Mumbai, Oct 27 - Black pepper and jeera futures continued to move lower in initial hour of trade Saturday as speculative selling and profit booking sentiments persisted. Turmeric contracts, however, edged up further, while red chill futures traded mix.

Benchmark December black peppercontract traded Rs. 71 lower at Rs. 15,245/quintal with 409 tonnes contracted on the NCDEX. November futures also lost Rs. 49 to trail at Rs. 14,849/quintal. Volume was relatively low at 52 tonnes.

The influence of low exports demand in physical markets is pushing futures further lower, said analysts. Relative dearer Indian pepper vis.a.vis other origins in world market has forced exporters to backtrack, they added. The Indian parity is at $4,100/tn FOB, sharply higher when compared with prices offered by other nations, especially Indonesia.

But despite of recent sluggish moves, the market is bullish near-to-middle-term. Global markets are to remain under-supplied in the fresh season due to demand/supply mismatch, say industry participants. Also, possibilities of India's crop to get delayed by around one month should help prices, they emphasise.

Jeera futures, on the other hand, have fluctuated sharply in recent trade regardless of fundamental support. After having notched significant leads in the middle of the current week, the futures have traded lower over last two terms as steep gains have prompted players to lock profits.

Saturday too more-active December jeera contract declined further by Rs. 58 in opening hour of trade to fall to Rs. 11,522/quintal. Jeera November also lost Rs. 29 to trade at Rs. 11,175/quintal. Volume traded for November and December jeera has been 204 and 837 tonnes respectively.

Red chilli futures have also stayed mostly lower with exception of later month February that broke out of the pack. November chilli at Rs. 4,444/quintal had lost Rs. 14 from previous trade, but February-08 contract rose Rs. two to move to Rs. 3,910/quintal. November and February chilli have traded volume of 35 and 10 tonnes respectively.

Market observers say bumper crop estimates and start of arrival in Central India are weighing down the sentiments. New crop is currently reaching local markets in Madhya Pradesh and is likely to start arriving across Karnataka and Maharashtra by the month-end.

As opposed to the rest of the complex, turmeric futures extended overnight gains to move up further largely in reaction to rising exports demand in physical markets. The Middle East nations are prominent buyers sealing deals at Rs. 2,325-Rs. 2,350/quintal FOB Mumbai.

More-active Novemberturmeric futures edged up Rs. five to Rs. 1,975/quintal, while December futures at Rs. 2,050/quintal gained Rs. six. November and December contracts traded volume of 720 and 970 tonnes, in respective order.