No Sharp Rise in Cumin Prices Due to Weak Export Performance

20-Jun-2026 12:31 PM

Rajkot: India's cumin export performance weakened significantly during the 2025-26 fiscal year (April-March) due to sluggish demand from China—the largest buyer—and disruptions in shipments caused by unrest in West Asia. According to Spices Board data, India exported approximately 2.29 lakh tonnes of cumin in the 2024-25 fiscal year; this figure dropped by 14 percent to 1.96 lakh tonnes in 2025-26. During the period under review, export earnings fell by 28 percent—from $732.35 million to $524.00 million—while earnings in Indian currency declined by 25 percent, dropping from ₹6,178.86 crore to ₹4,611.15 crore. The average export offer price for cumin also remained low.

Cumin imports into China saw a sharp decline of 76 percent due to improved domestic production and high carry-over stocks. While China had imported a substantial 38,721 tonnes of cumin from India in 2024-25, this volume slumped to 9,271 tonnes in 2025-26.

Consequently, revenue from cumin exports to China plummeted by 80 percent, falling from $114.51 million to $22.81 million. Last year, China's cumin production rose to nearly 85,000–90,000 tonnes, enabling the country to reduce its imports of this key spice from India.

Cumin exports from India to the West Asia and North Africa (MENA) region were also impacted, as the shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz was blocked due to the Iran-US conflict.

Moreover, during this period, India's cumin exports to several other major importing nations—including the US, the UAE, Bangladesh, and the UK—declined, although exports to Turkey fared somewhat better.

Even now, the export performance of Indian cumin remains lackluster, despite the country holding substantial stocks of the spice. The harvesting and processing of the crop concluded just last month. Domestic demand also remains weak, and price fluctuations have been limited.