According to statistics from the International Trade Center (ITC), Japan’s pepper imports in the first eight months of 2020 reached 6.3 thousand tons, worth USD 26.9 million, an increase of 1.4% in volume, but a decrease of 9.9% in value over the same period in 2019.
The average import price of Japanese pepper in the first eight months of 2020 reached USD 4,264/ton, decreased by 11.1% over the same period in 2019. In which, the average import price of Japanese pepper decreased in most major sources, but increased from the Indian market with an increase of 16.4% to USD 8,004/ton.
In the first eight months of 2020, Japan increased its pepper imports from major markets such as Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam. Malaysia is the largest supplier of pepper to Japan in the first eight months of 2020, with an import volume of 2.4 thousand tons, worth over USD 9 million, an increase of 5.2% in volume, but a decrease of 5.7% in value compared to the same period in 2019. Malaysia’s pepper market share in total Japanese imports accounted for 38.4% in the first eight months of 2020, higher than 37.1% in the first eight months of 2019.
Vietnam is the third largest supplier of pepper to Japan in the first eight months of 2020, with an import volume of 1.7 thousand tons, worth USD 7.34 million, an increase of 12.6% in volume and 10.1% in value over the same period in 2019. Vietnam’s market share of pepper in total Japanese imports accounted for 27.4% in the first eight months of 2020, an increase of 24.6% over the same period in 2019.
The Import and Export Department (Ministry of Industry and Trade) estimated that the export turnover of pepper in October 2020 reached 19 thousand tons, worth USD 48 million, an increase of 4% in volume and 4.9% in value compared to September 2020; compared to October 2019, an increase of 11.9% in volume and 17.1% in value. Average pepper export price in October 2020 is estimated at USD 2,526/ton, an increase of 0.9% compared to September 2020 and an increase of 4.6% compared to October 2019.
Accumulated over the first 10 months of 2020, pepper exports decreased by 4.6% in volume and 15.2% in value over the same period in 2019, reaching 239 thousand tons, worth USD 537 million. The average export price of pepper is estimated at USD 2,247/ton, a decrease of 11.2% over the same period in 2019.
It is forecast that Vietnam’s pepper export prices will increase in the upcoming period due to China increasing purchasing volume after months of low volume imports.
Source: Agribank
