AsemconnectVietnam - According to Kinhtedothi, Vietnam’s domestic pepper prices edged higher on Wednesday morning, with several key producing provinces rising by 500 dong per kg and pushing the top price back to 151,000 dong per kg, while Indonesian export prices continued to firm, traders and industry data showed.

Domestic Market
Spot pepper prices ranged between 148,000 and 151,000 dong per kg, with increases of 500 dong per kg recorded in several major growing areas.
Dak Lak and Dak Nong saw prices rose 500 dong per kg to 151,000 dong per kg. Ba Ria–Vung Tau and Gia Lai also gained 500 dong per kg, trading at 149,000 dong per kg and 148,500 dong per kg, respectively.
Dong Nai held steady at 148,000 dong per kg, unchanged from the previous session.
Global Market
According to the International Pepper Community (IPC), Indonesia’s Lampung black pepper export price rose 0.23%, or $16 per tonne, to $6,867 per tonne in the latest session.
Prices in other major producing countries were largely stable. Brazil’s ASTA 570 black pepper was quoted at $6,100 per tonne, while Malaysia’s Kuching ASTA black pepper stood at $9,100 per tonne.
Vietnam’s black pepper export prices were unchanged at $6,400–$6,600 per tonne for 500 g/l and 550 g/l grades.
In the white pepper segment, Indonesia’s Muntok white pepper was offered at $9,295 per tonne, up 0.24%, or $22 per tonne, from the previous day. Malaysian and Vietnamese white pepper prices remained steady at $12,100 per tonne and $9,150 per tonne, respectively.
Industry Concerns Over Regulatory Changes
At a recent workshop on the implementation of new food safety regulations, the Vietnam Pepper and Spice Association (VPSA) expressed particularly concerned about Article 10 of Decree 46, which requires three conditions simultaneously: the exporting country must be approved by Vietnam; the foreign production facility must be recognized by Vietnam; and each shipment must have a food safety certificate from the exporting country. These requirements are difficult to implement in the practical context of pepper and spice trading, where transactions through multiple intermediaries are common. The registration and assessment mechanism in Article 28 is too long and complex, suitable for animal products but incompatible with the characteristics of dried spices.
Another urgent issue is handling returned export goods. If current regulations are strictly applied, returned shipments will not be eligible for domestic consumption, leaving businesses completely without options for managing trade risks. VPSA recommends not considering returned goods as "normal imports," allowing domestic consumption when they meet standards, and establishing unified guidelines to minimize losses.
Regarding management methods, VPSA proposes a strong shift from pre-inspection to post-inspection based on risk: reducing formal administrative paperwork, focusing on test results, compliance history, and traceability; and classifying businesses according to risk levels. The association also proposes recognizing international certifications such as ISO, HACCP, and GMP instead of some procedural domestic requirements.
During the transition period until April 15, 2026, VPSA proposes that ministries and agencies organize thematic dialogues with the pepper and spice industry to finalize regulations before reinstating them. The association affirms that it does not oppose the goal of ensuring food safety but hopes to work with the Government to build an approach that is appropriate to the specific characteristics of the industry, harmonizes with integration commitments, and helps businesses maintain stability and enhance international competitiveness.
Source: Vitic/Kinhtedothi