The quality of Vietnam’s cinnamon has conquered the most demanding market, the US with a huge annual import volume. What makes this spice so successful? The secret lies in the production process and product quality. In this article, we will give you everything you need to know about Vietnam cinnamon production!
Overview of Vietnam cinnamon production industry
Consumers and business partners in Europe assume that cinnamon products from Vietnam have superior quality compared to cinnamon from China and Indonesia. The future of Vietnam cinnamon industry is full of potential.
Characteristics of Vietnamese cinnamon
Vietnamese cinnamon, also known as Saigon cinnamon or Vietnamese cassia, stems from the Cinnamomum Loureiro tree. It is a perennial woody plant, averaging 18-20m tall with green leaves all year round. The bark is spongy and rough with brown to reddish brown in color. The young branches of the tree are 4-sided, covered with yellow villi.
Vietnamese cinnamon
Vietnamese cinnamon has a very strong aroma with a mild sweet and spicy taste. It also has similar characteristics as Cassia cinnamon. It is known for many uses, from cooking, to medicine, to cosmetics.
Though Vietnam cinnamon production is lesser than that of China and Indonesia, the price of Vietnam cinnamon is often higher than that of these two countries because of its superior quality.
Main growing areas of Vietnam cinnamon production
Vietnam is possessing a precious “treasure”, which is a cinnamon forest with an area of about 150,000 hectares, planted in many northern mountainous localities.
Wild cinnamon often grows in natural humid tropical forests. There are 4 key Vietnam cinnamon production growing areas, including the Tra Mi area, Yen Bai area, Que Phong area, and Quang Ninh area. Each region has its own distinctive nuances. In particular, cinnamon is grown the most in Yen Bai, Yen Bai cinnamon brand has been famous in many places. One of the most famous cinnamon types Yen Bai produces is the high-quality cinnamon cigarettes.
Yen Bai – The main area of Vietnam cinnamon production
The land of Yen Bai has many advantages for the development of forest cinnamon such as a mountainous area, 300-700m altitude, an annual average temperature of about 22.7 degrees Celsius, heavy rainfall, and high humidity. As a result, this place is the largest cinnamon growing area with the largest cinnamon bark output in the country. Particularly, Vietnam cinnamon production in 4 districts of Van Yen, Van Chan, Van Ban, and Tran Yen can account for 70% of the cinnamon growing area of the whole Yen Bai province.
Lao Cai is the second most cinnamon-growing locality in Vietnam. Here, cinnamon has been planted into forests for more than 40 years in Bac Ha, Bao Thang, Bao Yen, and Van Ban districts.
Lao Cai – The second largest area of Vietnam cinnamon production
In the region, there are more than 28000 households, individuals, and organizations investing in growing cinnamon, with the annual economic value of cinnamon about 600 billion VND.
In the Quang Nam area, cinnamon is a traditional crop in the mountainous areas of the Western-Southern districts of the province. This is the main source of income for the Cadong, Xe Dang, and Bh’noong ethnic groups for generations.
Quang Nam cinnamon growing area
Talking about cinnamon trees in Quang Nam, it is impossible not to mention Nam Tra My district, a locality famous for the name “Cao Son Ngoc Que”. Que Tra My was granted the Certificate of Geographical Indication “Tra My” by the National Office of Intellectual Property in October 2011. This is a good sign for cinnamon growers in the region.
Vietnam cinnamon production and production trend
Each year, Vietnam produces a large amount of cinnamon. This country is one of the world’s leading suppliers of cinnamon.
Annual output of Vietnamese cinnamon
According to the General Department of Forestry, Vietnam’s cinnamon bark reserves are estimated at 900,000 – 1,200,000 tons, with an average output of 70,000 – 80,000 tons per year. Vietnam cinnamon production in 2019 reached 41,408 tons, accounting for 17% of global production (according to the FAO report). The country had approximately 571,120.00 hectares under cinnamon cultivation. In 2019, Vietnam cinnamon production in export worth 172.45m USD, an improvement of 28.63% from 2018’s whole cinnamon export of 134.063m USD. The annual rise in the value of Vietnam cinnamon between 2017 to 2018 was 29.992%.
Vietnam cinnamon production and trade duty on world rankings
According to statistics from the World Spices Association, Vietnam cinnamon production ranks third in the world. This spice is strongly consumed in the markets of India, the Middle East, Japan, Korea, the US, and European countries, achieving export revenue of about 400 million USD/year. Over 70% of this country’s imported cinnamon in India comes from Vietnam.
Besides producing a large output of cinnamon, Vietnam also exports cinnamon with an export value among the top in the world. According to data from the World’s Top Exports, Vietnam was a country exporting the highest dollar value worth of cinnamon in 2021 with $252 million, accounting for 23.3% of the world’s cinnamon export value. In addition, Vietnam also imports a large amount of cinnamon each year. In 2021, Vietnam accounted for 32.18% of global cinnamon imports with 162.01M US dollars in value, ranking 1st in the world. Vietnam mainly exports cinnamon to India ($92.22M value in 2021), the US ($7.14M value in 2021), and Indonesia ($7.14M value in 2021), according to Tridge data.
Trends of Vietnam cinnamon production in the coming years
During the period 2000-2010, the price of cinnamon fell, causing many farmers in Indonesia to cut down cinnamon trees and switch to other trees, leading to an imbalance between supply and demand that caused the price of cinnamon to increase, especially from 2016 to present.
A rise in Vietnam cinnamon production areas
The demand for cinnamon production is growing faster than the global supply, currently estimated at 8-12%. Because of this, many areas in Vietnam have promoted cinnamon cultivation in the hope that the large output sold at high prices will help them improve their lives. This situation is leading to a massive shift in Vietnam cinnamon production. Vietnam cinnamon production and price are forecasted to continue to increase in the coming years.
Vietnam cinnamon production: Development prospects
Currently, Vietnam mainly exports raw or only preliminarily processed cinnamon. Up to 70% of varieties of Vietnam cinnamon are produced by local people according to their own experience. Farmers are used to old practices, not paying attention to the application of advanced science and technology to production. Therefore, Vietnam cinnamon quality has not been trusted by high-end markets.
Vietnam cinnamon production: Development prospects
Regarding the sustainable development of the cinnamon industry in the coming time, Vietnam cinnamon focuses on producing high-value, certified raw materials according to international technical standards, with guaranteed and stable quality. In addition, it is necessary to control the supply chain as well as increase export output to the EU and North America.
The process of Vietnam cinnamon production
There are 5 steps for Vietnam cinnamon production. The key point is that we need to learn the cultivation characteristics for cinnamon to grow healthy and give a good yield.
Collect good mother plant seeds
The first step in Vietnam cinnamon production is to choose seedlings with good growth from 15 years old or older, not peeled or cut off leaves, and free from pests and diseases. Currently, cinnamon seeds are still collected scattered in natural forests or planted forests. Therefore, seedlings should be marked and cared for to get seeds for many years.
The collected seeds will be cleaned of the outer flesh and dried, preferably sow immediately after the treatment. In case of storage, seeds must be dried but protected from strong sunlight, then mixed with slightly moist sand in the ratio of 1 grain / 2 sand (seeds can only be stored for 1 month).
Choose favorable soil properties and altitude
Soil condition for Vietnam cinnamon production: Cinnamon can grow on many types of soil such as moist, humus-rich soil, loose soil, red soil, yellow soil, sandy soil, hilly soil, acidic soil (PH 4-6), nutrient-poor but well-drained soil (except for limestone soil, sandy soil, waterlogged soil). In order for the cinnamon tree to grow well, it is recommended to plant in places where it still has the nature of forest land, soil with medium to thick layers, newly recovered forest land after shifting cultivation, and scattered shrubs.
Favorable soil properties and altitude for Vietnam cinnamon production
Altitude requirement for Vietnam cinnamon production: Cinnamon is often grown in places with an altitude above sea level such as the North: 200 m; Central region 500 m; 800 meters south. Cinnamon trees grown in high areas tend to be short, and slow to grow, but have thick and oily bark. When low, cinnamon trees are often susceptible to pests and diseases, thin bark and less oil in the bark, shorter life cycle.
Ensure favorable light, temperature, and humidity conditions
Light condition for Vietnam cinnamon production: Cinnamon is a light-loving tree, but at its young stage it needs to be shaded. At 3-4 years old, the tree needs to be fully illuminated. The more light, the faster the plant grows and the higher the quality of the essential oil.
Temperature condition for Vietnam cinnamon production: The plant is suitable for hot and humid climates. The suitable temperature for plants to grow and develop well is 20 – 30C. However, cinnamon is still resistant to cold (up to 0C – 1C) or to a maximum temperature of 37 – 38C. Vietnam cinnamon growing areas have an average annual temperature of 20 – 29C, which is favorable for this plant’s growth.
Water condition for Vietnam cinnamon production: Cinnamon trees often grow naturally in areas with rainfall from 2000 to 4000 mm/year. The appropriate rain condition is from 2000 to 3000 mm/year. Annual rainfall in cinnamon-growing localities is usually about 1600 – 2500 mm; air humidity is above 85%.
Sowing seeds and taking care of plants
Cinnamon is grown mainly in the spring crop. The soil must be sufficiently moist with the size of the planting hole being 40x40x40 cm.
To provide a good cinnamon yield, It’s crucial to take care of the plants:
Keep the soil moist, especially in the early days, to create favorable conditions for the seeds to germinate. After about 15 days, the seeds have germinated and after 45 days at the latest, they will all grow.
Cinnamon plants
The next step of Vietnam cinnamon production is to take care of the plants: Remove the straw, then make a cover about 60cm high. Remember to kill weeds, keep the soil moist, and prevent soil from erosion, especially after planting.
Fertilize plants 1-2 times. If the plants are stunted, it is possible to add nitrogen sulfate fertilizer with a concentration of 0.3% at a dose of 1 liter/m2. To monitor pests, use Boocdo 1% dose of 1 liter/4m2 to spray the room. When the tree is sick, it is best to uproot it and burn it.
Harvesting and preliminary processing
The last step of Vietnam cinnamon production procedure is to harvest and preliminary process.
Farmers harvesting cinnamon
On a single cinnamon tree, it is possible to extract all the bark at once and cut down the tree, or to harvest the bark many times over many years on a single tree. Cinnamon bark harvested in the fall has more essential oil content than cinnamon bark harvested in the spring season. When exploited in the right season, the bark is easily peeled off the trunk, not broken or stuck to the stem.
While peeling the bark from the trunk, the farmers should pay attention to obtain a beautiful, standardized shell of all products right from the time of cutting, so that the cinnamon bark bars are straight, even, and without holes. When peeling off the bark from the trunk, it is necessary to be gentle. You can also clean the cinnamon stick before incubating to avoid mold. Preliminary processing is an indispensable part of the Vietnam cinnamon production procedure.
Prestigious Vietnam cinnamon production companies
If you are looking for prestigious suppliers of cinnamon from Vietnam, you cannot ignore the 3 companies below.
Vilaconic: Top Vietnam cinnamon production supplier
Established in 2010, with more than 12 years of operation, Vilaconic Joint Stock Company has become a reliable partner of many domestic and foreign customers. In order to affirm the position of Vietnamese agricultural products globally, Vilaconic promises to bring to the market quality products at reasonable prices.
Vilaconic: Top Vietnam cinnamon production supplier
Vilaconic is one of the leading suppliers of Vietnam cinnamon.
K-Agriculture: The best Vietnam cinnamon production manufacturer
K-Agriculture is a reputable enterprise established in 1996, specializing in manufacturing and exporting Vietnamese agricultural products such as rice, coffee, cinnamon, anise, pepper, etc to the world. The company has a wealth of export experience to more than 80 countries worldwide.
K-Agriculture cinnamon
K-Agriculture is famous for wholesale cinnamon sticks. The company has a modern factory system, which can supply many different types of cinnamon depending on the needs of customers. It is one of the best Vietnam cinnamon production manufacturers in terms of cinnamon price and quality.
This is our newest price update for Vietnamese cinnamon in August 2022:
| No | Product | Size | Packing | Quantity | FOB Price |
| 1 | Split Cinnamon | Cont 20ft | 10 kg/carton | 6.5 tons | 2.425 – 3000 USD/mt |
| Cont 40ft | 10 kg/carton | 16.5 tons | 2.376,5 – 2.900 USD/mt | ||
| 2 | Broken Cinnamon | Cont 20ft | 10 kg/carton | 6.5 tons | 1.891,5 – 2.400 USD/mt |
| Cont 40ft | 10 kg/carton | 16.5 tons | 1.843 – 2.200 USD/mt | ||
| 3 | Stick Cinnamon | Cont 20ft | 10 kg/carton | 6.5 tons | 3.977 – 5.000 USD/mt |
| Cont 40ft | 10 kg/carton | 16.5 tons | 3.928,5 – 4.800 USD/mt |
Contact information:
Phone: +84855 555 837 (Available on Whatsapp)
Email: info@k-agriculture.com
Agrideco: One of the best Vietnam cinnamon production companies
Established in 2015, Agrideco Vietnam Co., Ltd. has been here doing cabbage, carrot, and chili for more than 6 years. Therefore, they have many experiences to guarantee the best quality for customers.
Agrideco: One of the best Vietnam cinnamon production companies
They have expanded the product portfolio including cinnamon and Vietnamese anise with high quality. Agrideco is now one of the best Vietnam cinnamon production companies.
