Exhibiting at Foodex Japan 2025

Spices Board India: Driving the Growth of Indian Spice Exports

About Spices Board India

Spices Board India, headquartered in Kochi, Kerala, is a premier government agency responsible for the promotion, development, and quality control of Indian spices. Established in 1987, it operates under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India. The Board plays a crucial role in positioning India as the world’s largest producer, consumer, and exporter of spices, ensuring high-quality standards and fostering international trade.

Core Functions and Responsibilities

Spices Board India serves multiple functions within the spice industry:

• Export Promotion: Facilitates trade partnerships and market expansion for Indian spice exporters.
• Quality Certification: Ensures compliance with global safety and quality standards through Spice Parks, Testing Laboratories, and Quality Evaluation Laboratories across India.
• Research and Development: Conducts research to enhance spice production, processing, and value addition.
• Farmer Support Programs: Provides training, financial aid, and guidance to spice farmers to improve yield and sustainability.
• Market Intelligence: Analyzes global spice market trends and provides statistical insights for businesses.

India’s Dominance in the Global Spice Trade

India is the world’s largest producer and exporter of spices, contributing ~48% of the global spice trade. The country produces over 75 varieties of spices out of the 109 recognized by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).

• Annual Spice Exports (2022-23): $4.1 billion USD
• Total Export Volume: 1.45 million metric tons
• Key Export Destinations: USA, China, UAE, Malaysia, Bangladesh, UK, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Germany, Saudi Arabia
• Major Exported Spices: Cardamom, black pepper, chilli, turmeric, cumin, coriander, ginger, fenugreek, nutmeg, and cloves.

Product Portfolio

Spices Board India oversees the production and export of a vast range of spices:

Major Spices

• Cardamom: Small Cardamom (Malabar, Mysore), Large Cardamom (Bhutanese, Sikkimese)
• Black Pepper: Malabar Pepper, Tellicherry Pepper
• Chilli: Guntur Sannam, Byadagi, Kashmiri Chilli
• Turmeric: Alleppey Finger Turmeric, Erode Turmeric
• Ginger: Cochin Ginger, Nadia Ginger
• Coriander: Eagle Coriander, Scooter Coriander
• Cumin: Indian Cumin, Black Cumin
• Clove: Nilgiri Clove, Kanyakumari Clove
• Cinnamon: Ceylon Cinnamon, Malabar Cinnamon
• Nutmeg & Mace: Kerala Nutmeg, Tamil Nadu Nutmeg
• Saffron: Kashmiri Saffron, Himachal Saffron

Infrastructure and Quality Control

Spices Board India has seven modern Spice Parks across key spice-growing regions, enhancing processing, value addition, and export readiness. It also operates advanced testing laboratories to ensure adherence to international food safety standards.

Key Spice Parks:

• Chhindwara (Madhya Pradesh) – Chilli, Garlic
• Jodhpur (Rajasthan) – Seed Spices
• Guna (Madhya Pradesh) – Garlic, Coriander
• Puttady (Kerala) – Cardamom, Black Pepper
• Guntur (Andhra Pradesh) – Chilli
• Sivaganga (Tamil Nadu) – Chilli, Turmeric
• Bogapani (Assam) – Large Cardamom

Certifications and Global Compliance

Spices Board India ensures that Indian spices meet the highest global standards, assisting exporters in obtaining:

• EU Pesticide Residue Compliance
• US FDA Food Safety Certification
• BRC (British Retail Consortium) Certification
• ISO 22000 and HACCP Food Safety Standards
• Organic Certification (NPOP & NOP-USDA)
• Halal and Kosher Certification

International Trade and Market Reach

India's spice exports are distributed across 180+ countries, with the United States, China, UAE, and Europe being the largest markets.

• Top Export Destinations (2022-23):

  • USA: $770 million USD
  • China: $620 million USD
  • UAE: $430 million USD
  • Europe (Total): $570 million USD
  • Malaysia & Bangladesh: $250 million USD each

• Top Exported Spices (2022-23, by Volume & Value):

  • Chilli: $1.1 billion USD, 490,000 metric tons
  • Cumin: $600 million USD, 220,000 metric tons
  • Turmeric: $240 million USD, 130,000 metric tons
  • Cardamom: $140 million USD, 8,000 metric tons

Farmer and Exporter Support Initiatives

Spices Board India provides multiple incentives and support programs for farmers and exporters:

• Export Development Schemes: Subsidized cold storage, packaging, and logistics support.
• Organic Spice Farming Initiatives: Financial assistance for transitioning to organic spice cultivation.
• Technology Upgradation Programs: Grants for modern processing units and spice value addition.
• Spice Development Agencies: Regional offices dedicated to improving spice production and farmer earnings.

Recognition and Achievements

Spices Board India has been instrumental in positioning Indian spices as the gold standard in global spice trade.

• Awards & Recognitions

  • Recognized as India’s Best Export Promotion Council by the Government of India.
  • Received Global Food Safety Excellence Awards for ensuring quality and compliance.
  • Won Agri-Export Leader Award for boosting India's spice export share.

• Industry Testimonials

  • “Indian spices have been synonymous with purity and rich flavors for centuries, thanks to Spices Board India’s relentless quality control.” – Global Spices Trade Association
  • “With Spices Board India's certification, we confidently export to Europe and the U.S. without compliance concerns.” – Leading Indian Spice Exporter

Future Roadmap and Expansion Plans

Spices Board India aims to:

• Increase Indian spice exports to $6 billion USD by 2025.
• Expand Indian spice presence in Africa, South America, and Eastern Europe.
• Promote sustainable and organic farming with over 100,000 certified organic spice farmers.
• Enhance spice processing infrastructure with new state-of-the-art processing hubs.

Spices Board India continues to be the backbone of India's spice industry, driving growth, sustainability, and global trade while ensuring the highest standards in quality and compliance.