AsemconnectVietnam - On Wednesday, domestic pepper prices in Vietnam's Central Highlands rose by 500-1000 VND to 137,500-138,500 VND per kg compared to Yesterday, according to Kinhtedothi.

Data from Vietnam's General Department of Customs shows that in the first 7 months of 2024, businesses spent $80.4 million on importing nearly 19,600 tons of pepper, including 17,443 tons of black pepper and 2,414 tons of white pepper. This reflects a 15% rise in import volume year-on-year.
The majority (around 92%) of Vietnam's pepper imports during this period came from Cambodia, Indonesia and Brazil. So why does Vietnam - by far the world's largest pepper producer and exporter - still rely so heavily on imports? The reasons are largely supply-driven.
During the past few years when global pepper prices were very low, many Vietnamese pepper farmers switched to other crops to improve profits. Subsequently, domestic pepper yields declined significantly. According to VPA, ongoing drought conditions have reduced Vietnam's 2024 pepper harvest by an estimated 10% to around 170,000 tons compared to 2023 levels.
At the same time, strong global demand is putting upward pressure on prices. VPA data shows the average export price for Vietnamese black pepper increased 32.7% in the first 7 months of 2024 to $4,568 per tonne, while white pepper prices rose 25% to $6,195 per tonne. Given the tight global supply situation exacerbated by rising transportation costs and port congestion in Asia, pepper prices are expected to trend higher in the medium to long term analysts say. This is encouraging Vietnamese farmers to replant pepper, but it will still be some time before local production returns to normal levels. In the meantime, robust international demand combined with domestic supply constraints means Vietnamese companies have no choice but to import significant amounts of pepper for processing and fulfilling customer orders. Their main import partners like Cambodia, Indonesia and Brazil help ensure Vietnam can maintain its position as the world's leading pepper producer and exporter.
Vietnam’s pepper export earnings surged by 40.8% year-on-year to 764.2 million USD in the first seven months of this year, despite a slight decline of 2.2% in export volume, according to the Vietnam Pepper and Spice Association (VPSA).
Rising global pepper prices primarily drove the remarkable growth. The US remained Vietnam's top pepper importer, purchasing 43,349 tonnes of Vietnamese pepper, a significant 48.4% increase from the previous year, accounting for 26.4% of the market share. It was followed by Germany, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), India, and China.
Following are domestic pepper prices on August 14, in the main pepper growing and consumption regions:

T.Huong
Source: Vitic