Vietnam exported 113,000 tons of pepper in the first five months of the year, earning $487 million, figures from the General Department of Vietnam Customs showed.

The figures represent a year-on-year reduction of 14.1% in volume but a rise of 19.7% in value, the Cong Thuong online newspaper has reported.

In May, 30,000 tons of pepper were exported, worth $135 million, up 3.7% in volume  and 49.9% in value, compared to the same month of last year.

The average export price of Vietnamese pepper in the five-month period reached $4,308 per ton, surging by 39.3% year-on-year.

Key export markets include the US, India, Germany, the Netherlands, South Korea and Egypt.