Vietnam’s pepper output is high this crop, at 200,000 tons, but exports in the first five months of the year fell sharply as speculators reserved money to buy Robusta coffee.

Vietnam has exported 2,657 tonnes of pepper to the Chinese market as of mid-June. Exports to US and EU markets have dropped.

Vietnam's pepper exports are not challenged by Cambodia being issued a licence to export its pepper to China directly, according to experts.