AsemconnectVietnam - On Saturday, domestic pepper prices in Vietnam's Central Highlands rose by 1000 VND to VND100,000 - VND101,000 per kg compared to Yesterday, according to Kinhtedothi.

The maximum price for pepper increased to VND101,000 per kg in Dac Lac and Binh Phuoc while the lowest price to VND100,000 per kg in Gia Lai, Dak Nong, Dong Nai and Ba Ria –Vung Tau province.
The domestic pepper industry faces challenges, including product quality improvement, that must be addressed to satisfy demanding markets such as the US and EU. In addition, the cultivation area is being downsized, leading to an output decline. Without proper business strategies to be introduced, Vietnam will lose out to Brazil, a major export rival in the coming years.
The General Statistics Office has just announced that between January and April of 2024, pepper exports reached 83,783 tonnes, valued at more than 353 million USD, down 18.3% in volume, but up 11.5% in turnover compared to the same period in 2023. The average pepper export price in this period was US$4,214 per tonne, a rise of 36.4%.
Vietnam's pepper exports in April 2024 increased to 27,000 tonnes, the highest level in the past 11 months, valued at more than 117 million USD, an increase of 4.2% in volume and a 5.1% increase in turnover compared to the previous month; increase 2.2% in volume and 40.4% in turnover compared to the same period in 2023. The average export price of pepper in this month increased for the fourth consecutive month, to 4,342 USD per tonne, up 0.8% over the previous month and up 37.4% over the same period in 2023.
In 2024, pepper prices will remain low while other agricultural products increase due to climate change difficulties. At the same time, the rise in prices of different farm products will put pressure on reducing cultivated area, while pepper productivity will also be reduced due to moderate investment in caring for and maintaining pepper gardens.
Vietnam pepper production is expected to reach 170,000 tonnes in 2024, the lowest output since 2015. Dak Nong has the most significant output, accounting for 41.2 percent, followed by Dak Lak with 28.2 percent. The six central pepper-producing provinces account for 97.1% of the country's production.
April alone saw the country ship abroad 27,000 tonnes of black pepper, earning approximately US$117 million, just up 2.2% in volume, but up to 40.4% in value against the same month last year.
Notably, Pakistan, Germany, the Republic of Korea, and India recorded triple-digit growth rates among markets witnessing greater imports of black pepper.
Though Vietnam’s black pepper accounts for 40% of global export output and holds a 60% market share worldwide, its prices remain low among the exporting countries.
Statistics show Vietnamese black pepper prices range from US$4,200 to US$4,300 per tonne, lower than similar products from Brazil (US$4,900), Indonesia (US$4,703), or Malaysia (US$4,700). Likewise, white pepper from Vietnam is priced at US$6,000 per tonne, which is still less than that of comparable items from Malaysia and Indonesia.
The impact of the climate phenomenon El Niño has reduced the supply from the two leading pepper producers - Brazil and Vietnam, thus fueling the product price and leading to a new cycle of price hikes for black pepper, said Hoang Thi Lien, chairwoman of the Vietnam Pepper Association.
Following are domestic pepper prices on May 4, 2024, in the main pepper growing and consumption regions:

T.Huong
Source: Vitic/Kinhtedothi