Việt Nam’s pepper exports rebound strongly despite supply and shipping challenges

Việt Nam’s pepper exports rebound strongly despite supply and shipping challenges

The country exported 30,638 tonnes of pepper in March, comprising 26,190 tonnes of black pepper and 4,448 tonnes of white pepper.

A farmer harvests pepper in the central highlands province of Đắk Lắk. In the first quarter of 2026, Việt Nam exported 66,350 tonnes of pepper worth $430 million, up 39.2 per cent in volume and 31.7 per cent in value year-on-year. — VNA/VNS Photo

Việt Nam’s pepper exports posted robust gains in March, with sharp increases in both volume and value signalling a solid industry rebound early this year, even as supply constraints and global logistics disruptions continue to pose risks.

Data from the Vietnam Pepper and Spice Association (VPSA) showed the country exported 30,638 tonnes of pepper in March, comprising 26,190 tonnes of black pepper and 4,448 tonnes of white pepper.

Export revenue reached US$199.3 million, including $167.3 million from black pepper and $32 million from white pepper. Shipments surged 119.3 per cent from February and rose 51.3 per cent compared with the same period last year.

Export prices remained elevated overall, averaging $6,520 per tonne for black pepper and $8,735 per tonne for white pepper. While black pepper prices slipped slightly by 0.7 per cent month-on-month, white pepper prices edged up one per cent, reflecting diverging trends across product segments within a generally firm market.

The US and China maintained their positions as Việt Nam’s largest buyers, importing 8,059 tonnes and 3,663 tonnes respectively. Exports to the US jumped 121 per cent from the previous month, while shipments to China soared 134.7 per cent. Other markets also recorded exceptional growth, including Egypt, the Netherlands, Canada and the Philippines, each posting triple-digit increases.

In the first quarter of 2026, Việt Nam exported 66,350 tonnes of pepper worth $430 million, up 39.2 per cent in volume and 31.7 per cent in value year-on-year, underscoring strong export momentum from the outset of the year.

On the import side, Việt Nam also recorded a sharp rise as businesses boosted purchases for processing and re-export amid tightening domestic supply. March imports reached 10,313 tonnes, up 66.2 per cent from February and 108.8 per cent year-on-year. In the first three months, imports totalled 21,201 tonnes valued at $121 million, a year-on-year increase of 118.9 per cent.

Cambodia remained Việt Nam’s largest supplier, accounting for 55.1 per cent of imports, followed by Brazil and Indonesia.

Despite strong export results, the VPSA warned of growing supply-demand imbalances. The 2026 harvest is projected at 170,000–180,000 tonnes, down 15–20 per cent from the previous crop due to unfavourable weather and ageing plantations. Tight supply has pushed domestic pepper prices to around VNĐ140,000–150,000 ($5.32-5.69) per kilo.

Replanting efforts remain limited as farmers shift toward higher-value crops and land availability shrinks. Globally, pepper output in 2026 is expected to reach about 530,000 tonnes, slightly higher than last year but still below 2024 levels, while demand remains strong.

Meanwhile, exporters are grappling with mounting logistics pressures linked to escalating tensions in the Middle East, which have driven shipping costs up three to four times.

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz to commercial container traffic has disrupted major shipping routes, forcing carriers to suspend operations and causing severe congestion at key transshipment hubs such as Jebel Ali and ports in Bahrain and Oman.

With the Middle East accounting for roughly 15 per cent of Việt Nam’s pepper export turnover and serving as a vital logistics gateway, some exporters have temporarily halted new orders to minimise risks related to rising costs and delivery delays. Prolonged disruptions could weigh on the sector’s export growth outlook for 2026. 

Bizhub