According to data from the United States International Trade Commission, US pepper imports under HS codes 090411 and 090412 reached 47,600 tons in the first six months of this year, worth $359.8 million.

The figures represented increases of 4.6% in volume and 4.8% in value compared with the same period in 2025.

The average US import price for pepper during the six-month period stood at $7,564 per ton, up 0.2% year on year.

Vietnam was by far the largest supplier of pepper to the US market in the first half of 2026, shipping 38,200 tons worth $290.2 million.

Compared with the same period last year, shipments surged 24.4% in volume and 22.7% in value.

As a result, Vietnam’s share of total US pepper imports by volume jumped from 67.6% to 80.4%, while its share by value rose from 68.9% to 80.7%.

Notably, the average export price of Vietnamese pepper to the US reached $7,593 per ton in the first six months of the year, higher than the US average import price of $7,564 per ton across all suppliers.

With a commanding market share of more than 80%, Vietnam has opened up a substantial lead over competitors including India, Indonesia and Brazil in the race to supply the spice often described as Vietnamese “black gold” to the US market.

Statistics from Vietnam Customs also show that the country exported 22,800 tons of pepper in July 2026, generating an estimated $149.5 million.

That represented year-on-year increases of 6.6% in volume and 5.3% in value.

In the first seven months of 2026, Vietnam exported 168,800 tons of pepper, earning $1.1 billion.

Compared with the same period last year, pepper exports increased 16.7% in volume and 11.1% in value.

The US remained Vietnam’s largest pepper export market during the seven-month period, purchasing 41,500 tons worth $299.3 million, up sharply by 26.6% in volume and 20.6% in value from the same period in 2025.

The US therefore accounted for 24.6% of Vietnam’s total pepper export volume in the first seven months, up from 22.7% in 2025.

According to the Vietnam Pepper and Spice Association, or VPSA, the global pepper market has continued to receive support from limited supplies since the beginning of the year, while demand in several major markets has shown signs of recovery.

Global pepper inventories currently stand at around 170,000 tons, of which Vietnam accounts for approximately 50,000-60,000 tons.

Vietnam’s pepper production in 2025 was estimated at 170,000 tons, down 12.8% from the previous year.

The VPSA said that although businesses continue to face pressure from logistics costs and geopolitical uncertainties, constrained supply was among the factors keeping pepper prices high during the first half of the year, supporting export revenues heading into the final months of 2026.

The US is expected to remain a key market for Vietnamese pepper.

The strong growth in shipments to the country reflects both Vietnam’s supply capacity and the increasingly dominant position of Vietnamese pepper in one of the world’s major consumer markets.

Tam An