Chili exports to the Taiwanese market (China) surged by 640%.

China was Vietnam's largest chili export market in the first seven months of this year, accounting for 6,834 tons, or 85.2% of total exports. Compared to the same period last year, exports to China in the first seven months decreased by 1.9%.

Vietnamese chili peppers are exported to many markets. (Illustrative image)

Laos ranked second with 810 tons, accounting for 10%; a 44.6% increase compared to the same period last year. The US market ranked third, reaching 134 tons, a 157.7% increase compared to the same period last year.

Over the past seven months, several export markets for Vietnamese chili peppers have also seen strong growth. Specifically, Taiwan (China) experienced the strongest increase, rising by 640% (from 5 tons in the same period of 2023 to 37 tons); Senegal saw a 300% increase, with a production of 8 tons…

Chili peppers are a familiar fruit to Vietnamese consumers. Farmers consider chili peppers a "one investment, ten returns" crop because they have a short growing season, can be intercropped with fruit trees, and require little care, making them suitable for farming conditions throughout the country. Typically, chili peppers are planted between September and November each year. After two months of planting, chili plants begin to yield 3-4 harvests over a period of about three months, with the highest quality peppers reaching an ideal weight of up to 4 kg per plant.

According to the Department of Crop Production ( Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development ), chili peppers are most widely grown in the provinces of Dong Thap, An Giang, Tien Giang, Soc Trang, Tra Vinh, and Vinh Long, with a total area of ​​over 7,000 hectares and a production of approximately 100,000 tons per year. In the Central Highlands, the area planted with chili peppers reaches about 4,000-5,000 hectares with a production of about 60,000 tons per year.

Since March 2022, China has allowed Vietnam to officially export chili peppers to its market, facilitating an increase in export volume. In 2023, the country's chili pepper exports reached $20 million, equivalent to 10,173 tons, a 107% increase compared to the previous year.

Currently, chili exports are facing numerous difficulties. Accordingly, in June of this year, the Ministry of Industry and Trade issued a notice stating that the European Commission had published Regulation No. 2024/1662, signed on June 11, 2024, concerning the review of the application of enhanced inspection measures and emergency measures for the management of imports of agricultural products and food from third countries into the EU under Regulation 2019/1973.

Specifically, Vietnamese agricultural products including chili peppers, dragon fruit, and okra continue to face increased inspection frequency and stricter food safety requirements from the EU.

Specifically for chili products, the EU applies a 50% inspection frequency; and each shipment must be accompanied by a Food Safety Certificate and test results showing pesticide residue levels. This poses a significant challenge for Vietnamese export businesses.

Therefore, in order to continue exporting agricultural products, including chili peppers, to the EU market in a stable manner, the Ministry of Industry and Trade recommends that agricultural and food production businesses improve product quality management to meet the requirements of this market.