AsemconnectVietnam - On Wednesday, domestic pepper prices in Vietnam's Central Highlands fell by 500 VND to VND70,500 – 73,500 per kg compared to Yesterday, according to Kinhtedothi.vn.

In Ba Ria-Vung Tau province, the maximum price for pepper fell to VND73,500 per kg, while in Gia Lai province, the lowest price to VND70,500 per kg. Farmers in Binh Phuoc sold pepper for VND73,000 per kilogram, in Dong Nai province for VND71,000 per kilogram, and in Dak Lak and Dak Nong provinces for VND72,000 per kilogram.
The recently released May 2023 report of the Vietnam Pepper and Spices Association said that Vietnam has basically finished the harvest in early May, while Cambodia is at its peak.
According to the report of IPC, the global pepper production in 2022 is estimated at 537 thousand tons, down 2% compared to 2021. The decrease in output mainly comes from Indonesia and Vietnam. It is forecasted that global pepper production in 2023 will continue to decrease by about 1% compared to 2022, reaching about 531 thousand tons. The harvest in Indonesia, Malaysia and southern Brazil will take place in the next 2-3 months.
The Vietnam Pepper and Spices Association added that the 2023 pepper harvest has basically ended in Vietnam with an estimated output of nearly 200,000 tonnes, up 9.3% compared to 2022. So the Association's official figures do not coincide with most forecasts of a previous crop failure.
The domestic pepper market has had positive developments since the last week of April 2023 until now. The price increased from 66,000 VND/kg to 76,000 VND/kg in the 2nd week of May before falling slightly again. The sudden increase in exports to China in March-April is one of the main reasons for the increase in pepper prices.
Regarding the weather, the hot weather in the past time is forecasted to have a negative impact on next year's pepper crop, especially the problem of irrigation water. According to the forecast of the US hydrometeorological agency, the El Nino phenomenon may appear in the second half of the summer of 2023 and if it lasts until 2024, it will make the maintenance of pepper gardens more difficult, affecting the 2024 crop.
Following are domestic pepper prices on June 7, 2022, in the main pepper growing and consumption regions: