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Farm produce

Export turmeric

Fingers and powder for food and health markets. Lead, residues and Salmonella are the main test points.

Free to exportHS 0910.30
HS code
0910.30
Turmeric (curcuma), whole fingers, bulbs or powder. Turmeric extracts and oleoresin fall in other headings.
Export policy
Free to export
Free. CRES from the Spices Board is compulsory.
Registrations
4
IEC, GST and those below
India’s exports, 2025-26
US$ 327 mn
to 126 countries

What is exported

India grows most of the world’s turmeric, mainly in Telangana, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Spices Board data for 2025-26 show the USA, the UAE and Bangladesh as the top buyers by value, followed by Malaysia, Morocco, Iran, Germany and Indonesia. Buyers specify curcumin content, colour and whether the fingers are polished.

Varieties, grades and forms

  • Erode / Salem fingersBright yellow, polished fingers; Erode Manjal is a GI.
  • Rajapuri (Sangli)Bold, pale-yellow fingers favoured in north India and the Gulf; Sangli Turmeric is a GI.
  • Nizamabad and Alleppey-type high-curcuminHigher curcumin; preferred by extractors and the US market.
  • Lakadong (Meghalaya)Very high curcumin, GI-registered; small premium volumes.
  • Bulbs, fingers, powderBuyers specify form, curcumin %, colour and whether polished.

Where it is grown or made

  • MaharashtraLargest producer: Sangli, Hingoli (Vasmat Haldi GI) and Wardha (Waigaon Turmeric GI).
  • Tamil NaduErode and Salem — major trading and polishing centres.
  • TelanganaNizamabad market yard.
  • Odisha and MeghalayaKandhamal (Kandhamal Haladi GI, largely organic); Jaintia Hills (Lakadong).

Season

Harvest January–March (Spices Board calendar); cured and polished turmeric reaches markets from March and ships all year.

Export packing

  • Fingers in 25–50 kg jute or PP bags.
  • Powder in 25 kg lined paper bags; retail pouches for grocers.
  • Lead-chromate and Sudan-dye checks are common for US and EU lots — keep test reports with each lot.

Who buys abroad

  • Spice packers and supermarket private labels in the USA and EU
  • Curcumin and nutraceutical extractors
  • Importers in the UAE, Bangladesh, Iran and Morocco
  • Ethnic Indian grocery brands

The quality buyers ask for

Curcumin content
Stated as a percentage on the contract and measured by spectrophotometry or HPLC; the main price factor for extraction buyers
Form
Fingers, bulbs, splits, polished or unpolished; powder by mesh size
Lead
EU: 1.5 mg/kg (Spices Board compilation); buyers also screen for lead chromate
Aflatoxin and microbes
EU: aflatoxin 5 ppb; Salmonella absent in 25 g
Residues and fumigant
EU: chlorpyrifos 0.01 mg/kg; ethylene oxide 0.1 mg/kg (Spices Board compilation)
Standard
Codex standard for dried or dehydrated turmeric (CXS 359-2024); AGMARK spice grades

Certificates

  • Spices Board CRESRequiredCertificate of Registration as Exporter of Spices. Required by law before you export any spice listed by the Spices Board.
  • FSSAI licenceRequiredCentral licence from FSSAI for the premises where the food is packed or stored for export. Apply on FoSCoS.
  • Phytosanitary certificateRequiredIssued by Plant Quarantine (DPPQS) for each consignment of plant produce, after inspection. Apply on PQMS.
  • HACCPOften askedA food-safety plan that identifies hazards at each processing step and controls them. Most importers ask for it from the processing unit.
  • ISO 22000 / FSSC 22000Often askedFood-safety management system certification. FSSC 22000 is recognised by GFSI, which large retailers and brand owners look for.
  • Organic (NPOP / NOP / EU)Often askedNeeded only if you sell the product as organic: NPOP certification by an accredited body, plus the buyer market’s own organic rules.

Shipping, storage and shelf life

Container load

Fingers in 25–50 kg bags typically load about 16–18 tonnes in a 20-ft container; powder in lined bags or cartons loads similar weight.

How it travels

Sea freight, mainly from Chennai, Tuticorin, Mumbai (Nhava Sheva) and Mundra.

Storage

Dry, well-ventilated godown. Turmeric absorbs moisture; keep bags off the floor and away from walls.

Shelf life

Dried fingers typically 1–2 years; powder about a year, losing colour in light.

What goes on the pack and carton

  • Bulk bags and cartons: product and grade, crop year, lot number, net and gross weight, “Product of India”, exporter name and the buyer’s shipping marks, matching the invoice and packing list exactly.
  • EU retail packs (Regulation 1169/2011): name of the food, ingredients with allergens highlighted, net quantity, best-before date, storage conditions, the EU importer’s name and address, and origin where required — in the language of the country of sale.
  • USA (21 CFR 101): product name, net quantity in both US and metric units, ingredients, allergens, name and place of business of the packer or distributor, Nutrition Facts unless exempt; and “Product of India” marking (19 CFR 134).
  • Lot or batch number on every pack and bag — FSSAI’s Labelling and Display Regulations, 2020 require it, and every importing country uses it to trace and recall.
Where to get it tested

The Spices Board runs quality evaluation laboratories in Kochi, Mumbai, Chennai, Guntur, Narela (Delhi), Tuticorin, Kandla, Kolkata and Jodhpur; fees and sample forms are on indianspices.com → Quality. NABL-accredited private labs (search nabl-india.org) are also used. Check the Board’s “Mandatory tests for export” list for your spice and market.

Benefits of exporting this product

Where to register

  • Spices BoardCertificate of Registration as Exporter of Spices (CRES). Required by law for anyone exporting a spice listed by the Spices Board.indianspices.org.in ↗
  • FSSAIFood business licence. FSSAI rules put food exporters under the Central licence; apply on FoSCoS and keep it valid for the premises you pack from.foscos.fssai.gov.in ↗

Quality and checks

  • Lead: EU limit 1.5 mg/kg on turmeric. Lead chromate has been used illegally to brighten colour — buy only from tested lots.
  • Aflatoxin (EU 5 µg/kg), ethylene oxide (0.1 mg/kg), chlorpyrifos (0.01 mg/kg) and Salmonella absent in 25 g.
  • Curcumin percentage and moisture, as stated in the contract.
How to start small

Start with whole fingers from Nizamabad, Sangli or Erode, tested for lead and residues, shipped LCL to a Gulf or Bangladesh trader. Move to powder only when you can buy steam-sterilisation and lab testing for every batch.

Where new exporters go wrong

  • Buying cheap polished fingers without a lead test — lead chromate adulteration is a known cause of recalls.
  • Promising a curcumin level the lot does not have; buyers test on arrival and claim a discount.

Documents this product needs

Schemes that apply

Sources (3)
  1. Spices Board — Major item/country-wise export of spices (2021-22 to 2025-26)
  2. Spices Board — SPS requirements for spices (risks reported in export consignments)
  3. Spices Board India — exporter registration (CRES) and quality

Trade data

Indian turmeric exports in numbers

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

Exports in 2025-26
US$ 327 mn
+7.1% a year on average, 2020-21 to 2025-26
Change from 2024-25
↓ -4.2%
US$ 342 mn → US$ 327 mn
Buyer countries
126
Average export price
US$ 1.86
per kg · 1,75,896 tonnes shipped · US$ 1.94 the year before
United States of America: US$ 36.2 mnUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 33.7 mnBangladesh: US$ 32.7 mnMalaysia: US$ 17.5 mnGermany: US$ 14 mnIndonesia: US$ 11.7 mnSaudi Arabia: US$ 10.6 mnUnited Kingdom: US$ 9.5 mnNetherlands: US$ 9.1 mnJapan: US$ 8.6 mnSouth Africa: US$ 6.8 mnCanada: US$ 5.8 mnEgypt: US$ 4.8 mnSpain: US$ 4.5 mnFrance: US$ 3.5 mnNepal: US$ 3.3 mnAustralia: US$ 3.3 mnRussia: US$ 3.1 mnUnited States of America: US$ 36.2 mnUnited States of AmericaUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 33.7 mnUnited Arab EmiratesBangladesh: US$ 32.7 mnBangladeshMalaysia: US$ 17.5 mnMalaysiaGermany: US$ 14 mnGermanyIndonesia: US$ 11.7 mnIndonesiaSaudi Arabia: US$ 10.6 mnUnited Kingdom: US$ 9.5 mnNetherlands: US$ 9.1 mnJapan: US$ 8.6 mnSouth Africa: US$ 6.8 mnCanada: US$ 5.8 mnEgypt: US$ 4.8 mnSpain: US$ 4.5 mnFrance: US$ 3.5 mnNepal: US$ 3.3 mnAustralia: US$ 3.3 mnRussia: US$ 3.1 mnIndia
Where Indian turmeric goes — among our 30 countries, 2025-26
2020-21: US$ 232 mn2322020-212021-22: US$ 206 mn2062021-222022-23: US$ 208 mn2082022-232023-24: US$ 227 mn2272023-242024-25: US$ 342 mn3422024-252025-26: US$ 327 mn3272025-26
India’s turmeric exports, year by year · US$ million

The price cycle

India’s average export price per kg each year (total value ÷ total quantity). Highest in 2024-25, lowest in 2022-23 — a 58% swing between them. Keep this swing in mind when you quote.

2020-21: US$ 1.26 per kg2021-22: US$ 1.35 per kg2022-23: US$ 1.22 per kg1.222024-25: US$ 1.94 per kg1.942025-26: US$ 1.86 per kg1.862020-212021-222022-232023-242024-252025-26
Average export price of Indian turmeric · 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$ 232 mn2020-212021-22: US$ 206 mn2021-222022-23: US$ 208 mn2022-232023-24: US$ 227 mn2023-242024-25: US$ 342 mn2024-252025-26: US$ 327 mn2025-262026-27: US$ 350 mn (US$ 283 mn – US$ 434 mn)3502026-272027-28: US$ 385 mn (US$ 303 mn – US$ 489 mn)3852027-28
India’s turmeric exports and projection · hollow bars = projection, line = likely range
By 2027-28: US$ 385 mn

Likely range US$ 303 mn to US$ 489 mn.

Trend
+10% a year
Fit (R²)
0.61
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$ 36.2 mn+37.6%
2United Arab EmiratesUS$ 33.7 mn-29%
3BangladeshUS$ 32.7 mn-32.4%
4MalaysiaUS$ 17.5 mn-7.5%
5MoroccoUS$ 17.4 mn+0.7%
6IranUS$ 14.9 mn+2%
7GermanyUS$ 14 mn+22.3%
8IndonesiaUS$ 11.7 mn+37.5%
9Saudi ArabiaUS$ 10.6 mn-4.9%
10United KingdomUS$ 9.5 mn-11.5%
11NetherlandsUS$ 9.1 mn-4.2%
12JapanUS$ 8.6 mn+4.1%

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. CanadaUS$ 4 mn → US$ 5.8 mn+46.5%
  2. United States of AmericaUS$ 26.3 mn → US$ 36.2 mn+37.6%
  3. IndonesiaUS$ 8.5 mn → US$ 11.7 mn+37.5%
  4. TunisiaUS$ 3.8 mn → US$ 5.2 mn+34.4%
  5. EgyptUS$ 3.8 mn → US$ 4.8 mn+26.7%
  6. NepalUS$ 2.7 mn → US$ 3.3 mn+22.4%
  7. GermanyUS$ 11.5 mn → US$ 14 mn+22.3%
  8. AustraliaUS$ 2.7 mn → US$ 3.3 mn+20.5%

Low demand

  1. LibyaUS$ 6.9 mn → US$ 3.3 mn-53.1%
  2. BangladeshUS$ 48.4 mn → US$ 32.7 mn-32.4%
  3. TürkiyeUS$ 3.6 mn → US$ 2.5 mn-29.5%
  4. United Arab EmiratesUS$ 47.5 mn → US$ 33.7 mn-29%
  5. United KingdomUS$ 10.7 mn → US$ 9.5 mn-11.5%

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
Spices, turmeric — dry0910 30 20US$ 160 mn-13.9%1,01,905 tonnesUS$ 1.57 per kgwas US$ 1.76
Spices, turmeric — powder0910 30 30US$ 141 mn+6.4%67,647 tonnesUS$ 2.09 per kgwas US$ 2.20
Spices, turmeric — other turmeric0910 30 90US$ 23.4 mn+16.3%4,673 tonnesUS$ 5.00 per kgwas US$ 2.43
Spices, turmeric — fresh0910 30 10US$ 2.1 mn-11.3%1,672 tonnesUS$ 1.27 per kgwas US$ 1.41

The world market

Each country’s own recorded exports and imports in UN Comtrade, 2023 (the latest year nearly every country has reported).

World imports
US$ 289 mn
2023
India among exporters
#1
of 118 countries
India’s share of world exports
64%
US$ 213 mn
Left for others to win
US$ 119 mn
exported by other countries

Top exporters — your competitors

  1. 1IndiaUS$ 213 mn 64%
  2. 2MyanmarUS$ 12.7 mn 3.8%
  3. 3NetherlandsUS$ 12.6 mn 3.8%
  4. 4FijiUS$ 10.3 mn 3.1%
  5. 5GermanyUS$ 9.4 mn 2.8%
  6. 6IndonesiaUS$ 8.5 mn 2.6%
  7. 7PeruUS$ 5.3 mn 1.6%
  8. 8USAUS$ 5.2 mn 1.6%
  9. 9Viet NamUS$ 5.2 mn 1.6%
  10. 10United Arab EmiratesUS$ 4.6 mn 1.4%

Biggest buyers in the world

  1. 1USAUS$ 50.8 mn 17.6%
  2. 2GermanyUS$ 15.9 mn 5.5%
  3. 3IndiaUS$ 15.4 mn 5.3%
  4. 4IranUS$ 14.5 mn 5%
  5. 5MalaysiaUS$ 12.9 mn 4.5%
  6. 6MoroccoUS$ 12.7 mn 4.4%
  7. 7NetherlandsUS$ 11.9 mn 4.1%
  8. 8ChinaUS$ 11.4 mn 3.9%
  9. 9United KingdomUS$ 11.1 mn 3.8%
  10. 10Saudi ArabiaUS$ 10.4 mn 3.6%

Opportunity: what these countries buy from the world, and from India

Each country’s own recorded imports in UN Comtrade, latest year it has reported. The long light part of each bar is demand other countries are filling today.

United States of AmericaUS$ 56.2 mnIndia 66.8% · gap US$ 18.6 mn
ChinaUS$ 15.3 mnIndia 0.4% · gap US$ 15.2 mn
GermanyUS$ 18.2 mnIndia 61.3% · gap US$ 7 mn
NetherlandsUS$ 13.7 mnIndia 48.6% · gap US$ 7 mn
FranceUS$ 10.5 mnIndia 52.4% · gap US$ 5 mn
Saudi ArabiaUS$ 15.6 mnIndia 69.4% · gap US$ 4.8 mn
SpainUS$ 9.2 mnIndia 58.7% · gap US$ 3.8 mn
JapanUS$ 11.6 mnIndia 74.9% · gap US$ 2.9 mn
CanadaUS$ 8.3 mnIndia 67.8% · gap US$ 2.7 mn
United KingdomUS$ 11.1 mnIndia 78.3% · gap US$ 2.4 mn

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 · UN Comtrade database (United Nations Statistics Division) · Figures taken 29 October 2026.

Step by step

How to export turmeric

India grows most of the world’s turmeric and is its largest exporter; Myanmar, Bangladesh, Vietnam and some Latin American countries are smaller suppliers. Demand is rising from curry and seasoning makers, curcumin extractors for supplements, and natural-colour users replacing synthetic dyes. Buyers increasingly test for lead, because lead chromate has been used to brighten turmeric. Openings: high-curcumin lots (such as Lakadong from Meghalaya), organic turmeric, and clean, lead-tested powder for retail.

  1. 01Fix the curcumin and form

    Agree finger or powder, polish, curcumin percentage, moisture and mesh size with the buyer.

  2. 02Buy at the market hub

    Erode, Nizamabad, Sangli and Warangal are the main trading hubs; insist on lot-wise curcumin reports.

  3. 03Clean, polish and grind

    Polish fingers mechanically, never with colour. Grind in a clean, FSSAI-licensed unit if you sell powder.

  4. 04Test lead, aflatoxin and residues

    Test every lot for lead, aflatoxin, residues and Salmonella before you ship.

  5. 05Pack, stuff and certify

    Pack with lot marks, stuff, file the shipping bill and get the phytosanitary and origin certificates.

  6. 06Get paid and close the file

    Send the original documents through your bank (or to the buyer if paid in advance). Once the money arrives, get the e-BRC and claim RoDTEP and drawback where they apply.

Meet buyers

Trade fairs

Questions

Questions about exporting turmeric

What curcumin level do buyers want?
It depends on use. Extractors pay for high curcumin; spice blenders care more about colour, cleanliness and price. Always state the test method with the figure.
Why do buyers test turmeric for lead?
Because lead chromate has been found added to make turmeric look brighter. Polish only mechanically and test every lot.
Fingers or powder — which should I start with?
Fingers are simpler: fewer microbial issues and a wider buyer base. Powder pays more but needs a clean grinding unit and Salmonella control.
Is there a Codex standard for turmeric?
Yes — the Codex standard for dried or dehydrated turmeric, CXS 359-2024. Buyers may still use their own specifications.
Can I sell organic turmeric?
Only with NPOP certification from an accredited body and TraceNet records. Organic turmeric sells well in the EU and USA.
Sources (5)
  1. Spices Board — SPS requirements for spices (risks reported in export consignments, with limits)
  2. Spices Board — Quality evaluation laboratories (9 locations)
  3. Spices Board — Major item/country-wise export of spices (2021-22 to 2025-26)
  4. Codex Alimentarius — list of standards
  5. APEDA — International Pesticide MRL Database

Who buys Indian turmeric

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