The figures posted an increase of 23.5 percent in volume and 20 percent in value year on year, the ever highest records, both in volume and value, that the country has ever achieved, said the association.
In the context of domestic and global economic difficulties, pepper remained in the list of Vietnam's top agricultural products with high export revenues. However, pepper export prices declined during the first quarter this year compared to the same period last year, with the average export price for black pepper reaching 6,266 U.S. dollars per ton (92 dollars/ton lower than last year), and 8,869 U.S. dollars per ton for white pepper (436 dollars/ton lower than last year).
Despite all these, Vietnam exported pepper to more than 80 countries and regions, which accounted for only 30 percent of the world's pepper consumption, but up to 50 percent of the world's pepper trading amount. With this, Vietnamese pepper production sector has enjoyed a lot of prospects for development in the coming years, said VPA Chairman Do Ha Nam.
Major import markets of Vietnamese pepper are the United States (accounting for 21.13 percent of the country's pepper exports), Germany (11.6 percent), the United Arab Emirates (7.39 percent) and Singapore (6.77 percent).
According to VPA, about 40 percent of the total pepper output of this year's crop was exported with good prices, hence domestic pepper exporters could increase their export volume remarkably.
Since 1996, pepper cultivated areas have been expanded, with an increase of nearly 30 percent, reaching over 52,000 hectares as the end of 2004. The country's pepper largest producers are located in the Central Highlands provinces of Dak Lak, Gia Lai and Dak Nong, and southern provinces of Dong Nai, Binh Phuoc and Ba Ria-Vung Tau.
Last year, Vietnam exported over 119,000 tons of pepper, earning 808 million U.S. dollars, a decrease of 4.2 percent in volume, but an increase of 10.4 percent in value, year on year, making the country as the world's top pepper exporter, according to the Vietnamese General Statistics Office.
