Statistics from the Vietnam Pepper Association (VPSA) show that in May 2025, Vietnam exported 1,751 tons of star anise, with a turnover of 7.0 million USD. This is a decrease of 28.1% compared to April. India is the largest export market for star anise from Vietnam, reaching 1,315 tons, accounting for 75.1% of the market share.
In the first 5 months of 2025, Vietnam exported 7,682 tons of star anise, with a total export value of 28.9 million USD. Compared to the same period in 2024, the export volume increased by 49.0%, and the export value increased by 12.7%.
According to the Vietnam Forestry Science Institute, star anise is a medium-sized tree, 2-6 meters tall, with a straight trunk. Each year, the tree can only be harvested twice, making star anise more precious.
Star anise exports have brought in nearly 29 million USD since the beginning of the year.
Vietnam and China are the two countries that can produce star anise in large quantities due to favorable conditions. Statistics show that Vietnam’s production of star anise ranks second in the world, after China, with an estimated annual output of 22,000 tons over an area of about 55,000 hectares.
Vietnam has two main harvest seasons in June and August–September. This means that the supply of star anise will be higher in the second half of the year, when exports can increase significantly, especially for the demand for year-end holidays in Asian and European markets.
Star anise contains a high content of essential oil (mainly anethole) and is widely used in the food industry (spices, candies, cakes), pharmaceuticals (anti-inflammatory, digestive), and cosmetics. Star anise essential oil is sold at a much higher price than raw star anise, presenting a great opportunity to develop a deep value chain.
In the global market, especially in Europe, Japan, and the United States, there is an increasing demand for products that are natural, organic, and safe. Star anise essential oil, powder, or extracts can well meet this demand.
Currently, in provinces with large raw material regions such as Lang Son, Cao Bang, and Bac Kan, some enterprises have invested in building star anise oil processing facilities. However, the number of processing facilities remains limited, mainly small and medium-sized, and does not fully meet the processing needs of the entire raw material region (estimated at nearly 55,000 hectares).
Investing in modern extraction technology, GMP, or HACCP standards… is an urgent direction if Vietnam wants to shift from exporting raw materials to refined products.