New Delhi, 07 August (NNS): Here, the prices of black pepper markara held firm at Rs 725 per kg owing to the sluggish offtake at the higher prices. Recently, the prices have gone up by Rs 10 per kg. Both the arrivals and the prices held stable at the same level of the previous day in Kochi. The market sentiments may affect because the stock of Shri Lanka will likely to arrive after a long time. There is no possibility of downfall in the spot black pepper prices during the near future.