Vietnam's pepper exports continued to grow in September, supported by stronger demand from major overseas markets, particularly the United States.

According to Vietnam Customs, the country shipped 25,152 tonnes of pepper in September 2026, generating nearly $164 million in export revenue. The figures represented month-on-month increases of 10.6% in volume and 10.8% in value.

During the first nine months of the year, Vietnam exported nearly 217,000 tonnes of pepper, a commodity often referred to as "black gold", earning $1.41 billion.

Compared with the same period in 2025, export volume rose 16.2%, while export value increased 11.4%.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment reported that Vietnam recorded a pepper trade surplus of $1.09 billion during the period, up 3.4% year on year.

Despite higher export volumes and revenue, the average export price declined 4.1% from a year earlier to an estimated $6,507.6 per tonne.

The United States, Germany and Thailand remained Vietnam's three largest pepper export markets, accounting for 26.7%, 6.1% and 4.4% of total shipments, respectively.

In the first eight months of 2026, Vietnam's pepper export revenue from the US market rose 19.2% compared with the same period last year. Exports to Thailand surged 52.8%, while shipments to Germany declined 17%.

Among Vietnam's 15 largest pepper export markets, Turkey recorded the strongest growth, with export value jumping 97.7%.

Vietnam's increasingly dominant position in the US pepper market has been particularly striking.

Data from the United States International Trade Commission showed that US pepper imports under HS codes 090411 and 090412 totalled 54,880 tonnes in the first seven months of 2026, worth $409.60 million.

These figures represented year-on-year increases of 4.9% in volume and 5.4% in value.

Vietnam remained the largest supplier to the US market, shipping approximately 44,120 tonnes of pepper worth $330.84 million during the seven-month period.

Compared with the corresponding period in 2025, imports from Vietnam increased 22.1% in volume and 20.6% in value.

As a result, Vietnam's share of total US pepper imports by volume climbed sharply from 69.1% to 80.4%. Its share by value also rose from 70.6% to 80.8%.

In contrast, US pepper imports from India fell 17.2%, while imports from Indonesia plunged 59.3%.

The figures indicate that Vietnam accounted for a substantial portion of the growth in US pepper imports during the first seven months of 2026.

They also suggest a shift in sourcing patterns among American importers, who are increasingly turning to Vietnamese suppliers while reducing purchases from competing markets.

In Vietnam's domestic market, pepper prices currently range from approximately $5.23 to $5.37 per kilogram.

On the international market, Vietnamese black pepper with densities of 500 g/l and 550 g/l is being offered at $5,950 and $5,995 per tonne, respectively, while white pepper is priced at $8,450 per tonne.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, Vietnam's harvested pepper output reached 273,400 tonnes by the end of September, an increase of 4.8% compared with the same period last year.

Pepper prices are expected to rise as exporters begin a new round of purchasing, amid declining supplies from Indonesia and Brazil and relatively limited stocks held by Vietnamese farmers.

Tam An