Vietnamese exported pepper near the USD 1 billion milestone in the first half of 2026

According to the Vietnam Pepper and Spice Association, Vietnamese exported pepper reached 23,103 tonnes in June 2026. The shipments generated USD 151.3 million in export revenue. Compared with May 2026, export volume declined by 8.2%, while export value fell by 8.9%. Compared with June 2025, export volume decreased slightly by 1.4%.

The decline was mainly the result of lower export volumes to markets in Asia, Africa, and the Americas. Export shipments to these regions fell compared with the previous month. Meanwhile, demand from Europe remained relatively stable.

In terms of export markets, Asia remained the largest destination for Vietnamese pepper exports. The region imported 9,886 tonnes, accounting for 43.7% of the country’s total pepper exports. However, shipments to the region fell by 10.2% from May and were down 18.3% in comparison to the same month last year.

In contrast, exports to the Americas reached 6,174 tonnes, down 8.2% month on month but up 30% year on year. Exports to the United States alone totaled 5,373 tonnes. This represented an increase of 21% compared with June 2025.

Vietnamese exported pepper

Pepper exports to Europe reached 5,753 tonnes, down 4.5% from the previous month. However, shipments were up 16.7% year on year, supported by strong demand from Germany and the Netherlands. Meanwhile, exports of Vietnamese pepper to Africa totaled 1,290 tonnes. This represented a decline of 8.9% from May and 22.4% compared with the same period last year.

In the first six months of 2026, Vietnamese exported pepper reached a total of 145,686 tonnes. These exports generated USD 940.5 million in export revenue for Vietnamese pepper exporters. Compared with the same period in 2025, export volume increased by 17.4%, while export value rose by 10.6%.

In terms of export markets, Asia remained the largest destination, accounting for 45.6% of Vietnam’s total pepper exports, up 15.2% year on year. Within the region, China imported 15,244 tonnes, a sharp increase of 64%, while the United Arab Emirates imported more than 9,700 tonnes. This further reinforced its role as a key transshipment hub for Vietnamese pepper, with imports up 10.9%.

Notably, Thailand nearly doubled its pepper imports from Vietnam during the first half of this year, reaching 6,094 tonnes. In contrast, exports to India declined by 27.2% year on year to 6,433 tonnes during the same period.

Olam Vietnam remained Vietnam’s leading pepper exporter, shipping 12,451 tonnes in the first six months of 2026, up 0.5% from a year earlier. It was followed by Phuc Sinh Corporation, which exported 12,022 tonnes, an increase of 11%.

Vietnamese black pepper

Despite strong growth in the first half of the year, the pace of pepper exports has slowed in recent months as domestic supplies have become increasingly constrained. According to industry assessments, export growth has been sustainable largely by supplementary raw materials sourced through imports.

On the import side, Vietnam imported nearly 45,200 tonnes of pepper in the first six months of 2026. This total included more than 41,342 tonnes of black pepper. Total pepper imports were valued at USD 257.7 million in the first six months of 2026. Compared with the same period in 2025, import volume increased by 59.7%, while import value rose by 48%.

Cambodia was the largest supplier, accounting for 51.7% of Vietnam’s total pepper imports, with shipments surging 273.8% year on year. Other major suppliers included Brazil and Indonesia. The sharp increase in imports reflects strong demand for additional raw materials from processing and exporting enterprises. This is because domestic pepper supplies continue to tighten.