Export agro-products from Vietnam: coffee, pepper, rice and beyond

Vietnam still relies heavily on agricultural commodity exports. Rice, coffee, and pepper contribute significantly to Vietnam’s export revenue. Today, Vietnam is the world’s largest producer of pepper, producing 190,000 tones of black pepper in 2024; the country is also the largest global Robusta exporter and the second largest exporter of coffee overall, as well as the fifth largest exporter of rice, with 27 million metric tons produced in 2024.

Coffee: As I previously mentioned, Vietnam is a leading exporter of its Robusta coffee varieties, which dominate the local market with 95–97% of production output, leaving Arabica as a niche segment cultivated by a small number of farmers in the mountains. Other premium coffee varieties are also available in limited quantities; however, many counterfeit products circulate in the market, as the genuine supply is often contracted by major brands months in advance.

Pepper & other spices: Geographic location impacts the timing of harvesting seasons and taste. For instance, main chili harvesting cycles in the Mekong Delta run from October to April (dry season), while in northern provinces, harvesting typically takes place from May to November.

Rice: There are various rice suppliers in Vietnam, but rice prices are fluctuating continuously, and farmers in Vietnam have to compete with global exporters. Broken rice and whole grain rice have different destination markets and pricing. Seasonality and outside factors, like the recent decision by India’s government to allow the export of non-basmati rice, flooding international markets, also impact prices.

Despite the challenges in Vietnam's agricultural sector, innovations in this area have great potential for modernizing supplier infrastructure. Here at Vietnamia, we offer direct export and marketing channels for Vietnamese suppliers and farmers.