How much does Vietnam import pepper from Brazil?

In Brazil, the main harvest period has begun in the states of Para and Espírito Santo, according to Nedspice. However, pepper exports in recent months from Brazil have declined compared to the same period last year, as the May-June harvest period in Espírito Santo was severely affected by severe weather conditions at the beginning of the year.

According to data from the Brazilian State Center for Foreign Trade Statistics (Comex Stat), in September, Brazil's pepper exports reached 3,667 tons, worth 22.1 million USD, down 0.5% in volume and up 17.8% in value compared to the previous month, and down 28.6% in volume but up 13.5% in value compared to the same period last year.

Accumulated in the first 9 months of the year, Brazil's pepper exports reached 49,366 tons with a value of 206.4 million USD, compared to the same period last year, the export volume decreased by 15.3% compared to the same period last year, but the export value increased by 15.8% due to high prices.

Vietnam is currently the largest customer of Brazil's pepper industry. Photo: MH

On average, in the first 9 months of the year, Brazil's pepper export price reached 4,182 USD/ton, up 36.7% over the same period. Brazil's main pepper export markets in the first 9 months of the year were Vietnam, UAE, Pakistan, India...

Of which, exports to Vietnam - the largest customer of the Brazilian pepper industry reached 6,925 tons, down 41.9% compared to the same period last year and accounting for 14% of the market share. The average price of pepper imported from Brazil to Vietnam reached 3,675 USD/ton, up 22.1% compared to the same period last year and the lowest among the top 20 pepper import markets of this country.

In contrast, Brazil's pepper exports to the UAE, Pakistan and India increased sharply by 11.4%, 19.7% and 30.1%, reaching 6,089 tons, 5,434 tons and 5,368 tons, respectively. Notably, Brazil's pepper exports to the US market increased by 12.5 times, reaching 2,502 tons.

In Vietnam, Ms. Hoang Thi Lien - President of the Vietnam Pepper and Spice Association - said that in the first 9 months of 2024, Vietnam exported 200,894 tons of pepper of all kinds, of which black pepper reached 177,953 tons and white pepper reached 22,941 tons. Total export turnover reached 991 million USD, of which black pepper reached 781.9 million USD and white pepper reached 142.1 million USD. The whole industry had a trade surplus of about 889 million USD.

Domestic pepper prices have fluctuated erratically in most key regions in the country in early October. According to the Vietnam Pepper and Spice Association (VPSA), the amount of pepper left in the population is almost gone, so the domestic market is quite stagnant. Currently, the supply is only available at agents and warehouses of enterprises.

It is expected that Vietnam's 2025 pepper harvest will be almost entirely in February 2025, with some regions extending to March and April, 1-2 months later than previous years due to the impact of prolonged drought, causing Vietnam's pepper supply to become increasingly limited.

The inventory from the 2023 crop carried over, plus the import volume in 2024, is about 40,000-45,000 tons (including informal imports), showing that the export source until the end of the year will be lower than every year.

It is estimated that pepper output in 2024 will only reach about 170,000 tons, down 10% compared to the previous year. This is also the lowest level in the past 5 years. The reason is that many farmers cut down pepper trees when prices fell 4 years ago (when pepper prices dropped to only 40,000 VND/kg) to plant more profitable trees such as durian, coffee, etc.

Currently, the domestic pepper market is being affected by both international and domestic factors. However, pepper exports remain positive in the first 9 months of 2024. According to experts, the Vietnamese pepper market still has the opportunity to grow slightly and maintain stable prices in the coming time.

The impact of El Nino climate change at the beginning of the year has continuously affected the cultivation and maintenance of pepper gardens of farmers. Following that, the La Nina phenomenon has affected the psychology of farmers, especially at the present time when durian and coffee prices are at high levels, so it is not attractive enough to replant pepper massively.

Source: https://congthuong.vn/viet-nam-nhap-khau-ho-tieu-cua-brazil-voi-gia-la-bao-nhieu-352599.html