Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam's pepper exports maintained strong growth in the first half of 2026 despite tightening domestic supplies, according to the Vietnam Pepper and Spice Association.
In June, Vietnam exported 23,103 tonnes of pepper worth 151.3 million USD, down from the previous month as shipments to Asia, Africa and the Americas slowed, while demand from Europe remained stable. Exports to the US and Europe continued to grow year-on-year, helping sustain demand in key markets.
In the first six months of the year, pepper exports reached 145,686 tonnes, generating 940.5 million USD, up 17.4% in volume and 10.6% in value compared with the same period in 2025.
Asia remained the largest export market, with shipments to China surging 64%, while the US retained its position as Vietnam's largest single market, recording growth of 28.7%. However, export momentum has shown signs of slowing as domestic supplies continue to tighten.
Overall, Vietnam's pepper exports maintained solid year-on-year growth in the first half of 2026, supported by firm demand in key markets and the stable supply capacity of major exporters, despite mounting pressure from declining domestic raw material supplies.
On the import side, Vietnam imported 7,112 tonnes of pepper worth nearly 40 million USD in June, down 18.7% in volume and 19.8% in value from May, although import volume was still 23.4% higher than a year earlier. The monthly decline was mainly attributed to lower imports from Cambodia following a sharp increase in the previous month, while the year-on-year rise reflected continued efforts by processors and exporters to replenish raw materials.
During the first half of the year, Vietnam imported 45,198 tonnes of pepper worth 257.7 million USD, an increase of nearly 60% in volume. Cambodia remained the largest supplier, followed by Brazil and Indonesia, highlighting strong demand for imported raw materials to support processing and exports.
Cinnamon exports also slowed in June, reaching 12,611 tonnes worth 31.9 million USD, down from both the previous month and the same period last year.
In the first six months, Vietnam exported 61,297 tonnes of cinnamon valued at 156.2 million USD, down around 3% in both volume and value. Although exports started the year on a positive note, shipments eased in May and June as demand weakened in several Asian markets.
Asia still accounted for 68.5% of Vietnam's cinnamon exports but recorded a decline of more than 11% due to softer demand. In contrast, exports to the Americas rose by more than 31%, with shipments to the US climbing nearly 27.7%, helping offset weaker sales in traditional markets and demonstrating the effectiveness of the spice sector's export market diversification strategy.
The slowdown in traditional Asian markets has limited the growth of cinnamon exports. However, robust demand from the US and the Americas has partly offset the decline, underscoring the positive impact of diversifying Vietnam's export markets for spices./.
