According to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), cardamom is one of the oldest spices in the world and is the third most expensive spice after saffron and vanilla. Vietnam is one of the countries with potential for producing and exporting this precious spice.
Statistics from the Vietnam Pepper Association (VPSA) show that Vietnam exported 4,247 tons of cardamom and nutmeg in 2025, with a value of 32.9 million USD. Compared to 2024, export volume and value increased by 24.8% and 19.1%, respectively.
Vietnam has 31 import markets, with the Netherlands, Pakistan, and the United States being the top three. In the world, cardamom can be found in Guatemala, India, Sri Lanka, Papua New Guinea, Tanzania, and other countries. Additionally, this plant species also grows wild and is cultivated in Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, or China. According to a survey on some e-commerce websites in Vietnam, the retail price of Indian-origin cardamom is between 1.5 and 1.9 million VND/kg. Meanwhile, some foreign e-commerce sites are selling this spice for over 1.5 million VND/kg.
Vietnam exported 4,247 tons of cardamom and nutmeg in 2025.
Previously, in 2024, Vietnam exported 3,402 tons of cardamom and nutmeg, with a total value of 27.6 million USD. The Netherlands, the United States, and Germany were the three main importing countries, with import volumes reaching 950 tons, 518 tons, and 369 tons, respectively.
Cardamom and nutmeg are two highly valuable spices in the tropical spice group, primarily cultivated in the northern mountainous provinces and the Central Highlands of Vietnam. Cardamom grows well under cool, moist forest canopies, while nutmeg is suited to a tropical monsoon climate. Both have a strong aroma and a warm spicy flavor and are widely used in food processing, as flavoring agents, in pharmaceuticals, and in cosmetics. In traditional medicine, they have mild antibacterial properties, warm the body, support digestion, and reduce bloating.
Vietnam is emerging as a stable supply source due to its large planting area, competitive production costs, and a growing network of professional export enterprises. With rising global demand for natural, clean, and traceable spices, the outlook for 2026 is positive. If Vietnam continues to standardize quality, promote deep processing (grinding into powder, essential oils, and extraction), and expand sustainable certification, the export value of Vietnamese cardamom and nutmeg can be increased; thereby, market share is expanded in Europe, the US, and South Asia, and dependence on raw exports is reduced.