Growth in Spice Exports Despite Decline in Cumin and Fennel Shipments

02-Apr-2026 11:02 AM

Kochi. Although the export performance of cumin and fennel remained weak during the 2025-26 fiscal year, a robust increase was recorded in the overall export of spices, driven by improved shipments of turmeric, coriander, garlic, fenugreek, other seed spices, and small cardamom.

According to the latest data released by the Spices Board, the total export of spices from India during the first 10 months of the 2025-26 fiscal year—specifically from April 2025 to January 2026—rose to 1,454,925 tonnes. This represents an 8 percent increase over the 1,349,704 tonnes exported during the corresponding period of the 2024-25 fiscal year.

As per the Spices Board's statistics, during the period under review, cumin exports declined by 15 percent—from 197,050 tonnes to 166,878 tonnes—while fennel exports plummeted by 61 percent, falling from 72,089 tonnes to 28,422 tonnes.

Conversely, exports of turmeric improved from 148,691 tonnes to 151,933 tonnes; coriander exports rose from 49,396 tonnes to 52,006 tonnes; garlic exports surged from 28,547 tonnes to 36,871 tonnes; exports of other seed spices increased from 27,424 tonnes to 34,092 tonnes;

fenugreek exports grew from 35,907 tonnes to 40,633 tonnes; and small cardamom exports witnessed a massive 132 percent surge, climbing from 5,294 tonnes to reach 12,281 tonnes. Furthermore, along with red chilies,

black pepper, nutmeg and mace, and various other spices, value-added spice products—including spice oils and oleoresins—were also exported from the country on a large scale.