Vietnam exports nearly 131,777 tonnes of pepper worth 408.9 million USD in the first five months of 2023. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam exported nearly 131,777 tonnes of pepper worth 408.9 million USD in the first five months of this year, up 30% in volume but down 12.7 in value over the same period last year, according to the Vietnam Pepper Association (VPA).

Of the figures, black pepper was 119,832 tonnes and white pepper, the rest.

Pepper exports to Asian market remained a bright sport, reaching 78,907 tonnes, skyrocketing 77.2% and accounting for nearly 60% of the country's total export turnover of this kind of spice. China was the key market as the neighbour imported 46,169 tonnes of pepper, taking up 35% and soared 1,668.9% year-on-year, while the exports to the Philippines was 3,305 tonnes, a hike of 26.1%.

Notably, exports to African market experienced a surge of 38.9%, of which those to Egypt and Senegal shot up 140% and 104.4% year on year, respectively.

The American market recorded a fall of 13.1% in the reviewed period, accounting for 18% of the market share, of which exports to the US decreased 15.5%, picking up for 21,093 tonnes.

Occupying 16.8% of Vietnam’s total pepper export turnover, the EU market fell 9.4% year-on-year in the first five months of this year./.