Pepper exporters from the southern province of Dong Nai have so far earned nearly 23 million USD from selling 3,100 tonnes abroad.

According to the local Statistics Office, the price of black pepper now is over 7,100 USD per tonne, between 50 and 60 USD per tonne higher than that of the same period last year.

Dong Nai is the third largest producer of the spice in the country with an area of nearly 8,000 hectare, mainly in the districts of Cam My, Tan Phu, Xuan Loc and Trang Bom.

Pepper is one of Vietnam’s major exports among its farm produce and shipped to more than 90 countries and territories, with the EU, Asia and the US being the biggest importers.

Last year, the country exported 134,000 tonnes of the spice for 899 million USD, up 15 percent and 13 percent in volume and value respectively year-on-year.

It has more than 50,000 ha of pepper plantations, mainly in central and southern provinces.-VNA