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| Harvesting pepper in southern Vietnam |
The average pepper export price between January and April of 2024 was US$4,214 per tonne, a notable rise of 36.4%.
April alone saw the country ship abroad 27,000 tonnes of black pepper, earning approximately US$117 million, just up 2.2% in volume, but up to 40.4% in value against the same month last year.
Notably, Pakistan, Germany, the Republic of Korea, and India recorded triple-digit growth rates among markets witnessing greater imports of black pepper.
Though Vietnam’s black pepper accounts for 40% of global export output and holds a 60% market share worldwide, its prices remain low among the exporting countries.
Statistics show Vietnamese black pepper prices range from US$4,200 to US$4,300 per tonne, lower than similar products from Brazil (US$4,900), Indonesia (US$4,703), or Malaysia (US$4,700). Likewise, white pepper from Vietnam is priced at US$6,000 per tonne, which is still less than that of comparable items from Malaysia and Indonesia.
The impact of the climate phenomenon El Niño has reduced the supply from the two leading pepper producers - Brazil and Vietnam, thus fueling the product price and leading to a new cycle of price hikes for black pepper, said Hoang Thi Lien, chairwoman of the Vietnam Pepper Association.
Domestic pepper prices have consequently surged by 44.7% compared to April last year, rising from VND67,000 per kilo to VND97,000 per kilo.
However, the domestic pepper industry is facing challenges, including product quality improvement, that need to be addressed to satisfy demanding markets such as the US and EU. In addition, the cultivation area is being downsized, leading to an output decline. Without proper business strategies to be introduced, Vietnam will lose out to Brazil, a major export rival in the coming years.
Photos of Vietnamese landscapes honoured at 35AWARDS Photography Award
Two shots taken by local photographers Nguyen Minh Tu and Bui Van Hai have been named among the top 100 in the drone photography category of the ninth 35AWARDS, an international event created in 2015 by the professional photo community 35photo.pro, reported the Voice of Vietnam.
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| “Trên cánh đồng cỏ năng” (On the grass field) taken by Bui Van Hai |
The photo “Trên cánh đồng cỏ năng” (On the grass field) taken by Bui Van Hai was captured on Vo Chi Cong street which connects Hoi An to Chu Lai Airport in Binh Hai commune of Thang Binh district in central Quang Nam province. It features the beautiful and peaceful nature of the Vietnamese countryside.
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| “Trái tim của biển” (Heart of the Sea) snapped by Nguyen Minh Tu |
Meanwhile, the work “Trái tim của biển” (Heart of the Sea) snapped by Nguyen Minh Tu was taken on Hon Yen Islet in the southcentral coastal province of Phu Yen. It shows a boat of fishermen throwing a cast net to catch anchovies.
The 35AWARDS honours photographers by offering awards in various photo genres, from aerial photography and daily life to landscapes and wildlife.
This year’s contest attracted a total of 470,000 entries of 36,000 photographers from 174 countries and territories.
Special stamp set marks 70th anniversary of Dien Bien Phu Victory
The Ministry of Information and Communications has announced that a special set of stamps celebrating the 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory will be issued on May 5, reported Vietnam News Agency.
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| Set of stamps to be issued (Photo: MInistry of Information and Communications) |
The set, designed by artist Nguyen Du from the Vietnam Post Corporation, features four stamps arranged in a panoramic layout.Each stamp measures 43 x 32 mm while the entire set measures 172 x 32 mm.
It depicts a narrative of the heroic past and the bright future of Dien Bien Phu, from the glorious past to the promising future.On March 13, 1954, the Vietnamese revolutionary army launched the first attack against the French colonialists’ heavily fortified base of Dien Bien Phu, starting a 56-day historic campaign whose victory directly led to the signing of the Geneva Accords on ending the war and restoring peace in Indochina.
President Ho Chi Minh affirmed that the Dien Bien Phu Victory was a brilliant milestone in history that directly led to the signing of the Geneva Accords. It also created a foundation and conditions for the Vietnamese people to secure victory in the resistance war against the US, liberate the South, and reunify the country in 1975.
Seventy years have passed, but the victory remains a source of pride of the Vietnamese people due to its global significance.
FPT Software, VinFast honoured at “Jewels of Asia” Awards 2024
Leading IT services provider FPT Software and automotive manufacturer VinFast of Vietnam were honoured at the 14th Annual “Jewels of Asia” Awards Gala hosted by the Asian American Chamber of Commerce (AACC) in Virginia state of the US on May 2, reported Vietnam News Agency.
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| Vietnamese Ambassador to the US Nguyen Quoc Dung speaks at the gala. (Photo: VNA) |
Leading IT services provider FPT Software and automotive manufacturer VinFast of Vietnam were honoured at the 14th Annual “Jewels of Asia” Awards Gala hosted by the Asian American Chamber of Commerce (AACC) in Virginia state of the US on May 2.
The enterprises won the prize in the category of international businesses from Asia operating in the US, which was added to the awards for the first time.
Addressing the gala, Vietnamese Ambassador to the US Nguyen Quoc Dung emphasised that the annual awards by AACC not only honours achievements made by the Asian American business community but also underscores a broader commitment to international cooperation, integration, and mutual development.
The awards has honoured the role of entrepreneurs and efforts from various sectors, including science, technology, education, infrastructure, transport, and agriculture, which have contributed to economic growth and the enhancement of cultural and social relationships between countries, he added.
Becky Vo, Business Director of FPT Software in the US, said through this awards, FPT has the opportunity to connect with AACC member businesses, towards expanding its business in the US market.
Meanwhile, AACC President Cindy Shao stated that the annual awards originated from the idea of honouring those with innovative spirit and success in their business within the Asian American business community.
She joyfully announced that in June, she will lead a delegation of AACC members to Vietnam to participate in the Vietnam International Trade Fair (Vietnam Expo 2024), and establish trade connections with several Vietnamese businesses.
According to Senator Mark R. Warner from Virginia state, this awards offers an opportunity to create connections and collaboration among Asian American businesses in the US, contributing to boosting economic development between Asian countries and the US.
AACC's initiative to connect cross-border businesses promises to open up new paths for cooperation and innovation, he added./.