According to the Vietnam Pepper and Spice Association (VPSA), by the end of the first quarter, Vietnam had exported nearly 47,000 tons of pepper, including black and white pepper. The total export value reached nearly 330 million USD, an increase of 38.6% compared to the same period last year.
Although export volume decreased, the average export price continued to rise. Specifically, the price of black pepper was 6,711 USD/ton, an increase of nearly 95%; the price of white pepper was 8,617 USD/ton, an increase of nearly 74%.
The VPSA reported that the United States remains the largest market among countries importing Vietnamese pepper, accounting for about 25% of the total export value.
The export price of Vietnam’s pepper continues to rise.
The VPSA reported that the United States remains the largest market among countries importing Vietnamese pepper, accounting for about 25% of the total turnover. Vietnam is also the leading supplier of pepper to the United States, contributing up to 77% of the total amount of pepper imported by the country. The VPSA said that this trade relationship is being significantly affected by the new tax policy of the United States.
However, the pepper industry can maintain a certain share in this market. But maintaining the current market share in the US will not be easy if the US imposes a 46% tariff. Under that pressure, in the long term, the VPSA is forced to restructure the export ecosystem, reallocating the market more flexibly towards the EU, China, and India, while also seeking opportunities in new potential regions.
With the fluctuations in the US’s tariff policies, many manufacturing enterprises are waiting for the negotiation results, at the same time considering the possibility of expanding into other markets.
Ms. Hoang Thi Lien, President of the VPSA, said that if the negotiation results are not favorable, Vietnamese businesses are at risk of losing market share in the US to Indonesia and Brazil. Therefore, they need to proactively find alternative markets and ensure quality to compete in other regions, especially the EU.
“We are balancing the markets of the US, EU, and Asia, each market accounting for 25% to 27%, with the remaining in Africa and the Middle East. We will maintain a presence in the US market. There will still be a small portion of the market for Vietnamese businesses here. When the tax rates are no longer competitive, it will be necessary to move to other markets. We need to have a plan to focus on the EU and Asian markets, including the two countries China and India,” Ms. Lien said.
Currently, the EU market shows positive recovery signals, with total pepper imports in 2024 reaching 120,657 tons, an increase of 20% compared to 2023. The market share of Vietnamese pepper exports here is steadily increasing, with 52.1% in 2024. However, this market requires high quality, traceability, and technical standards, especially in the premium segments such as white pepper and organic pepper.