In addition to pepper, cinnamon, and nutmeg, Vietnam has a rare spice in the world, star anise. According to Tridge’s data, China, Vietnam, and India are currently the dominant suppliers of star anise worldwide. Vietnam and China are the two countries capable of producing star anise in large quantities due to favorable conditions.
According to statistics from the Vietnam Pepper and Spice Association (VPSA), Vietnam exported 724 tons of star anise in February 2025, with a turnover of 2.5 million USD, a decrease of 44.4% compared to the last month. The largest export market remains India, accounting for 75.0%, with 543 tons.
From the beginning of 2025 until now, Vietnam has exported 2,026 tons of star anise, with a total export value of 7.1 million USD. This is a significant increase of 56% in volume and a 1.2% increase in value compared to the same period in 2024.
Vietnam’s largest export market is India, with 1,469 tons, accounting for nearly 73% of the market share.
Vietnam is one of the top suppliers of star anise worldwide.
Earlier in 2024, Vietnam exported 14,004 tons of star anise, with a total value of over 63.7 million USD.
If the star anise tree is cared for well, it will bloom after 4 years of planting. The yield from the 4th to the 6th year is 0.5 – 1 kg per tree, making the star anise even more precious. From the 20th year onwards, the tree will yield a stable output of 40–50 kg per tree. If the tree is planted and cared for with proper techniques, it will yield high and stable productivity, extending the harvesting period up to 80 years.
Currently, Lang Son province is the “center” of star anise in Vietnam, with over 43,000 hectares, accounting for about 70% of the country’s total star anise area. Among them, more than 28,000 hectares of star anise are being harvested, with a yield of 7,500 to 16,000 tons of dried star anise per year, worth about 1.7 trillion VND per year. Van Quan District has the largest area of star anise in Lang Son, covering about 14,500 hectares, with about 11,000 hectares for harvest. The average yield is from 2 to 2.5 tons per hectare, with a production of 20 to 30 thousand tons of fresh star anise.
Star anise is commonly used in food preparations and as a medicinal herb. It is also one of the premium spices that famous chefs always prefer to use in their dishes.
Now, the global demand for importing spices and flavorings is on the rise. Meanwhile, Vietnam is a country that exports many spice and flavor products. India is a potential target market for Vietnamese businesses in this field. Some Vietnamese enterprises are developing mixed products that combine various types of spices to create new flavors that are characteristic and suitable for the needs and tastes of Indian consumers.