India Export Spices To Which Countries? Top Suppliers, Export Partners, Categories
India export spices to which countries Q1/2026: UAE ($135.0M), US ($96.8M), Italy ($95.3M), Bangladesh ($91.0M). FY25 spice exports hit record $4.72B
Key Takeaways
- India export spices to which countries is answered by yTrade Q1/2026 data: UAE (US$135.0 million), United States (US$96.8 million), and Italy (US$95.3 million) lead Indian spice exports under HS 09.
- India's spice exports reached a record US$4.72 billion in FY25 with 12% year-on-year growth, shipping 17.99 lakh metric tons to over 200 destinations, as reported by IBEF.
- Cardamom, dried chili peppers, green coffee beans, cumin, and turmeric dominate across top destinations — with product mix varying sharply by market, from Italy's 96.4% coffee concentration to Bangladesh's diversified spice basket.
All data in this article is verified on yTrade****, the trade data platform starts from $89/month with 5 billion+ trade records, covers 200+ countries, updates daily.
India Export Spices To Which Countries? Top Indian Spices Exporting Partners
India exports spices primarily to the United Arab Emirates (US$135.0 million, 9.18%), the United States (US$96.8 million, 6.58%), and Italy (US$95.3 million, 6.48%) in Q1/2026.
According to Times of India, India is the world's largest producer and exporter of spices, producing over 75 of the 109 varieties recognized by ISO and commanding over 40% of global spice production.
| Rank | Country | Value (US$) | Share % | Shipments | Economic Importance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United Arab Emirates | $135.0M | 9.18% | 5,865 | Principal Middle Eastern re-export hub distributing South Asian spices and teas globally. |
| 2 | United States | $96.8M | 6.58% | 13,683 | High-value premium market driving substantial demand for organic spice powders and extracts. |
| 3 | Italy | $95.3M | 6.48% | 821 | Core European trade gateway importing bulk raw green coffee for domestic roasting. |
| 4 | Bangladesh | $91.0M | 6.19% | 2,740 | Neighboring country relying heavily on cross-border shipments of essential culinary staple seeds. |
| 5 | China Mainland | $88.1M | 5.99% | 1,639 | Major processing hub consuming massive quantities of industrial-grade dried red pepper inputs. |
| 6 | Germany | $71.6M | 4.87% | 1,461 | Strict premium market sourcing highly certified, quality-tested whole spices and herbs. |
| 7 | Sri Lanka | $69.4M | 4.72% | 2,340 | Close bilateral partner stabilizing local crop volumes through regional agricultural supply chains. |
| 8 | Saudi Arabia | $61.9M | 4.21% | 2,470 | Essential consumer destination purchasing premium cardamom varieties for traditional cultural consumption. |
| 9 | Malaysia | $52.7M | 3.58% | 3,342 | Highly integrated culinary market importing large bulk volumes of multi-spice mixtures. |
| 10 | Thailand | $41.1M | 2.80% | 1,364 | Growing manufacturing market utilizing raw whole spices for processed commercial food pastes. |
Data Source: ytrade.com Period: January-March 2026. HS Code Range: 09
Reveal the complete India's spice export data by HS code, destination, and supplier across 200+ countries on
.
Top 1 Indian Spices Export Partner: United Arab Emirates — US$135.0 Million
India's spice exports to UAE at US$135.0 million in Q1/2026 are led by whole cardamoms at US$40.3 million, fermented bulk black tea at US$33.5 million, and unroasted green coffee beans at US$17.6 million — reflecting the UAE's role as both a consumer and re-export hub for South Asian spices across the Middle East.
| Rank | 6-Digit HS Code | Value (US$) | Share % | Shipments | Product Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 090831 | $40.3M | 29.88% | 485 | Whole cardamoms, highly prized for premium flavoring in global culinary industries. |
| 2 | 090240 | $33.5M | 24.83% | 679 | Fermented bulk black tea, widely exported for global brand blending houses. |
| 3 | 090111 | $17.6M | 13.03% | 130 | Unroasted green coffee beans, shipped raw for industrial commercial roasting plants. |
| 4 | 090931 | $12.4M | 9.19% | 205 | Whole cumin seeds, serving as a baseline spice for culinary seasoning. |
| 5 | 091030 | $8.7M | 6.43% | 634 | Turmeric roots or powder, vital for food coloring, flavoring, and pharmaceuticals. |
Data Source: ytrade.com Period: January-March 2026. HS Code Range: 09
The UAE's cardamom imports from India nearly doubled in 2025-2026 due to a catastrophic crop failure in Guatemala — India's primary competitor in global cardamom supply.
According to Mundus Agri, the Guatemalan crop failure triggered a global supply squeeze that boosted Indian cardamom exports sharply, with Kerala-grown cardamom commanding premium prices for its superior green color and higher volatile oil content.
Key dynamics in India-UAE spice trade:
- Cardamom windfall — Guatemala's crop failure redirected global cardamom demand to India, with UAE importers securing Kerala-grown premium stocks at elevated prices
- Re-export hub — A significant share of Indian spices entering the UAE are re-exported to Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, and East Africa
- Tea and coffee diversification — The UAE's 24.83% share of fermented tea and 13.03% of green coffee reflects demand beyond traditional spices
Top 2 Indian Spices Export Partner: United States — US$96.8 Million
In Q1/2026, yTrade India's trade data highlighted that India's spice exports to the US mainly are ground chili peppers at US$17.9 million, turmeric roots and powder at US$10.9 million, and whole cumin seeds at US$8.2 million.
| Rank | 6-Digit HS Code | Value (US$) | Share % | Shipments | Product Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 090422 | $17.9M | 18.46% | 1,632 | Ground or crushed chili peppers, universally used in commercial hot spice blends. |
| 2 | 091030 | $10.9M | 11.24% | 751 | Turmeric roots or powder, vital for food coloring, flavoring, and pharmaceuticals. |
| 3 | 090931 | $8.2M | 8.47% | 495 | Whole cumin seeds, serving as a baseline spice for culinary seasoning. |
| 4 | 090412 | $7.6M | 8.40% | 179 | Ground black pepper, heavily traded for retail kitchen and table condiment packs. |
| 5 | 090421 | $6.1M | 7.85% | 586 | Whole dried chili peppers, essential for bulk commercial heat-extraction manufacturing. |
Data Source: ytrade.com Period: January-March 2026. HS Code Range: 09
According to FreshPlaza, Indian agricultural exports — including spices — continued growing in 2025-26 despite US tariffs. Indian spice exporters redirected volumes and adjusted pricing to maintain competitiveness in the American market.
Key dynamics in India-US spice trade:
- Turmeric wellness demand — US turmeric imports from India are driven by the health supplement and functional food sectors, where curcumin-rich Indian varieties (Erode, Nizamabad) command premium pricing
- Tariff resilience — Indian spice exports to the US grew despite broader tariff headwinds, as spices are considered essential food ingredients with limited domestic substitution
- Residue compliance — Stricter MRL (Maximum Residue Limit) enforcement by the US FDA is pushing Indian exporters toward steam sterilization and organic certification
Track India-US spice trade by product and supplier on
— from chili and turmeric to cumin, updated daily.
Top 3 Indian Spices Export Partner: Italy — US$95.3 Million
Italy imported US$95.3 million in Indian spices during Q1/2026, with unroasted green coffee beans (HS 090111) accounting for US$91.9 million alone, from yTrade data.
Ground chili peppers followed at US$1.2 million, while all other spice categories remained below US$1 million — the narrowest product mix among India's top five spice export partners.
| Rank | 6-Digit HS Code | Value (US$) | Share % | Shipments | Product Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 090111 | $91.9M | 96.40% | 530 | Unroasted green coffee beans, shipped raw for industrial commercial roasting plants. |
| 2 | 090422 | $1.2M | 1.23% | 68 | Ground or crushed chili peppers, universally used in commercial hot spice blends. |
| 3 | 091091 | $609.4k | 0.64% | 75 | Pre-blended traditional spice mixtures, packaged directly for immediate consumer recipe cooking. |
| 4 | 090240 | $332.3k | 0.35% | 29 | Fermented bulk black tea, widely exported for global brand blending houses. |
| 5 | 091030 | $230.6k | 0.24% | 23 | Turmeric roots or powder, vital for food coloring, flavoring, and pharmaceuticals. |
Data Source: ytrade.com Period: January-March 2026. HS Code Range: 09
Italy's 96.4% concentration in green coffee reflects its position as Europe's second-largest coffee roasting market. Indian Robusta beans from Karnataka and Kerala enter Italian supply chains for espresso blending, where they provide body and crema alongside higher-grade Arabica from Brazil and Ethiopia.
Key dynamics in India-Italy spice trade:
- Robusta coffee pipeline — India is a top-10 global coffee producer, and Italian roasters source Indian Robusta for commercial espresso blends at competitive pricing
- Single-product risk — Italy's near-total dependence on green coffee means any shift in Italian roaster sourcing patterns would dramatically impact bilateral spice trade data
- Minimal spice demand — Traditional Italian cuisine uses limited Asian spices, explaining the negligible volumes of turmeric, chili, and cumin
Top 4 Indian Spices Export Partner: Bangladesh — US$91 Million
As verified by yTrade global trade records, Bangladesh is India's fourth-largest spice export destination at US$91 million (6.19%) in Q1/2026. Among top products, dried chili peppers (HS 090421) lead at 32.15%, followed by whole cardamoms (HS 090831) at 21.46% and cumin seeds (HS 090931) at 18.03%.
| Rank | 6-Digit HS Code | Value (US$) | Share % | Shipments | Product Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 090421 | $29.3M | 32.15% | 693 | Whole dried chili peppers, essential for bulk commercial heat-extraction manufacturing. |
| 2 | 090831 | $19.5M | 21.46% | 246 | Whole cardamoms, highly prized for premium flavoring in global culinary industries. |
| 3 | 090931 | $16.4M | 18.03% | 283 | Whole cumin seeds, serving as a baseline spice for culinary seasoning. |
| 4 | 091011 | $15.4M | 16.90% | 1,171 | Unroasted green coffee beans, shipped raw for industrial commercial roasting plants. |
| 5 | 091030 | $6.1M | 6.74% | 154 | Turmeric roots or powder, vital for food coloring, flavoring, and pharmaceuticals. |
Data Source: ytrade.com Period: January-March 2026. HS Code Range: 09
Bangladesh's overland trade corridors with India, primarily through Petrapole-Benapole and Hili-Hili checkpoints, enable daily fresh and bulk spice shipments that keep transit costs low and supply consistent. This geographic advantage gives Indian spice exporters a structural cost edge over distant competitors.
Key dynamics in India-Bangladesh spice trade:
- Border trade dependency — Bangladesh relies on overland Indian supply for an estimated 70%+ of its spice imports, creating a near-captive market for Indian exporters
- Diversified basket — Unlike Italy or China's single-product concentration, Bangladesh imports across five major spice categories, reducing bilateral trade volatility
- Currency impact — Bangladeshi taka depreciation in 2025 compressed purchasing power for spice imports, moderating volume growth despite sustained demand
How does India's spice trade fit into the bigger India-China picture?
India's export to China products list
breaks down the full US$12.22 billion H1 FY26 relationship, from petroleum and electronics to pepper and seafood.
Top 5 Indian Spices Export Partner: China Mainland — US$88.1 Million
China imported US$88.China imported US$88.1 million in Indian spices during Q1/2026. Whole dried chili peppers dominated at US$75.1 million (85.25%), with fermented bulk black tea at US$7.1 million and whole cumin seeds at US$2.4 million completing the top three.
| Rank | 6-Digit HS Code | Value (US$) | Share % | Shipments | Product Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 090421 | $75.1M | 85.25% | 1,275 | Whole dried chili peppers, essential for bulk commercial heat-extraction manufacturing. |
| 2 | 090240 | $7.1M | 8.07% | 171 | Fermented bulk black tea, widely exported for global brand blending houses. |
| 3 | 090931 | $2.4M | 2.69% | 36 | Whole cumin seeds, serving as a baseline spice for culinary seasoning. |
| 4 | 091099 | $1.5M | 1.66% | 34 | Miscellaneous specialized aromatic spices, including niche agricultural seeds, herbs, and roots. |
| 5 | 090831 | $863.1k | 0.98% | 6 | Whole cardamoms, highly prized for premium flavoring in global culinary industries. |
Data Source: ytrade.com Period: January-March 2026. HS Code Range: 09
Key dynamics in India-China spice trade:
- Capsaicin extraction — Chinese processors extract capsaicin from Indian dried chilis for pharmaceutical, defense (pepper spray), and food-coloring applications
- Volume sensitivity — At 85.25% concentration, any shift in Chinese capsaicin demand or sourcing patterns would significantly impact India's bilateral spice trade
- Competitive pressure — Vietnam and Myanmar are emerging as alternative dried chili suppliers to China, potentially eroding India's market share in coming years
India Spices Export Market Analysis In 2025/2026
According to yTrade's trade trends analysis, India's spice exports in Q1/2026 reached US$1.5 billion under HS 09, declining 9.70% from Q4/2025 (US$1.6 billion). In 2025, peak exports occurred in Q1/2025 at US$3.4 billion (+29.80% QoQ), with the average quarterly change from Q1 to Q4 2025 at -21.2%, showing a consistent downward trajectory through the year.
| India Spice Exports QoQ Analysis 2025-2026 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Timeline | Value (US$) | Shipments | QoQ % Change |
| Q1 2025 | $3.4B | 189,854 | 29.80% |
| Q2 2025 | $3.3B | 187,905 | -4.40% |
| Q3 2025 | $2.4B | 138,200 | -26.40% |
| Q4 2025 | $1.6B | 97,998 | -32.80% |
| Q1 2026 | $1.5B | 82,626 | -9.70% |
Data Source: ytrade.com Period: January-December 2025, January-March 2026. HS Code Range: 09
India's spice exports reached a record US$4.72 billion in FY25 with 12% year-on-year growth, shipping 17.99 lakh metric tons to over 200 destinations. The industry accounts for over 40% of global spice production and more than 50% of international spice trade.
According to Indian Retailer, India's spice sector in 2026 continues to benefit from rising global demand for ethnic flavors, health-oriented ingredients like turmeric and ginger, and expanding processed spice blends for food manufacturing.
However, the market faces three near-term challenges:
- Stricter residue norms — The EU and US are tightening Maximum Residue Limits, requiring Indian exporters to invest in steam sterilization and organic certification.
- Supply cycle reset — Chili supply is tightening, turmeric is rebuilding after a demand surge, and ginger faces competitive pressure from China and Nigeria.
- Bulk-to-value shift — Industry leaders are calling for a move from bulk commodity exports to spice oils, oleoresins, and branded blends to capture higher margins.
Looking ahead, the government has set a US$10 billion spice export target by 2030. The PHDCCI Bharat Spices Conclave 2026 laid out a roadmap to double India's spice economy through value-addition, organic certification, and market diversification.
How To Source Indian Spices Suppliers?
Sourcing reliable Indian spice suppliers requires verifying export track records, checking quality certifications, and confirming active trade activity. For international buyers, the risk of working with unverified suppliers, inconsistent quality, MRL violations, or delivery failures, makes data-backed supplier vetting essential.
As the affordable trade data platform, yTrade's buyer discovery and sales capability helps global buyers source verified Indian spice suppliers through:
- Active supplier search — Find Indian spice exporters with proven trade activity under specific HS codes (090421, 090831, 090931, 091030) across your target markets
- Shipment verification — Confirm supplier export frequency, destination coverage, and consistency through real customs records — not self-reported claims
- Buyer-supplier matching — Identify which Indian exporters already supply importers similar to your business, by product category and volume range
- Compliance screening — Cross-check suppliers against sanctions lists and adverse media before engaging in trade negotiations
Discover full yTrade unique trade features for your exporters/importers/logistics now.
Conclusion
India export spices to which countries?
The market is led by the UAE (US$135.0 million), United States (US$96.8 million), and Italy (US$95.3 million) in Q1/2026 under HS 09.
The country's total spice exports reached a record US$4.72 billion in FY25, with cardamom, dried chili peppers, green coffee beans, cumin, and turmeric as the dominant products.
The market faces near-term headwinds from stricter EU/US residue norms and a supply cycle reset across chili, turmeric, and ginger, but the government's US$10 billion export target by 2030 and growing global demand for health-oriented and value-added spice products point to sustained long-term growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
What spices are imported from India?
According to yTrade Q1/2026 data, the most exported Indian spices under HS 09 are whole cardamoms (HS 090831), whole dried chili peppers (HS 090421), unroasted green coffee beans (HS 090111), whole cumin seeds (HS 090931), and turmeric roots or powder (HS 091030). Product mix varies by destination — the UAE imports primarily cardamom and tea, the US sources chili, turmeric, and cumin, while China buys almost exclusively dried chili peppers for industrial capsaicin extraction.
Which spices does China import from India?
China imported US$88.1 million in Indian spices during Q1/2026. Whole dried chili peppers (HS 090421) dominated at US$75.1 million (85.25%), followed by fermented bulk black tea (HS 090240) at US$7.1 million and whole cumin seeds (HS 090931) at US$2.4 million. Chinese buyers use Indian Guntur and Teja chili varieties primarily for capsaicin extraction, food coloring production, and industrial processing.
yTrade contributor
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