1. Origin and Growing Regions
Lemongrass (Cymbopogon spp.), belonging to the grass family (Poaceae), originates from Southeast Asia, particularly countries like India, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. In Vietnam, lemongrass is widely cultivated throughout the country, mainly concentrated in the North and Central regions. Provinces with large lemongrass cultivation areas include:
- Hoa Binh: One of the provinces with the largest lemongrass cultivation area in the country.
- Tien Giang (Tan Phu Dong): Forming the largest specialized lemongrass growing area in the province, adapting well to saline-affected land.
- Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Quang Nam: Also have significant lemongrass cultivation areas.
Lemongrass is easy to grow and can adapt to various soil types and climatic conditions, from fertile soil to highlands, red soil, and even barren rocky land.
2. Products from Lemongrass
Lemongrass is a versatile plant, processed into various products for both domestic consumption and export:
- Fresh Lemongrass: Used as a spice in cooking.
- Dried and Frozen Lemongrass: Convenient for preservation and long-distance export.
- Lemongrass Essential Oil: Extracted from the stems and leaves, used in various fields such as:
- Food: Creating natural flavorings.
- Cosmetics: Nourishing skin and hair, treating dandruff.
- Pharmaceuticals: Having antibacterial, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory properties.
- Steaming and Relaxation: Helping to reduce stress and fatigue.
- Insect Repellent: Especially effective against mosquitoes.
- Lemongrass Powder: A convenient spice used in the food industry (instant noodles, instant porridge, seasoning powder, canned food, etc.).
3. Export Markets
Vietnam’s lemongrass export turnover is increasing, showing the great potential of this agricultural product. The main export markets for Vietnamese lemongrass include:
- Asia:
- Japan, South Korea, Taiwan: Primarily importing fresh lemongrass.
- China: A large market, importing various lemongrass products.
- Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand: Neighboring markets.
- Europe: Vietnam is gradually penetrating demanding markets in Europe with dried, frozen lemongrass and essential oil.
- The United States: Imports dried, frozen lemongrass, and lemongrass essential oil.
- Australia: Another potential market.
Fresh lemongrass is often exported to nearby markets with high freshness requirements. Dried lemongrass, frozen lemongrass, and lemongrass essential oil can reach more markets, including distant ones with strict standards.
4. Development Potential
Vietnam’s lemongrass export industry has many opportunities for further development due to:
- Increasing Global Demand: Lemongrass is increasingly favored in various fields.
- Supportive Policies: The Vietnamese government has many policies to encourage the development of the agricultural sector, including lemongrass exports.
- Ability to Penetrate Demanding Markets: Processed lemongrass products from Vietnam are gradually asserting their quality in high-end markets.
To promote lemongrass exports, businesses need to focus on improving product quality, ensuring food safety standards (VietGAP, GlobalGAP, Organic,…), building brands, and expanding markets.
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