According to the preliminary statistics figures of the General Department of Customs, Vietnam’s pepper exports in May 2019 only increased slightly by 1.9 per cent in volume but decreased by 0.8 per cent in turnover and by 2.6 per cent in price compared with April of 2019, reaching 38,016 tons, equivalent to 93.43 million USD, the average price was at 2,457.7 USD per ton.

Generally in the first 5 months of 2019, the whole country exported 145,917 tons of pepper, equivalent to 376.37 million USD, the average price was 2,579.4 USD per ton, increased by 32.8 per cent in volume but decreased by 1.5 per cent in turnover and 25.8 per cent reduction in prices over the same period of 2018.

In May of 2019, pepper exports to most major markets increased compared to May 2018. The exports to the US reached 5,149 tons, worth of 13.58 million USD, up by 13.5 per cent in volume, but down by 7.1 per cent in value. Notably, the amount of pepper exported to some three-digit growth markets such as Germany increased by 112.5 per cent, to Pakistan - increased by 104.4 per cent, to the U.A.E increased by 133 per cent, and to Myanmar - increased by 316 per cent.

In the first 5 months of 2019, Vietnam’s pepper exports to major markets increased by 2 digits in volume, but decreased in value compared to the same period of 2018; In particular, the exports to the US - the largest pepper export market of Vietnam, reached 23,790 tons, worth of 66.5 million USD, up by 26.6 per cent in volume, but down by 6.5 per cent in value.

In the first 5 months of this year, pepper exports to most markets declined in value compared to the same period last year, the exports to only 2 markets, Turkey and German, increased in turnover. The exports to Turkey increased by 10.8 per cent, reaching 4.04 million USD; to Germany - increased by 4 per cent to 16.94 million USD.

In the world market, global pepper prices rose again, but the uptrend is forecasted to be difficult to maintain due to abundant supply. According to data from the International Pepper Association, in 2019 world pepper production will continue to increase, expected to reach 602,000 tons, an increase of 8.27 per cent, of which the production of Brazil will increase by 28 per cent, Cambodia – by 17 per cent, Sri. Lanka - increased by 44 per cent, reaching 26,700 tons. The pepper production of Vietnam is expected to reach 240,000 tons, an increase of about 9 per cent due to the new planting area from 2014-2016 began to harvest.