In April 2022, Vietnam emerged as the world's leading pepper exporter, according to preliminary data from the Vietnam Pepper Association (VPA), with a total export of 24,795 tons, valued at 115.2 million USD. The US, India, UAE, Germany, and South Korea were the top importing countries. From April to the first four months of 2022, Vietnam exported 79,410 tons of pepper, generating 369.7 million USD, marking a decrease in volume but an increase in turnover compared to the previous year.
Despite the decline in pepper imports from the Americas, particularly the US, the European market showed positive growth, led by Germany. Asian imports experienced a significant drop, with the Chinese market importing the lowest volume in the past four years. African imports also saw a decrease, with the notable exception of Algeria. Vietnam's domestic pepper production has been declining, leading to an increase in imported pepper for export processing. In the first four months of 2022, Vietnam imported 12,105 tons of pepper, primarily from Cambodia, Indonesia, and Brazil, with Olam being the largest importer.