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Export ayurvedic and herbal products

Ayurvedic medicines, supplements and herbal cosmetics; register with AYUSHEXCIL and the buyer's regulator.

Free, with conditionsHS 3004.90
HS code
3004.90
Medicaments of the Ayurvedic, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathic systems (Indian tariff lines under 3004.90, for example 3004 90 11 for Ayurvedic). Herbal cosmetics sit in Chapter 33 and raw herbs in Chapter 12.
Export policy
Free, with conditions
Finished AYUSH medicines are free to export from a licensed unit. Raw herbs and plant parts carry conditions: some wild and CITES-listed plants cannot be exported in raw form. Check Chapter 12 and 13 conditions in Schedule 2.
Registrations
5
IEC, GST and those below
India’s exports, 2025-26
US$ 176 mn
to 153 countries

What is exported

India exports classical Ayurvedic medicines, herbal supplements, oils and herbal cosmetics. Many markets do not recognise Ayurveda as medicine, so products are often sold as food supplements or cosmetics under local rules. In 2025-26 exports of Ayurvedic medicaments (tariff line 3004 90 11) were about US$ 176 million; the USA and UAE were the top buyers, followed by Nepal, Russia, France and South Africa.

Varieties, grades and forms

  • Classical Ayurvedic medicinesChurnas, arishtas, tablets and oils made to classical texts; many countries treat them as herbal medicines or supplements.
  • Herbal supplements and capsulesAshwagandha, turmeric, tulsi and triphala capsules sold as food supplements abroad.
  • Herbal extracts and powders (B2B)Standardised extracts for supplement makers; HS 1302 lines got their own RoDTEP rates from 1 May 2026.
  • Herbal cosmetics and personal careHair oils, soaps and skin care — regulated as cosmetics in the buyer country.

Where it is grown or made

  • UttarakhandHaridwar — large Ayurveda and herbal plants
  • KeralaMalappuram (Kottakkal), Thrissur and Kochi
  • GujaratAhmedabad and Jamnagar
  • MaharashtraNagpur and Mumbai
  • KarnatakaBengaluru — herbal extract makers

Export packing

  • Retail packs (bottles, jars, blister packs) must carry labels written for the buyer country's rules — many countries forbid disease-cure claims on supplements.
  • Bulk extracts go in double polythene bags inside fibre drums, with batch number and certificate of analysis.
  • Ship each batch with heavy-metal and microbial test reports from an accredited lab.

Who buys abroad

  • Supplement and wellness brands (private label)
  • Ayurveda clinics and practitioners abroad
  • Indian grocery and health-food stores
  • Extract importers and nutraceutical manufacturers

The quality buyers ask for

Identity and standards
Plant identity and quality to the Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India (API) or the buyer's pharmacopoeia (USP, Ph. Eur.)
Marker content
Standardised extracts declare marker compounds (for example withanolides in ashwagandha, curcuminoids in turmeric) tested by HPLC
Heavy metals
Lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury within the importing country's limits; the Ministry of Ayush requires heavy-metal testing of export products
Microbial and pesticide limits
Total plate count, yeast and mould, pathogens absent; pesticide residues within EU/US limits
Other contaminants
Aflatoxins, PAHs and ethylene oxide (EU checks these closely on botanicals)
GMP
Manufacture under Schedule T (GMP for Ayurvedic, Siddha and Unani medicines) of the Drugs Rules; US cGMP for dietary supplements (21 CFR Part 111) for US buyers

Certificates

  • Ayush manufacturing licenceRequiredLicence from the State Ayush Licensing Authority for each product made; required by law.
  • WHO-GMP / COPP for herbal productsOften askedIssued for Ayush products under the Ministry of Ayush scheme; many importing regulators ask for it.
  • AYUSH Premium MarkOften askedVoluntary third-party quality mark for Ayush products.
  • Organic (NPOP / NOP / EU organic)Often askedFor herbs and extracts sold as organic; separate rules per market.
  • US FDA food facility registrationOften askedFacilities making supplements for the US must register with FDA and follow 21 CFR Part 111.
  • Halal / KosherOften askedAsked for by buyers in the Gulf, South-East Asia and parts of the US market.

Shipping, storage and shelf life

Container load

Extracts and powders in fibre drums or bags with liners, typically 25 kg; finished products in shipper cartons. LCL or 20-ft containers; small high-value lots by air.

How it travels

Sea for bulk; air for samples and small orders.

Storage

Cool, dry, away from light; powders absorb moisture and lose potency.

Shelf life

As set under Rule 161B of the Drugs Rules for Ayurvedic, Siddha and Unani medicines, or as proven by stability data for supplements; check the rule for each dosage form.

What goes on the pack and carton

  • Product category must match the market: a 'food supplement' in the EU or 'dietary supplement' in the USA cannot claim to treat or cure disease.
  • USA: Supplement Facts panel, the FDA disclaimer for structure-function claims, net quantity and manufacturer or distributor details.
  • Ingredients with botanical names and plant parts, batch number, dates, and storage advice.
  • Indian export labels must also follow the Drugs Rules for Ayush products unless the importing country's label replaces them as permitted.
Where to get it tested

The Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine & Homoeopathy (PCIM&H), Ghaziabad, sets Ayush standards. The Ministry of Ayush publishes a list of approved drug testing laboratories; NABL-accredited labs (search 'herbal' or 'pharmaceutical' in the NABL directory) test heavy metals, pesticides and microbes. AYUSHEXCIL can guide members.

Benefits of exporting this product

Where to register

  • AYUSHEXCIL (Ayush Export Promotion Council)Added to DGFT Appendix 2T by Public Notice 23/2023 (31 July 2023) to issue RCMC for Ayurvedic, Unani, Siddha, Homoeopathic medicines and listed herbal cosmetics.ayushexcil.in ↗
  • State AYUSH Licensing Authority / Ministry of AyushManufacturing licence for AYUSH drugs; GMP compliance and, for many buyers, a WHO-GMP or COPP certificate for the product.ayush.gov.in ↗
  • SHEFEXIL (for raw herbs and extracts)Herbs, vegetable saps and extracts and minor forest produce are under the Shellac & Forest Products EPC.shefexil.org ↗

Quality and checks

  • Heavy-metal tests (lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium) and microbial limits on every batch — the most common reason for rejection abroad.
  • USA: most products enter as dietary supplements under FDA rules (facility registration, labelling, no disease claims).
  • EU: traditional herbal medicine registration, or food-supplement or cosmetic rules, depending on how the product is sold.
How to start small

Start with a few well-known products from a GMP-certified AYUSH manufacturer and get heavy-metal and microbial tests from an accredited lab. Join AYUSHEXCIL, choose one market, and sell under that market's food-supplement or cosmetic route with compliant labels, starting with the Indian diaspora shops and online sellers.

Where new exporters go wrong

  • Products with heavy metals (especially traditional mineral-based preparations) being refused or recalled.
  • Making disease-cure claims on labels or websites — banned in the USA and EU for supplements.
  • Exporting a restricted raw herb without checking the plant list in Schedule 2.

Documents this product needs

Schemes that apply

Sources (6)
  1. Department of Commerce, Export Import Data Bank — India's exports of HS 3004 90 11 by country, 2025-26
  2. DGFT — Appendix 2T: Export Promotion Councils and the products under each
  3. DGFT — ITC(HS) export policy search (Schedule 2)
  4. AYUSHEXCIL — official site
  5. Ministry of Ayush
  6. DGFT Public Notice 23/2023 (31 July 2023) adding AYUSHEXCIL to Appendix 2T — e-Gazette

Trade data

Indian ayurvedic and herbal products exports in numbers

From the Department of Commerce’s TradeStat, country by country. US$, Indian financial years (April–March).

Exports in 2025-26
US$ 176 mn
+3.9% a year on average, 2020-21 to 2025-26
Change from 2024-25
↑ +7.1%
US$ 165 mn → US$ 176 mn
Buyer countries
153
Average export price
US$ 7.73
per kg · 22,806 tonnes shipped · US$ 7.42 the year before
United States of America: US$ 20 mnUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 19.6 mnNepal: US$ 14.9 mnRussia: US$ 10.2 mnFrance: US$ 9 mnSouth Africa: US$ 8.7 mnKazakhstan: US$ 7.9 mnNigeria: US$ 5.4 mnKenya: US$ 4.6 mnAustralia: US$ 4.2 mnUnited Kingdom: US$ 3.8 mnGhana: US$ 3.6 mnCanada: US$ 3.1 mnRomania: US$ 3.1 mnIraq: US$ 2.8 mnTanzania: US$ 2.3 mnAlgeria: US$ 2.2 mnNetherlands: US$ 2.2 mnSingapore: US$ 1.9 mnPhilippines: US$ 1.8 mnMalaysia: US$ 1.8 mnSri Lanka: US$ 1.6 mnKuwait: US$ 1.5 mnQatar: US$ 1.4 mnUnited States of America: US$ 20 mnUnited States of AmericaUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 19.6 mnUnited Arab EmiratesNepal: US$ 14.9 mnNepalRussia: US$ 10.2 mnRussiaFrance: US$ 9 mnFranceSouth Africa: US$ 8.7 mnSouth AfricaKazakhstan: US$ 7.9 mnNigeria: US$ 5.4 mnKenya: US$ 4.6 mnAustralia: US$ 4.2 mnUnited Kingdom: US$ 3.8 mnGhana: US$ 3.6 mnCanada: US$ 3.1 mnRomania: US$ 3.1 mnIraq: US$ 2.8 mnTanzania: US$ 2.3 mnAlgeria: US$ 2.2 mnNetherlands: US$ 2.2 mnSingapore: US$ 1.9 mnPhilippines: US$ 1.8 mnMalaysia: US$ 1.8 mnSri Lanka: US$ 1.6 mnKuwait: US$ 1.5 mnQatar: US$ 1.4 mnIndia
Where Indian ayurvedic and herbal products goes — among our 80 countries, 2025-26
2020-21: US$ 146 mn1462020-212021-22: US$ 174 mn1742021-222022-23: US$ 178 mn1782022-232023-24: US$ 162 mn1622023-242024-25: US$ 165 mn1652024-252025-26: US$ 176 mn1762025-26
India’s ayurvedic and herbal products exports, year by year · US$ million

The price cycle

India’s average export price per kg each year (total value ÷ total quantity). Highest in 2020-21, lowest in 2022-23 — a 84% swing between them. Keep this swing in mind when you quote.

2020-21: US$ 13.37 per kg13.372021-22: US$ 8.12 per kg2022-23: US$ 7.26 per kg7.262024-25: US$ 7.42 per kg2025-26: US$ 7.73 per kg7.732020-212021-222022-232023-242024-252025-26
Average export price of Indian ayurvedic and herbal products · US$ per kg · dotted = year in between not available

What next: a projection from the trend

The past trend carried forward — not a forecast by any authority. Sudden changes in policy, prices or demand are not in it.

2020-21: US$ 146 mn2020-212021-22: US$ 174 mn2021-222022-23: US$ 178 mn2022-232023-24: US$ 162 mn2023-242024-25: US$ 165 mn2024-252025-26: US$ 176 mn2025-262026-27: US$ 178 mn (US$ 162 mn – US$ 197 mn)1782026-272027-28: US$ 182 mn (US$ 163 mn – US$ 203 mn)1822027-28
India’s ayurvedic and herbal products exports and projection · hollow bars = projection, line = likely range
By 2027-28: US$ 182 mn

Likely range US$ 163 mn to US$ 203 mn.

Trend
+2% a year
Fit (R²)
0.26 — weak, read with care
Based on
6 years of official figures

Method: a straight line through the logarithm of yearly exports (log-linear regression); range = ±1 standard error.

Biggest buyer countries

By value in 2025-26. Change is against 2024-25.

Name2025-26Change
1United States of AmericaUS$ 20 mn+7.5%
2United Arab EmiratesUS$ 19.6 mn+1.1%
3NepalUS$ 14.9 mn+0.9%
4RussiaUS$ 10.2 mn+32.3%
5FranceUS$ 9 mn+18.8%
6South AfricaUS$ 8.7 mn+30.4%
7KazakhstanUS$ 7.9 mn+10.7%
8NigeriaUS$ 5.4 mn+95.7%
9KenyaUS$ 4.6 mn+6.3%
10AustraliaUS$ 4.2 mn+12.6%
11United KingdomUS$ 3.8 mn+53.5%
12GhanaUS$ 3.6 mn+8.7%

Where demand is rising and falling

Only countries that buy at least US$ 1 million or 1% of India’s exports of this product. Change from 2024-25 to 2025-26.

High demand

  1. NigeriaUS$ 2.8 mn → US$ 5.4 mn+95.7%
  2. United KingdomUS$ 2.5 mn → US$ 3.8 mn+53.5%
  3. TanzaniaUS$ 1.6 mn → US$ 2.3 mn+41.6%
  4. RussiaUS$ 7.7 mn → US$ 10.2 mn+32.3%
  5. South AfricaUS$ 6.7 mn → US$ 8.7 mn+30.4%
  6. PhilippinesUS$ 1.5 mn → US$ 1.8 mn+24.3%
  7. MalaysiaUS$ 1.5 mn → US$ 1.8 mn+19.9%
  8. FranceUS$ 7.6 mn → US$ 9 mn+18.8%

Low demand

  1. TürkiyeUS$ 2.1 mn → US$ 640k-68.8%
  2. PolandUS$ 2 mn → US$ 940k-52.5%
  3. YemenUS$ 2.4 mn → US$ 1.1 mn-52.3%
  4. IraqUS$ 4.2 mn → US$ 2.8 mn-34.9%
  5. AlgeriaUS$ 2.5 mn → US$ 2.2 mn-11.1%

Which forms sell, and at what price

India’s exports by 8-digit tariff line, 2025-26. Average price = total value ÷ total quantity (TradeStat): the average of every shipment on that line, not the price of any one deal.

Tariff lineValue 2025-26ChangeQuantityAverage price
Medicaments of ayurvedic system3004 90 11 · Medicaments, consisting of mixed or unmixed products in heading no. 3004, for therapeutic or prophylactic…US$ 176 mn+7.1%22,806 tonnesUS$ 7.73 per kgwas US$ 7.42

Indian line 30049011 (Ayurvedic medicaments); there is no international code for it. TradeStat’s 2023-24 quantities are double-counted, so that year is left out of the price. Sources: TradeStat — Export Import Data Bank, Department of Commerce · Figures taken 29 October 2026.

Step by step

How to export ayurvedic and herbal products

India is the home of Ayurveda and a leading supplier of herbal medicines, extracts and supplements, alongside China (traditional Chinese medicine and botanical extracts), Germany and the USA, which make many finished herbal products. Demand comes from the global wellness and supplement market, from Indian communities abroad, and from countries that recognise traditional medicine. Strict rules in the EU and USA limit what can be sold as a medicine, so most exports enter as food supplements, cosmetics or raw botanicals. Openings are in standardised extracts (ashwagandha, turmeric, tulsi), branded supplements made under GMP, and Ayurveda products for countries where Ayush systems are recognised.

  1. 01Decide the regulatory route

    For each market, decide whether the product enters as a traditional medicine, supplement, cosmetic or raw botanical.

  2. 02Source traceable raw herbs

    Buy authenticated herbs with origin records; avoid restricted species.

  3. 03Make under GMP

    Produce under Schedule T (and US cGMP if selling supplements in the USA).

  4. 04Test every batch

    Test identity, markers, heavy metals, microbes, pesticides and contaminants.

  5. 05Register where required

    Notify or register the product in the importing country (for example traditional herbal registration in the EU, or notification as a food supplement).

  6. 06Label and ship

    Use market-specific labels, file the shipping bill and claim RoDTEP where allowed.

  7. 07Payment

    Advance or LC with new buyers.

Meet buyers

Trade fairs

Questions

Questions about exporting ayurvedic and herbal products

Can I sell an Ayurvedic medicine as a medicine in Europe?
Only with a marketing authorisation or a traditional herbal registration under EU rules, which needs proof of long traditional use and quality data. Most exporters sell as food supplements instead.
Are products with bhasma allowed abroad?
Products containing metal or mineral bhasmas are often blocked because of heavy-metal limits. Check the importing country's rules before offering them.
Why was my ashwagandha rejected in the EU?
Common reasons are pesticide residues, ethylene oxide, or a novel-food issue for certain plant parts. Test before shipping and confirm the plant part is allowed.
Which council covers Ayush products?
AYUSHEXCIL for finished Ayush products; SHEFEXIL for raw herbs and extracts.
Do I need FDA approval for supplements?
FDA does not approve supplements before sale, but the facility must register, follow 21 CFR Part 111, and labels must follow FDA rules. New dietary ingredients need a notification.
Sources (6)
  1. Ministry of Ayush
  2. AYUSHEXCIL — official site
  3. European Medicines Agency — Herbal medicinal products
  4. eCFR — 21 CFR Part 111, Current good manufacturing practice for dietary supplements
  5. NABL — search for accredited testing laboratories
  6. WHO — Good manufacturing practices (norms and standards)

Who buys Indian ayurvedic and herbal products

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