Spearmint Oil USA

Spearmint oil remains steady mid-year, with strong and consistent demand across chewing gum, confectionery, oral care, and wellness applications. The USDA has confirmed a stable saleable quantity for the 2024–2025 season, aligned with usage expectations. Cooler spring weather in parts of the Pacific Northwest may slightly affect yield, but no major disruptions are anticipated. 

Two main varieties are cultivated in the U.S.: Native spearmint (Mentha spicata), which offers a sweet, herbaceous profile, and Scotch spearmint (Mentha cardiaca, syn. M. gracilis), known for its sharper, more cooling notes. Both remain in high demand for clean-label, traceable formulations, especially in multi-market products requiring consistent quality and compliance. 

Unique to spearmint oil, the USDA Marketing Order program, established in 1980, sets annual quotas in partnership with private industry, typically ranging between 350,000 and 500,000 kilos per type (Scotch and native). This system helps stabilize supply and supports long-term planning across the supply chain.  

Though overall U.S. mint acreage has been declining due to foreign competition and increased use of synthetic alternatives, spearmint oil production still surpasses 500 tons annually. Like peppermint, its output is largely determined by anticipated demand and existing inventory, while final yield remains in the hands of Mother Nature. 

Crop sowing is underway; market remains balanced, but demand is up which is putting pressure on market demand.