In addition to cassava or durian, China is purchasing up to 80% of Vietnam’s chili production.
Vietnam holds a strong position in exporting spices such as pepper, cinnamon, star anise, and chili, which is common in Vietnam but a million-dollar spice abroad.
According to the Vietnam Pepper Association (VPA), Vietnam’s chili exports in October reached 435 tons, with a turnover of one million USD, down 8.2% compared to September. Laos and China are the main export markets, with 197 tons and 169 tons, respectively.
In the first 10 months of the year, chili exports have brought in over 23 million USD to Vietnam, with a production of 9,709 tons, an increase of 6.5% in volume and a significant increase of 32.1% in turnover.
China was the largest market for Vietnamese chili with 7,700 tons. Meanwhile, Laos reached 1,373 tons.
Chili exports have brought in 23 million USD since the beginning of the year.
The total area of chilies in the world is about 19.89 million hectares. The main countries that grow chili are India, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Thailand, Vietnam, Romania, China, Nigeria, and Mexico.
Chili is potential that brings high economic efficiency. It can be intercropped with fruit trees and does not require much care, making it suitable for the farming conditions of farmers across the country. According to some experts, due to the high spiciness and diversity, Vietnamese chili is favored by markets like China and Laos.
All shipments of fresh chili imported into China must be quarantined by authorized Vietnamese units. At the same time, they must clearly annotate the relevant parameters in the phytosanitary certificate. Since March 2022, fresh chili from Vietnam has been approved for official export to China and must meet the strict requirements of this country.
Dong Thap province, especially Thanh Bình district, is considered the “largest chili center in the Southwest.” The communes along the Tien River have a high concentration of chili cultivation. The fresh chili production is over 22,500 tons per year. According to statistics, the area for chili cultivation in Dong Thap is nearly 2,000 hectares per year now, with an average yield of over 10 tons per hectare.
Another “chili center” in Vietnam is Lang Son province. In 2023, the provincial growing area of chili reached over 1,479 hectares, up 91 hectares compared to 2022. Traditional chili varieties have been replaced with high-yield ones, with an average yield of about 300 to 500 kg.
Typically, chili is planted between September and November every year. After two months, chili plants will become available for harvest from three to four times in three months, with the highest output of about four kg per plant.
Earlier in 2023, chili exports reached 20 million USD, corresponding to over 10,000 tons, a significant increase of 107% compared to 2022.