Vietnam, Sri Lanka, China and Indonesia are top 4 cinnamon exporting countries. These cinnamon exporting countries account for over 90% of cinnamon production in the world.
Contents
Overview of cinnamon products in major exporting countries
Product descriptions
The two main varieties of cinnamon traded by cinnamon exporting countries are ceylon cinnamon and cassia cinnamon. The former is thought to be of superior quality and is derived from the cinnamon tree’s bark. Comparable to cassia, but finer and with less coumarin. Similar to ceylon cinnamon in flavor but coarser and less fragrant, cassia is made from the bark of the evergreen cassia tree. As a result, it is thought to be of poorer quality. The word “cinnamon” is used to refer to both species generally in the text that follows. Some cassia cinnamon exporting countries are Indonesia, China and Vietnam. While only Sri Lanka has ceylon cinnamon.
The Harmonized System (HS) codes are used by cinnamon exporting countries to categorize products. There is cassia in the second code. This article includes the cinnamon-tree flowers mentioned there, and it is anticipated that their contribution to commerce will be little. Both cassia and Ceylon cinnamon are included in the third code for crushed and ground cinnamon.
Product descriptions of countries that export cinnamon
Read more: Cinnamon Suppliers: Secrets To Find And Work With Reputable Ones
Product Specification
The specifications of cinnamon exporting countries:
- Oil content: 2-3%
- Thickness: 1-3 mm
- Ash: maximum 7%
- Acid Insoluble Ash: maximum 2%
- Moisture: maximum 14%
- Volatile oil: minimum 0.7-0.1% (depending on botanical species)
Cinnamon exporting countries: Product Specification
According to the pertinent national standard of the cinnamon exporting countries, cinnamon is graded by global standards. Additional general instructions on the grading, handling and packing of cinnamon are provided by ISO standards 6538-1997 (for cassia) and 6539-2014 (for Ceylon cinnamon).
The most popular types of cinnamon in cinnamon exporters are stick/cigarette cinnamon, split cinnamon in bulk and broken cinnamon in bulk.
Split cinnamon: They are mostly utilized to produce cinnamon powder and have a lower oil essential content of 2-3%. The thickness of the bark affects how much split cinnamon costs. Split cinnamon’s thicker bark indicates a larger oil content, which raises the cost of the spice.
Broken cinnamon: They are used to create a cinnamon powder or oil extraction and have the lowest oil essential content (1-3%). The quantity of oil affects how much broken cinnamon costs. There are three varieties of broken cinnamon:
- KABC (KABC Broken Cinnamon is taken from broken pieces of cigarette cinnamon. The outer layer is peeled and the oil content is higher, about 2.5-4%)
- KBBC (KBBC Broken Cinnamon is taken from broken pieces of split cinnamon. The outer layer is not peeled and the oil content is lower than KABC, by about 1-2.5%)
- KABC is more expensive than KBBC, in particular, about 1000 USD/ton higher.
Stick cinnamon/Cigarette cinnamon: They are frequently used in cooking or food decorating and have a high oil essential content of 3-5%. Depending on their length, cinnamon sticks can be processed into either the long-stick kind or the cigarette variety. Cigarette cinnamon is around 5 to 15 cm long, and long-stick cinnamon is about 30 to 45 cm long. Actually, vendors can trim the cinnamon stick to the customer’s preferred length.
Volatile oil content is the key factor in determining the quality of cinnamon by cinnamon exporting countries. Various quality levels exist depending on the type of goods. For instance, there are three primary categories of Vietnamese cassia quills:
KA: 2.5% – 3.0%
KB: 2.0 – 2.5%
KC: below 2.0%
Uses Of Cinnamon
Cinnamon is an essential spice used as a flavoring agent in cooking. It is frequently utilized, particularly in Mexico, in the creation of chocolates and savory chicken meals. In the US, cereal and other foods made with bread are flavored with a cinnamon-sugar mixture. Additionally, the mixture is offered separately for the same use.
Without cinnamon spices, Turkish cuisine cannot be considered complete. Additionally, the Persians utilized cinnamon powder to improve the flavor of their food. In Vietnam, one of the largest cinnamon exporting countries, cinnamon is used in Pho – the greatest noodle soups in the world. Cinnamon sticks in India are used as decoration in many dishes and drinks.
Uses Of Cinnamon
For ailments including bronchitis and diabetes, cinnamon has also been utilized as a traditional remedy. Science has not yet provided any proof of its health advantages.
Read more: Top 5 Biggest Cinnamon Exporters And How To Work With Them
Leading countries in cinnamon export
The major cinnamon exporting countries in 2023 were Vietnam ($246.3M), Sri Lanka ($211.1M), China ($188.4M) and Indonesia ($99.7M)
Leading countries in cinnamon export
Let’s discover these four cinnamon exporting countries!
Vietnam – Top 1 cinnamon exporting countries
Saigon cinnamon is the primary cinnamon variety produced in Vietnam and is closely related to Cassia cinnamon. In 2023, Vietnam accounted for 27.9% of global cinnamon exports, indicating its significant role in the international market. Vietnam produces cinnamon for both domestic consumption and export. Vietnam’s Central Highlands and Quang Ngai Province, in particular, are the regions where cinnamon is produced. With a total land area between 50,000 and 100,000 hectares, cinnamon is grown extensively. The pho noodle soup is made with cinnamon spice as a key component. It is the reason why Vietnam became one of the well-known cinnamon exporting countries.
Vietnam – Top 1 cinnamon exporting countries
Vietnamese cinnamon products are widely consumed in markets such as the US, EU, Middle East, Japan, China, and India. Particularly in India, 80% of the country’s imported cinnamon output comes from Vietnam.
Sri Lanka – Top 2 cinnamon exporting countries
The best cinnamon in the world is grown in Sri Lanka. The nation was one of the top cinnamon exporting countries in the world in 2023, accounting for 23.9% of global cinnamon exports. From Kaluthara to Mathara, cinnamon planting is primarily concentrated along the coastal strip. Ratnapura and Ambalangoda may both have some of the plantations. Cinnamon is grown on over 25,000 hectares of land in Sri Lanka. The plantation’s size has, however, been getting smaller over time.
Sri Lanka – Top 2 cinnamon exporting countries
Sri Lankan cinnamon products are widely consumed in markets such as the US, EU, India, Middle East and Japan.
China – Top 3 cinnamon exporting countries
With 21.4% of global cinnamon exports, China was top 3 of the largest cinnamon exporters. China mostly cultivates the cassia cinnamon kind. Compared to the Ceylon variety, cassia has a stronger, more potent, and hotter flavor. Comparatively speaking, Chinese cassia tastes sweeter than Indonesian cassia. Cinnamon is widely grown in China’s Guangdong, Guanxi, Yunnan, and Fujian provinces.
China – Top 3 cinnamon exporting countries
Chinese cinnamon products are widely consumed in markets such as Bangladesh, Vietnam, Pakistan, United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia.
Indonesia – Top 4 cinnamon exporting countries
Top 4 cinnamon exporting country is Indonesia with export turnover reaching about 99.7 million USD in 2023, according to data from World’s Top Exports. However, this number has decreased by 24.2% compared to the previous year. In fact, 43% of the cinnamon farmed globally, which brings in an average of $85 million annually, is grown in the South Asian archipelago. The cinnamon from Indonesia stands out for its quality and distinctive flavor, making it highly sought after in international markets. The decline in exports may be attributed to various factors, including changes in demand, challenges in the supply chain, and competition from other cinnamon-producing countries such as Vietnam and Sri Lanka, which also report strong export figures.
Indonesia – Top 4 cinnamon exporting countries
Indonesian cinnamon products are widely consumed in markets such as United States, India and Vietnam.
Market Trends in 4 cinnamon exporting countries
Internationalization of eating patterns
In cinnamon exporting countries, cinnamon is frequently used in baked goods, cereals, sweets, tea, and curries, among other foods and beverages. It is notable that cinnamon is a popular spice in dishes in Asia – cinnamon exporting countries. Therefore, cinnamon is used in the food of a sizable South Asian minority in many countries all over the world. This community is still expanding steadily in other areas as well (most notably in Europe). As a result, demand in these segments is probably going to rise.
Limited innovation in processing
Processing innovations in cinnamon exporting countries are limited since cinnamon harvesting requires a lot of labor and can add up to 60% of the production cost. The majority of the time, expert peelers in cinnamon exporting countries must manually remove the bark from stems. The development of machines may lower processing costs, but typically this degrades the cinnamon’s quality. Hand-peeled cinnamon is intended for the high-end market because the quality of cinnamon is also determined by its appearance (broken or whole quills).
Steam sterilization
Microbiological contamination can be prevented by steam sterilization. If cinnamon exporting countries can provide steam-sterilized cinnamon that has been sterilized at the source, they may be able to command a high price. Equipment for sterilizing might cost up to €1 million to purchase. The volatile oil content, which creates the flavor, is badly impacted by steam sterilization, which is a significant drawback. Additionally, it can alter the characteristics and color of cinnamon. For instance, steam sterilization reduces the cassia’s capacity of cinnamon exporting countries to thicken food. Therefore, whether your buyer needs steam sterilization and is willing to pay for it depends very much on them.
Market Trends in cinnamon exporting countries
Sustainability is on the rise
Cinnamon exporting countries have to pay much attention to sustainability. It is because in Europe, particularly in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Germany, sustainable sourcing is a significant trend. The loss of biodiversity, unhealthy and hazardous working conditions, and child labor in cinnamon exporting countries are significant challenges in the supply chain. Cinnamon exporting countries will encounter more and more sustainability criteria from their buyer as a supplier. Although there is currently a small market for sustainable cinnamon, consumers are becoming more interested in goods that have this certification.
Cinnamon which is organic and fair trade has been available for some time. In 2013, Cassia Co-op was the first to release cassia that had received Rainforest Alliance certification for the European market. The requirement that certified sustainable spices and herbs of cinnamon exporting countries be sold at a higher price in order to defray some or all of the certification costs is a significant barrier to market growth. This has led to an ongoing discussion in the industry about the best strategy moving ahead for introducing sustainability into the general market. Third-party certification remains a contentious choice. As was already noted, self-verification is anticipated to grow in popularity in the mainstream market.
K-Agriculture: The best wholesaler of cinnamon
K-Agriculture Factory from Vietnam, one of the largest cinnamon exporting countries, is a must-consider if you’re looking for a reliable Cassia cinnamon supplier. We have more than 25 years of experience producing and exporting agricultural goods to more than 80 nations worldwide, including the US, which is the most competitive market.
K-Agriculture: The best wholesaler of cinnamon
K-Agriculture Factory is proud to have a wide range of certificates, including those from the FDA, HACCP, VN-STAMEQ, FFL, Organic, Global Gap, TCVN, Viet Gap, and others.
In Yen Bai, one of the main growing areas for cinnamon in Vietnam, we also have modern cinnamon factories and growing areas. The cinnamon that K-Agriculture provides is available in a variety of classifications and will all meet your standards for flavor and quality. Being a giant in trading cinnamon products internationally in Vietnam – the biggest broken cinnamon, split cinnamon and cinnamon stick exporter since 1996, K-agriculture is proud to bring buyers broken cinnamon with uniform quality standards and affordable prices.
We can provide you with the most thorough product information because we have an extensive understanding of the cinnamon markets in several nations. Please get in touch with us if you’re considering importing cinnamon from Vietnam.
Contact K-Agriculture Factory:
Website: https://k-agriculture.com/
Mail: info@k-agriculture.com
Phone: (+84) 855555 837
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