Spice Exports Drop by 25% in April-June Quarter

03-Sep-2026 03:46 PM

Kochi: Data from the Spices Board reveals that total spice exports from India during the first quarter of the current fiscal year (April-June) fell by approximately 25 percent—dropping from 519,477 tonnes to 390,590 tonnes—compared to the previous year; however, export earnings in Indian currency rose by 5 percent to reach ₹107.26 billion.

According to the Spices Board report, the quarter under review saw a sharp decline in the exports of spices such as nutmeg and mace, cumin, coriander, garlic, and fenugreek, while significant growth was recorded in the exports of turmeric, tamarind, and mint products.

Among the spices that saw a decline, cumin exports fell from 62,861 tonnes to 47,916 tonnes; nutmeg and mace dropped from 1,075 tonnes to 704 tonnes; coriander slid from 19,101 tonnes to 14,556 tonnes; garlic decreased from 12,147 tonnes to 10,597 tonnes; and fenugreek exports fell from 13,429 tonnes to 10,291 tonnes. Additionally, exports of other spices—such as asafoetida, cinnamon, bay leaf, camboge, and copra—declined by 11 percent to 11,000 tonnes.

Conversely, spices that saw an increase in shipments during this period included turmeric (rising from 47,950 tonnes to 51,987 tonnes), tamarind (up from 11,814 tonnes to 13,147 tonnes), and mint products (jumping from 5,424 tonnes to 6,485 tonnes). Celery exports also grew by 4 percent, reaching 1,404 tonnes. In addition to the aforementioned spices, India also exports red chili, black pepper, small and large cardamom, carom seeds (ajwain), spice oils, and oleoresins on a large scale. India remains the world's leading producer and exporter of spices.