Vietnam, the world's top black pepper exporter, expects to join the International Pepper Community next year, an industry official said on Monday. A Vietnam Pepper Association official told Reuters a Vietnamese delegation would submit papers to the worlds pepper body during a meeting in Jakarta slated to start September 21.

"Representatives of (Vietnam's) agriculture ministry will also be present at the meeting for submitting the application," he said, adding that Vietnam would become an official member next year, "at the earliest".

Vietnamese pepper exporters would also hold a roadshow for the products during the September trip, the official added.

In April, the Vietnam Pepper Association said the government would fund the annual $60,000 membership fee.

Vietnam so far attends meetings of the group as an observer. Established in 1972, the International Pepper Community groups producers and consumers of the spice. It has five full members Brazil, India, Indonesia, Malaysia and Sri Lanka.

Vietnam emerged as the world's top exporter of black pepper in 2001. Last year it exported 74,400 tonnes. Government figures show Vietnam exported 83,000 tonnes of the spice in the first eight months of this year, up 40.6 percent year on year.

In July, the Vietnam Pepper Association said exports this year would be 82,000 tonnes from an estimated output of 90,000 tonnes. Domestic consumption is put at 4,000 tonnes.

Copyright Reuters, 2004