Star anise is rare in the world, but it grows a lot in Vietnam. By 2022, the area of star anise in Vietnam was about 40,000 hectares, concentrated mainly in Lang Son and Cao Bang provinces, with an annual output of over 16,000 tons.
Star anise is available for harvest from the 4th year. However, it takes about 16 years to harvest twice a year, making this tree even more precious. Most star anise after harvest is dried and exported as dried flowers, with only a small portion being processed into essential oil. According to the World Spice Organization, Vietnam’s star anise production ranks second globally, behind China.
Regarding the export situation, in August 2025, Vietnam exported 972 tons of star anise, with a value of 4.5 million USD. Compared to July 2025, export volume increased by 61.5%, and value increased by 79.8%.
Vietnam has tens of thousands of hectares of star anise.
Since the beginning of the year, Vietnam has exported 10,248 tons of star anise, with a total export value of 40.1 million USD. Compared to the same period last year, export volume increased by 12.4%, but export value decreased by 8.1%. India continues to maintain its position as the leading export market for this type of spice.
Earlier in 2024, Vietnam exported 14,004 tons of star anise, with a total value of over 63.7 million USD, representing a decrease of 5.7% in volume and 16.2% in value.
Star anise is considered one of the most valuable agricultural products, favored not only domestically but also in many international markets. Thanks to its distinctive aroma and rich applications in the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries, Vietnamese star anise has now established its position in the global market.
A market study by SNV (the Netherlands Development Organization) in 2021 highlighted the outstanding advantages of Vietnamese cinnamon and star anise, including a climate and soil suitable for high-quality varieties and support from locals for agricultural and forestry development.
Vietnam is currently one of the leading spice exporting nations, ranking second globally in star anise exports. Economic experts said that Vietnam still has significant room for developing spice products.
Last year, the total value of Vietnamese spice exports reached over 1.4 billion USD. The industry aims to export 2 billion USD in 2025.