Developing Organic Spices to Participate in the Billion-Dollar Market

The demand for organic spices is increasing globally. The global organic spice market is projected to reach nearly 20 billion Euros by 2026, growing at a rate of 7.5% annually. While Asia is the largest importer of spices overall, North America and the EU are the largest markets for organic spices, with countries like Switzerland, the Netherlands, Germany, France, and Italy as major importers. Sustainable certifications like organic certification are key for export potential to these markets. In Europe, the growth rate of organic spice consumption is projected to be particularly high in Sweden and the UK. This growth is driven by the increasing demand for sustainably produced spices, the interest in the health benefits of spices, and their use in international cuisine. Vietnamese companies are pursuing organic certifications for spices like pepper, star anise, and cinnamon to meet this demand. For example, Phuc Thinh Import-Export Investment Joint Stock Company (PTEXIM) has established organic pepper and star anise farms and received organic certification for cinnamon. Farmers with organic certification are seeing stable outputs and good prices, exporting to demanding markets. Cinnamon currently has the largest organic area in Vietnam, with nearly 19,000 hectares.