HANOI, July 12 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam exported some 181,000 tons of pepper worth 461 million U.S. dollars in the first half of this year, seeing year-on-year increases of 37.2 percent in volume and 1.9 percent in value, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade on Friday.
In June alone, the country earned 85 million U.S. dollars from selling 35,000 tons of pepper overseas, climbing up 19.6 percent and 58.5 percent, respectively. Its largest importers included the United States, India and Germany.
The export price of Vietnamese pepper in June declined 1.2 percent against May and down 24.3 percent compared to June 2018, according to the ministry.
Between January and June, the average export price was nearly 2,550 U.S. dollar per ton, plunging 25.7 percent on-year.
In the coming months, pepper exports may face difficulties as big producers including Brazil and Indonesia are preparing for their main harvest, the ministry forecast.
According to the Vietnam Pepper Association, the pepper supply worldwide currently surpasses demand. In the coming years, pepper production will continue to increase rapidly, and many pepper producing countries, including Vietnam, will have significant inventory volume.
