Hanoi, March 9 -- Vietnam's pepper export earnings in 2026 are expected to surpass the record level in 2025 thanks to persistently high prices, promising better incomes for farmers and stronger profits for exporters despite a tightening supply. Pepper growers reap big gains as prices rise At this time of the year, farmers in major pepper-growing regions across the country are entering the harvest season for the 2026 crop. With farm-gate prices remaining high, the sector is optimistic that export turnover will continue to grow. The recent Lunar New Year (Year of the Horse) was considered a big win for farmers in the Central Highlands, where many key crops such as coffee and durian have fetched high prices. As coffee harvesting ended, farme...