Viet Nam’s pepper output this year would reach around 200,000 tonnes, according to the International Pepper Community (IPC).

Output of black pepper was forecast at 175,000 tonnes, while the remainder would be white pepper.

The IPC also predicted the pepper output of the world’s biggest exporters such as Viet Nam, Brazil, Indonesia and India in 2019 would be lower than last year.

The Import-Export Department under the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade said up to 95 per cent of Viet Nam’s pepper output was exported.

Experts said local pepper producers and exporters should associate and connect with international customers to expand their consumption markets as well as improving pepper quality.

In the first month of the year, pepper export volume hit 15,000 tonnes worth US$46 million, posting 19.6 per cent and 13.5 per cent increases in terms of quantity and value from the previous month.

The average export price last month was US$3,067 per tonne, falling 5 per cent from December 2018 and 23.5 per cent from the same period last year.

The department said the pepper price in the Central Highland province of Tay Nguyen and the southern region was VND46,000 per kilo – the lowest level in the past 10 years. — VNS