According to data from the Vietnam Pepper and Spice Association (VPSA), in the first half of August, Vietnam exported nearly 11,000 tons of pepper, worth 72 million USD. Compared to July, the figure decreased by 0.2% in volume but increased by 2.1% in value due to higher export prices.
Pepper prices in Vietnam are currently high, ranging from 142,500 to 146,000 VND/kg. At Ho Chi Minh City port, the export prices for black pepper of 500 g/l and 550 g/l types were 6,440 USD and 6,570 USD per ton, respectively. This was an increase of up to 170 USD per ton compared to last month. With this result, the total export value of pepper from the beginning of the year to August 15th reached 1.06 billion USD.
Pepper is also known as “black gold.” This is an item with over 90% of its production exported, making the industry heavily dependent on fluctuations in the global market. Vietnamese pepper is now present in over 100 countries and territories.
Vietnam’s “black gold” dominates the US market.
Pepper is exported to major markets such as Asia, the US, the EU, and Africa. In particular, Vietnam’s pepper dominates the US market.
Since the beginning of the year, the largest pepper-exporting countries to the US are Vietnam, Indonesia, India, Brazil, and China. Vietnam remains the largest supplier to this market, accounting for 64.4% of the total pepper imported to the US.
In the first 7 months of the year, Vietnam’s pepper exports to the US reached nearly 33,000 tons, with a value of 248 million USD, an increase of 21% compared to the same period last year due to rising prices.
Mr. Le Viet Anh, Secretary General of the VPSA, said that the 20% countervailing duty imposed by the US on pepper imported from Vietnam does not cause significant concern for Vietnamese pepper exporters. The US countervailing duties once caused Vietnamese pepper prices to go down, at times hitting a low of 120,000 VND/kg. However, since July, prices have recovered, currently around 145,000 VND/kg, helping businesses partially offset costs.
The VPSA predicts that demand from the US market will increase significantly in the fourth quarter of 2025 and the first quarter of 2026, as importers stock up on pepper for the peak consumption season.
Global pepper prices will increase in the second half of 2025 as additional buying demand from major markets facilitates Vietnam’s pepper exports.
Although pepper export volume in 2025 is expected to decrease to 220,000 tons compared to 250,000 tons in 2024, the VPSA said that due to high selling prices, the industry’s total export value will increase, potentially reaching 1.4 billion USD.
However, due to the 20% tax imposed by the US, the actual value brought in by the entire industry will only be about 1.3 billion USD, which is the same as last year.
In 2024, Vietnam’s pepper exports set a record with a value of 1.32 billion USD, including 250,600 tons of exported pepper of all types. Last year, the average export price of black pepper was 6,476 USD/ton, and the export price of white pepper was 8,198 USD/ton.