Vietnam tops the world in pepper export

Vietnam exported 42,000 tons of pepper, worth 208 million U.S. dollars, in the first four months of this year, surpassing the pepper crowned India and becoming the world's largest pepper exporter, reported the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on Monday.

The ministry said that during the latter half of 2010, the price of pepper increased by 45 percent to 60 percent over the first half of the year, and continues rising.

The country expects to export 120,000 tons of pepper this year, worth around 470 million U.S. dollars, according to the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade.

However, Vietnam often exports raw pepper, while other countries, including India, Brazil and Indonesia, export high- quality processed pepper with better prices. To develop the sector, insiders said that the country needs to focus on branding its product and improving the quality of its pepper.

xinhua

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