Spice market in India - statistics & facts

No other country grows and consumes as many spices as India. With a wide range of climates and topography, the Indian subcontinent has been in the limelight for its spices, fabrics, and luxury goods, which established international trade with many countries with beginnings from the East India Company in the 1,700s. India is one of the largest producers of spices with about 75 varieties out of the 109 listed by the International Organization for Standardization. In terms of production volume, Madhya Pradesh leads the country.

One of the essentials of an Indian kitchen is the “masala dabba”- a traditional spice box. It typically consists of small cups (usually five or seven) containing spices that are used in daily cooking. Whether it’s a soupy south Indian Rasam, a snack time Gujarati Dhokla, a sumptuous dessert in the Bengali Mishti Doi, or the traditional tea in the Kashmiri Kahwa. Spices are generally expensive when compared to other agricultural products. Saffron remains the most expensive spice. After Iran, India is the world’s leading producer of coveted spice.

Export and import of spices

Indian spices are highly sought-after globally. Moreover, the growth in the country’s overall merchandise exports and spice exports showed a significant increase during the same year. The United States was the leading importer of Indian spices at a value of over 44 billion Indian rupees. Even as one of the leading exporters of spices, India imports certain spices, such as Asefotieda or hing. Hing, an essential ingredient in traditional cuisines, was imported from neighboring countries such as Afghanistan, Iran, and Uzbekistan. Recently, India started the cultivation of this spice variety, and if successful, this spice will be another feather in the cap of the country.

Health benefits of spices

Spices are valued not only as a flavoring agent but also for their medicinal properties. Traditionally, spices such as turmeric, pepper, cinnamon, and ginger, to name a few, have been used in ayurvedic medicines along with various medicinal herbs and roots. Unsurprisingly, turmeric used in most Indian cooking consists of curcumin which has strong anti-inflammatory properties. Turmeric milk also known as haldi doodh or golden milk offers fast relief for a variety of health problems. In addition to giving food color and flavor, turmeric is also essential in various religious and cultural traditions.
This text provides general information. Statista assumes no liability for the information given being complete or correct. Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date data than referenced in the text.
Published by A. Minhas, May 4, 2023

Key insights

Global market value of spices and herbs
126bn USD
Leading turmeric exporting country
India
Leading saffron exporting country
Spain
Get more insights

Editor’s Picks Current statistics on this topic

Production volume of spices in India from financial year 2009 to 2021, with an estimate for 2022 (in million metric tons)

Crop Production

Production volume of spices India FY 2009-2022

Annual yield of spices in India from financial year 2009 to 2021, with an estimate for financial year 2022 (in metric tons per hectare)

Crop Production

Annual yield of spices India FY 2009-2022

Estimated export value of spices in India in financial year 2022, by type (in billion Indian rupees)

Food & Nutrition

Estimated export value of spices in India FY 2022, by type

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