According to statistics from Vietnam Pepper Association (VPA), chili exports in March reached 1,523 tonnes with a value of 4.2 million USD, a sharp increase of 72.3% compared to February 2024. Of which, China alone imported 1,339 tonnes, accounting for nearly 88% of output, and Laos 106 tonnes, accounting for 7%.
Accumulated by the end of March, Vietnam exported 3,141 tonnes of chili with a total turnover of 8.1 million USD, an increase of 17.6% in volume and a sharp increase of 52.8% in value over the same period.
Average export price reached 2,610 USD/tonne, a sharp increase of 28% over the same period last year. China and Laos are the two main export markets with 2,753 tonnes and 259 tonnes, accounting for nearly 96% of total exports.
Before Lunar New Year Giap Thin 2024, price of chili at the garden was fluctuating 38,000-40,000 VND/kg. Particularly for selected export types, the price is from 60,000-65,000 VND/kg, type 2 chili is 58,000-60,000 VND, market chili is from 55,000-58,000 VND. This level is doubling compared to the same period in 2023. The reason is because the bustling demand for chili consumption in markets such as China and Korea causes demand to be higher than supply, pushing prices up. With current selling price, people can earn from 200 - 300 million VND/ha (excluding expenses).
Data from Department of Crop Production (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) shows that Mekong Delta region is considered a "capital" of chili in Vietnam. Here, chili is grown most in the provinces of Dong Thap, An Giang, Tien Giang, Soc Trang, Vinh Long and Tra Vinh with a total area of over 7,000 hectares, with an output of about 100,000 tonnes a year. Meanwhile, in Central Highlands, the planted area is about 4,000-5,000 hectares with an output of about 60,000 tonnes a year.
Lang Son is also one of the key chili growing regions of Vietnam with the chili growing area in the province reaching more than 1,479 hectares in 2023. In the world, Asia is currently the largest chili producing region in the world, accounting for about 80% of global output. Global chili trade is worth about $35 billion a year.
For the whole year 2023, Vietnam's chili export reached a turnover of 20 million USD, equivalent to 10,173 tonnes, a sharp increase of 107% compared to 2022.

L. Giang
Source: Vitic/ congthuong.vn