Pepper, which is considered Vietnam’s “black gold,” is currently present in 110 countries and territories. Vietnam is the largest pepper supplier to the US, accounting for 69.3% of this country’s import turnover.
According to the Customs Department, in the first 11 months of 2025, Vietnam exported over 223,242 tons of pepper, worth more than 1.5 billion USD. This result broke the historical record set in 2016.
In the past 11 months, white pepper exports recorded positive growth, reaching 24,000 tons with a value of about 189.7 million USD. This is an increase of 23.7% in volume and a significant increase of 53.6% in value compared to the same period in 2024. Meanwhile, exports of other categories decreased in volume but increased in value.
The export share of black pepper decreased from 70.9% in the first 11 months of 2024 to 68.8% in the first 11 months of 2025. Meanwhile, the share of other types increased, such as ground black pepper increasing from 15.4% to 15.9% or white pepper increasing from 8.2% to 10.7%.
Vietnam is the largest pepper supplier to the United States.
The US, Germany, and India remain Vietnam’s three largest pepper export markets over the past 11 months, with export values of 373.4 million USD, 114.8 million USD, and 74.2 million USD, respectively.
Accordingly, the average price of Vietnamese pepper exported to the US reached 7,752 USD/ton. This is an increase of 52.1% compared to the same period in 2024 and higher than the overall average import price of the US market (7,603 USD/ton).
Pepper, which is Vietnam’s “black gold,” is currently present in 110 countries and territories. Vietnam’s pepper export volume accounts for about 60% of the total global pepper export volume, with an increasingly diverse product range.
The pepper market is now under pressure due to reduced supply in many major producing countries. Vietnam still plays an important role in the supply chain. This year, Vietnam’s pepper exports could exceed 6 billion, the highest level ever.
However, the pepper industry will face many challenges in 2026. Global economic volatility, risks from trade policies, and strict requirements for traceability, chemical residues, and sustainability standards from major import markets will continue to put pressure on export businesses. Additionally, the impact of climate change and extreme weather is unpredictable, directly affecting domestic production.
In this context, improving product quality, sustainably developing raw material regions, and proactively adapting to international standards are essential, aiming to help Vietnam’s pepper industry maintain growth and strengthen its position in the global market in the coming years.