Vietnam, the world's biggest pepper exporter, sold overseas 18,000 tons of pepper worth 45 million U.S. dollars in the first three months of this year, down 38.5 percent in volume but up 7.8 percent in value, according to the Vietnam Pepper Association on Wednesday.

Vietnam is expected to export 150,000 tons of pepper totaling 300 million dollars in 2010, up from 116,000 tons valued at 190 million dollars in 2006, the association said, noting that average export price of the local product may rise to 2,500 dollars per ton this year from 1,638 last year.

Vietnam, which used to export raw pepper, has in recent years intensified investment in employing advanced production lines to turn out high-grade pepper, capable of meeting strict requirements set by such big markets as the European Union, the United States, Russia, China, Japan and Singapore.

Vietnam now houses 52,500 hectares of pepper, with an average output of 2.3 tons per hectare, said the association. Southern Binh Phuoc province alone has nearly 13,500 hectares.

Source: Xinhua