Pepper export revenue enjoys steady growth

HCM City (VNA) - Vietnam’s peppercorn shipments to foreign markets performed well, with the January-November period’s export revenue close to that recorded in 2014, reported a conference in Ho Chi Minh City on December 1. 

According to the Vietnam Pepper Association (VPA), the country exported 124,000 tonnes of peppercorn, raking in 1.3 billion USD in the first 11 months of the year, a year-on-year decrease of 17 percent in volume and 2.8 percent rise in value.

In the reviewed period, the average export price of pepper was 9,528 USD/tonne, up 20 percent compared with the previous year.

The country aims to sell about 130,000 tonnes of pepper this year, with earnings of 1.24 billion USD.

Last year, 156,0000 tonnes of peppercorn were sent to foreign markets, bringing 1.21 billion USD to the country, representing a 16.38 percent increase in volume and 34.72 percent in value – the highest figures recorded so far both in volume and value.

Since 2000, Vietnam has been the globe’s leading pepper producer and exporter, accounting for a 50 percent share of the world market. It sells peppercorns to 100 countries and territories worldwide with Singapore, the United Arab Emirates and the US as the largest buyers.

In recent years, the country’s pepper cultivation area has expanded, with that of 2015 estimated to exceed 100,000 ha.

According to VPA Chairman Do Ha Nam, the pepper sector is seeing difficulties, as it has to satisfy stricter requirements on food safety from foreign importers.

This situation requires the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to create master strategies for the sector’s development in each locality, Nam stressed, adding that it was necessary to issue support policies and measures to promote pepper production in accordance with the Good Agricultural Practices guidelines.-VNA