Cinnamon Leaves Become Export Goods to India

A cooperative has processed cinnamon leaves for export to India, creating regular jobs for dozens of workers who now have a stable income from this byproduct.

Cinnamon is one of the key crops in Hung Khanh commune, Tran Yen district, Yen Bai province. The main products from cinnamon, such as bark, essential oil, and handicrafts, have been key export items for many years, bringing significant income to the locals.

During a business trip to Hung Khanh commune at the beginning of 2025, we were surprised when the commune’s chairman took us to visit a cooperative that processes cinnamon leaves for export to India. The leaves, which were once just a byproduct of the cinnamon tree, typically used by locals for essential oil extraction or discarded, have now become an export item, providing regular employment for many workers in the area.

Separating the cinnamon leaves from the branches at the Hung Khanh cinnamon cooperative’s production workshop has been a familiar task for Tran Thi Hanh and other women in Nui Vi village for over a year. This job, “with no sun on your face and no rain on your head,” provides an average income of 200,000 to 250,000 VND per day, and it can be done year-round.

Mrs. Hanh shared that her family has nearly 1.5 hectares of cinnamon, which is the main source of income for her household. Previously, cinnamon was harvested twice a year, with a harvest period lasting 3-4 months. Cinnamon was typically harvested for its bark, trunk, and larger branches, while smaller branches and leaves were either sold to essential oil distilleries if the price was right or discarded.

Since the establishment of the Hung Khanh cinnamon cooperative, it has created daily jobs for Mrs. Hanh and many workers in the village. For the family’s cinnamon area, they can prune branches all year round and then harvest leaves to sell to the cooperative at an average price of 2 million VND per ton. After completing her own harvest, Mrs. Hanh continues working as a seasonal worker at the cooperative’s factory. This job is not strenuous and especially helps local people maximize the use of all cinnamon tree products, thus increasing their income.

The Hung Khanh Cinnamon Cooperative in Hung Khanh commune, Tran Yen district, was established in 2023 with over 20 members, focusing on post-harvest services, processing, and manufacturing cinnamon products for both domestic and international markets.

According to Mrs. Nguyen Thi Quyen, a representative of the Hung Khanh Cinnamon Cooperative, there are on average 15-20 workers at the cooperative daily, and during harvest seasons, the number can rise to 40-50 people. The cooperative buys all the branches and leaves from local people, then separates the leaves, sorts them, dries them, and packages them. On average, the cooperative exports 30-40 tons of products each month, at a price of 8 million VND per ton.

To meet customer requirements, the production process must ensure cleanliness, with no branches or debris mixed in, and the leaves must be completely dried to avoid mold. A notable point in the cinnamon leaf processing process is that the cooperative always focuses on maximizing resource utilization and minimizing environmental impact. Byproducts are properly processed and reused. Poor-quality cinnamon leaves are ground into powder for sale in the domestic market, which not only helps protect the environment but also adds value to the product.

Mr. Tran Van Tam, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Hung Khanh commune, said that byproducts from cinnamon, such as branches and leaves, have created year-round income and jobs for farmers, eliminating the reliance on just the harvest season as in the past. This has contributed to sustainable poverty reduction for the people. The local government is currently encouraging and supporting the cooperative to improve its production process, apply technology to the processing and preservation of products, and gradually work toward improving product quality to expand the market not only in India but also in other countries.

The story of the cooperative processing cinnamon leaves for export is a clear example of applying a sustainable production model, which not only brings economic benefits but also protects the environment. From cinnamon leaves that were once considered worthless, they have now become a stable source of income, helping hundreds of families improve their lives.

Source: https://vpsaspice.org/la-que-tro-thanh-hang-hoa-xuat-khau-sang-an-do/