Higher overseas demand for products such as cumin, turmeric, spice oils/oleoresins and pepper among others have pushed the Indian spices exports to a new high of $4.72 billion during financial year 2024-25, up 6 per cent over previous year’s $4.46 billion.
The record shipments in FY25 is despite chillies witnessing a decline in value due to fall in prices. Chillies remain the largest product in India’s spice basket, both in volumes and value, accounting for over a fourth of total spice exports.
India’s chilli exports were down 11 per cent to $1.34 billion during FY25, from $1.50 billion in the previous year. The fall in prices impacted the chilli exports despite volumes witnessing an increase of around 19 per cent to 7.15 lakh tonnes ( 6.01 lakh tonnes).
Exports of cumin, the second largest product in the spice basket, were up 5 per cent in value to $732.35 million ($700.37 million). In volume terms, cumin exports grew over 39 per cent to 2.29 lt (1.65 lt). “It was a record export of spices in 2024-25. For the current fiscal, we see a promising outlook for exports of almost all spice crops as some alternate origins are seen reducing output,” said Emmanuel Nambusseril, President, All India Spices Exporters Forum.
India — the largest producer, consumer and exporter of spices — is eyeing to double the spices exports over the next five years targetting shipments of $10 billion by 2030 and $25 billion by 2047.
Shipments of spice oils/oleoresins registered an 8 per cent increase in value at $535.92 million during FY25 ($497.98 million). In volume terms, they were up 12 per cent at 4.53 lakh tonnes ( 4.12 lakh tonnes).
Turmeric exports were up 51 per cent at $341 million on higher volumes ( $226 million) and export volumes were also up 9 per cent to 1.76 lakh tonnes (1.62 lakh tonnes).
Mint products, another major category witnessed a marginal increase in shipments at $417.8 million ($415.40 million). In volume terms, it saw a marginal decline at 27,282 tonnes (27,658 tonnes).
Curry powder and pastes saw an increase of 17 per cent at $247.59 million, from previous year’s $212 million. Its export volumes also saw an increase of around 7 per cent at 77,151 tonnes during FY25 (72,420 tonnes).
Pepper exports were up 40 per cent in value at $124.54 million ($88.91 million) and in volume terms, they were up 16 per cent at 20,830 tonnes ( 17,890 tonnes).
Small cardamom exports also witnessed a major growth of 53 per cent at $184.65 million from previous year’s $120.52 million. In volume terms, the shipments stood at 67,27 tonnes, up 9 per cent (6,168 tonnes).