Vietnam has a pair of spices known as “underground goldmines”: ginger and turmeric. Ginger is a familiar, everyday item for Vietnamese people, but it is highly favored abroad. Statistics from the Vietnam Pepper Association (VPSA) show that by the end of September 2025, Vietnam exported a total of 17,672 tons of ginger, turmeric, and other spices, worth 48.3 million USD. Compared to the same period in 2024, export volume decreased by 19.1%, but export value increased by 7.7%.
The key export markets for this group remain India, China, and some European countries. Rising prices due to stable import demand and improving product quality have contributed to the growth in export value, despite a decrease in export volume.
Vietnam is one of the leading countries in ginger and turmeric production in Southeast Asia. The area of ginger, turmeric, and other spices is about 45,000 hectares, concentrated mainly in provinces such as Quang Ngai, Nghe An, Lam Dong, and Gia Lai. In 2025, the estimated harvest yield is 120,000 tons of ginger and 80,000 tons of turmeric.
Exports of ginger and turmeric reached over 48 million USD in 9 months.
In addition, ginger and turmeric are also highly valued for their health benefits. Ginger supports digestion, boosts immunity, and reduces inflammation and cold symptoms. Meanwhile, turmeric is notable for its active compound curcumin, which has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It supports liver and cardiovascular health and is widely used in the functional food and cosmetic industries.
According to the VPSA, the international ginger and turmeric market is seeing increased consumption in Asian and European countries, while supply in some major producing countries is facing difficulties due to climate change. This is an opportunity for Vietnam to enhance its position in the spice export market by taking advantage of quality, stable production, and added value.
Exporting businesses also face competitive pressure from other producing countries while focusing on ensuring stable supply and reasonable logistics costs to maintain their export advantage. Building a brand and controlling product quality are becoming important factors, helping Vietnamese ginger, turmeric, and spice products enter deeper into potential markets.
Currently, Vietnam ranks third in the world for spice supply and processing, after India and China. The entire Vietnamese spice industry has 14 factories with deep processing technology. Overall, despite a decrease in export volume compared to the same period last year, the upward trend in export value shows that the Vietnamese spice industry has maintained its growth momentum in value. This opens up opportunities to enhance brand reputation and better exploit international market potential in the coming years.