Asia remained the top buyer, soaking up 76,845 tonnes, a 12.3% year-over-year rise that grabbed 45.6% of total exports. The numbers confirm that beyond just growing pepper, Vietnam is rapidly cementing its role as a processing and trading hub for value-added products in the global supply chain. Over January-July, cinnamon exports reached 73,085 tonnes worth 186.5 million USD, slipping a slight 1% in volume and 0.6% in value compared to a year earlier. US-bound pepper exports are expected to remain stable over the medium and long haul. After more than two decades as the world’s top pepper exporter, Vietnam has almost no room left to expand planted acreage.