Growers have small farms in Vietnam, often 1 to 2 hectares, according to the IPC. Output averages 2.2 tons per hectare, compared with 400 to 500 kilograms in Indonesia.
Vietnam’s output should hold steady at 130,000 tons to 135,000 tons next year, said Nam of the Vietnam Pepper Association. Prices will also be similar, at $7,000 to $8,000 a ton, he said. That should be enough for Thanh, the Dak Lak farmer who’s planning to expand.
“I could buy a car if I liked,” he said. “But I want to buy more land to expand production first.”