Major Highlights:

India exported spices worth $ 4.72 billion in FY 2024-25.
A 6% YoY increase from the previous year.
In FY 2023-24, the total exports were $ 4.46 billion.
52 varieties of spices are shipped to markets like the USA, China, Bangladesh, UAE, and Thailand.
Spices like chili, cumin, turmeric, ginger, and coriander are responsible for almost 75% of the export volume.

India’s Position in Global Spice Trade

India has always been a Centre of global spice trade.

Spice Trade Highlights:

Nearly half of the world’s spice comes from India, i.e. 48%.
Exports reach over 180 countries worldwide.
Annual production crosses 10 million metric tons.
The domestic spice market is worth over $ 10.8 billion.
Around 65 spice types are grown across the country.

What makes India the largest spice producer?

India is a leader in spice trade mainly because of its geographical conditions. India has the perfect conditions to grow every type of spice, throughout the year, because of its 20 different climate zones.

In the south, tropical spices like pepper and cardamom can be found, and temperate ones like fennel and coriander would be found in the north. Coastal belts and Western Ghats have mineral rich-soil, ideal for spice farming.

This combination of climate, soil, and age-old farming knowledge makes India the world’s top spice producer.

How many spice varieties does India export?

India grows 75 of 109 ISO-recognized spices and regularly exports 52 varieties. These exports include whole spices, powdered forms, oils, extracts, and other products.

Top Exported Spices

Rank	Spices
1	Chili
2	Cumin
3	Turmeric
4	Coriander
5	Ginger

Indian spices also consists of unique spices like Kashmiri Saffron, Tamil Nadu’s vanilla, and wild spices from the Northeast.

Which states lead in spice production?

Major spice-producing states include:

Rajasthan: Leader in coriander, cumin, and fenugreek.
Madhya Pradesh: Dominant in garlic and coriander production.
Tamil Nadu: Turmeric and curry leaf cultivation.
Karnataka: Primary producer of cardamom, pepper, and nutmeg.
Assam and Northeast: Home to specialty spices like bhut jolokia (ghost pepper).
Andhra Pradesh: Largest producer of chillies.
Gujarat: Known for cumin and fennel.
Kerala: Cardamom, pepper, and vanilla.

States have built reliable processing facilities for their main crops. Guntur in Andhra Pradesh houses Asia’s largest chili market, and Unjha in Gujarat stands as the continent’s biggest cumin trading center.

Which spices dominate export volumes?

Pepper led the pack in FY 2024-25 with an export value of USD 1.52 billion.
Spice oils & oleoresins followed at USD 939.55 million.
Cumin reached USD 898.66 million.

Rank	Spice Variety	Export Value (USD Million) FY 2024-25
1	Chili	898.66
2	Cumin	735.13
3	Spice Oils & Oleoresins	939.55
4	Pepper	1.51B
5	Turmeric	378.77

What are the Top 5 Export Destinations for Indian Spices

Indian spices travel far and wide. Indian spices now reach kitchens in more than 180 countries worldwide, but these countries buy the most:

Top Buyers in FY 2024-25

Rank	Country	Value (USD million)
1	China	711.05
2	United Arab Emirates	579.13
3	United States of America	480.32
4	Italy	360.88
5	Bangladesh	329.89

Which countries import the most Indian spices?

Cybex Exim’s trade data reveals that China, UAE, the USA, Italy, and Bangladesh are the top importers of Indian spice. Together they are responsible for a large share of India’s total spice exports.

Indian spice demand is growing in North America, Europe, and the Middle East. This reason for this demand is due to the global interest in healthy eating, natural remedies, and multicultural cuisines.

What is the value of exports to UAE, the USA and China?

UAE, USA and China stand as the most valuable markets for Indian spice exports. Latest data reveals:

China: Bought spices worth USD 711.05 million in FY 2024-25.
UAE: Purchased spices valued at USD 579.13 million in FY 2024-25.
USA: Spices bought by the USA valued at USD 480.32 million in FY 2024-25.

What Role Does the Government Play in Spice Exports?

The Indian Government plays an important role for spice exporters:

Spices Board of India regulates, promotes, and certifies 52 spice types.
SPICED Scheme has a $50.3 million budget for quality, branding, and training.
8 modern Spice Parks help exporters with processing.
7 quality labs make sure Indian spices meet global standards.

What is the role of the Spices Board of India?

This is the main organization under the Ministry of Commerce that regulates spice exports.

Here’s what they actually do:

They issue the certification to the exporters which is necessary for exporting spice overseas.
They fund and promote research on spices like cardamom to improve crop quality.
Runs quality labs in Kochi, Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai, Tuticorin, and others.

What is the SPICED scheme and how does it help?

SPICED stands for: Sustainability in Spice Sector through Progressive, Innovative and Collaborative Export Development

How does it help?

It encourages farmers and exporters to follow better hygiene making Indian spices cleaner and more acceptable in the international markets.
It promotes spices that are under the Geographical indications (GI) tag, like Malabar pepper and Coorg Cardamom.
Incubation centers for startups in spice processing.

Where are the 8 Spices Parks located?

The Spices Board has eight crop-specific Spices Parks in major production regions:

Location	State	Focus Spices
Chhindwara	Madhya Pradesh	Garlic, Chili
Guna	Madhya Pradesh	Coriander
Guntur	Andhra Pradesh	Chillies
Jodhpur	Rajasthan	Cumin
Ramganjmandi	Rajasthan	Coriander
Puttady	Kerala	Cardamom, Pepper
Raebareli	Uttar Pradesh	Mint
Sivaganga	Tamil Nadu	Chillies, Turmeric

Conclusion

India has all the right ingredients—climate, farmers, infrastructure, and government support. With the right focus on product quality and innovation, the spice export journey from India can only grow stronger from here.

Key Takeaways

India sends out 52 spices to 200+ countries
Pepper, chili, and cumin are the main reason for volumes and revenue
UAE, China and USA are top buyers.
Government schemes like SPICED help spice exporters in their business growth.
The future looks bright with rising demand for natural and organic products

FAQs

Where does India stand in global spice trade?
India is the largest exporter and producer of spices, covering nearly 48% of global trade.
What type of spices are most demanded globally?
Pepper, Chilli, cumin, turmeric, ginger, and spice oils top the list.
What help is available for spice exporters in India?
Export certificates, SPICED subsidies, and access to spice parks. The government provides this kind of help to the exporters.
Who buys the most Indian spices?
UAE, China and the USA are key buyers, followed by Italy and Bangladesh.
What is the goal of India in spice exports by 2030?
The projected growth of Indian spice exports is calculated at a CAGR of 10.56% between 2025 and 2033.