Vietnam's pepper exports surge 58% in value despite lower volume

Vietnam’s pepper exports in early 2025 saw a significant rise in value despite a drop in volume, thanks to sharp increases in export prices.

Amid global trade fluctuations, Vietnamese exporters have been actively diversifying their markets to reduce reliance on a few traditional partners.

Data from the Vietnam Pepper and Spice Association (VPSA) shows, in April, Vietnam exported 26,590 tons of various types of pepper, including 23,271 tons of black pepper and 3,319 tons of white pepper.

Total export turnover reached $184.1 million, an increase of only 1.3% in volume but a remarkable 58% jump in value compared to the same period in 2024.

The average export price of black pepper in April was $6,817 per ton, while white pepper fetched $8,596 per ton.

The U.S. remained Vietnam’s largest pepper export market for the month, importing 6,404 tons, up nearly 46% from the previous month.

In the first four months, Vietnam exported a total of 74,250 tons of pepper, earning $510.6 million. While export volume declined by 10.6% year-on-year, export turnover soared by 45%.

Vietnam’s top pepper export markets included the U.S., which accounted for 16,682 tons or 22.5% of total exports, down 26.7% year-on-year. Leading markets for white pepper exports included China, Germany, and the U.S.

On the import side, Vietnam brought in 5,688 tons of pepper in April, worth $36.7 million, up 15.1% in volume and 27.2% in value compared to the previous month. This figure was close to the country’s all-time monthly import record of 5,747 tons in May 2021.

Brazil remained Vietnam’s largest pepper supplier, accounting for 3,792 tons, up 23.9% month-on-month and representing 66.7% of total imports.

In the four months, Vietnam imported 15,374 tons of pepper worth $88.3 million, representing year-on-year increases of 25.3% in volume and 104.8% in value.

VPSA chairwoman Hoang Thi Lien noted that following the U.S.'s announcement of reciprocal tariffs, the market has become increasingly sensitive to pricing.

Vietnamese pepper now faces fierce competition from Brazilian and Indonesian pepper, as their reciprocal tariffs are lower. This poses a major long-term challenge for Vietnamese exporters.

Lien stressed the need for businesses to diversify markets and seek new customers in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and other regions.

In addition to pepper, cinnamon exports also recorded positive growth in early 2025. Vietnam exported 11,879 tons of cinnamon in April, generating $30.2 million in revenue, up 55.6% in volume and 45.5% in value compared to the previous month.

In the January-April period, total cinnamon exports reached 31,976 tons, earning $84.9 million, up 43.1% in volume and 30.2% in value year-on-year.

Top cinnamon export markets included India, the U.S., and Bangladesh. Notably, exports to the UAE surged by nearly 124% to 1,583 tons, while exports to China skyrocketed by nearly 627% year-on-year to 1,504 tons.