At $493.1 million, Vietnam’s pepper export value is up year-on-year (y-o-y) in the five months of 2024, the Vietnam News Agency reports.  

This increase in revenue was however ill-matched by a yearly export volume decrement of 13.2% to 114,424 tonnes. 

Prices Buoy Vietnam’s Pepper Export Value 

Handsome international prices of pepper however propped the fall in volume and ensured an export value increase of 20.6%  y-o-y.

White pepper claimed a 5-month average of $5,804 a tonne, up by $849, to black pepper’s $4,197, up by $754.

These prices could increase in coming months given that Vietnam expects a 10% production decrement in 2024 versus 2023’s volumes. 

Low quantity is already telling in domestic shipment hubs like Cat Lai Port where controversy looms over inadequate supplies.

Besides, south Asia’s production giants India and Indonesia expect low production in the coming season, which could favor prices.

Meanwhile, the U.S. helped in Vietnam’s pepper export value climb by upping imports to 30,466 tonnes in Q1 and 2, 2024. With a yearly import increase of 44.4%, the U.S. gobbled up 26.6% of all Vietnamese pepper supplies.

Europe also guaranteed a substantial volume surge, especially Italy, whose total orders rose by 179% from those of early 2023.

With an import volume rise of 49.7%, Russia also joined traditional import hubs in the West to up Vietnam’s export revenue.

Thus, as Vietnam records an improved pepper export value despite lowering quantities, there is hope in strong prices and high demand. As the following statistics show, Vietnam’s pepper prices, revenue and production have all shown yearly fluctuations.

Vietnam Pepper Statistics

Vietnam has experienced a consistent pepper production seesaw since 2018. According to Statista, in 2018 production reached 262,700 tonnes but dipped in 2019 to 264,800 tonnes. The output inched up again in 2020 and 2021 to 270,200 and 275,700 tonnes respectively. It was then down in 2022 and 2023 at 272,200 and 252,2000 tonnes respectively. 

How much pepper export value does Vietnam earn on average? 

Vietnam was second to India in global pepper export value in 2022, at $1.02 billion. Vietnam however led the world in black pepper export value in 2022, at $903.6 million. It also had the honor of supplying 43.6% of worldwide black pepper in 2022.

How have export prices of Vietnam’s pepper changed over the years? 

Vietnam’s export prices of raw pepper fluctuated from $2,510 in 2010, through $5,860 in 2011 to $5,804 per tonne in early 2024.