 lots.

Similarly, far-month December contract lost Rs 235, or 2 per cent, at Rs 11,920 per quintal with business turnover of 1,493 lots.

Pepper's demat stocks at NCDEX warehouses was at 2,497 tonnes.

Meanwhile, country's pepper export declined by 33 per cent to 12,750 tonnes during April-September period mostly due to higher prices of Indian spice.

Market experts said profit-taking at every rise in speculators and subdued exports demand pulled spice prices down at futures market.

"Subdued exports and fall in demand in the spot markets amid profit-taking led to a fall in spices prices at futures market," said an analyst.

Sentiment was also dampened on reports of weakening trends on the global commodity markets in view of deepening financial crisis.

Jeera for the most-active November contract moved down by Rs 136, or 1.25 per cent, to Rs 10,750 per quintal in a turnover of 138 lots.

Far-month January contract lost Rs 116, or 1.15 per cent, at Rs 10,095 per quintal with business turnover of 1,089 lots.

Jeera stocks at NCDEX-monitored warehouses stood at 397 tonnes.

At the Unjha (Gujarat) spot market, jeera, however, traded higher at Rs 10,669.05 per quintal.

Turmeric, in tandem with other spices, also showed weakness and December contract shed Rs 20, or 0.50 per cent, at Rs 3,838 per quintal in a turnover of 4,020 lots, while far-month April contract lost Rs 37, or one per cent, at Rs 3,742 per quintal in a turnover of 2,030 lots.

Meanwhile, demat stocks of turmeric at NCDEX-monitored warehouses stood at 357 tonnes. Turmeric in spot trading at Nizambad, Andhra Pradesh quoted lower at 3,859.50 per quintal.

Bucking the trend, chilli for December traded Rs 17, or 0.35 per cent, higher at Rs 5,489 per quintal in a turnover of 50 lots largely on fall in output in 2008-09 on lower acreage.

At the biggest chilli market of Guntur (Andhra Pradesh), chilli spot prices were higher at Rs 5,792.15 a quintal.