Decline in Spice Exports Driven by Weak Performance of Red Chili and Cumin

05-Jun-2026 11:55 AM

Kochi. India's spice exports witnessed a decline of 4 percent in volume and 6 percent in earnings during the 2025-26 fiscal year compared to 2024-25. Exports of key spices, particularly red chili and cumin, fell due to sluggish demand in international markets and heightened competition.

The latest data from the Spices Board reveals that spice export earnings, which stood at $4.72 billion in 2024-25, dropped by 6 percent to $4.43 billion in 2025-26. Similarly, export volume fell by 4 percent, declining from 1.799 million tonnes to 1.734 million tonnes. However, in terms of Indian currency, export earnings declined by only 2 percent, falling from ₹39,994 crore in 2024-25 to ₹39,140 crore in the 2025-26 fiscal year.

The Chairman of the All India Spices Exporters Forum stated that spice exports were also impacted by high tariffs in the US and weak demand in Asian countries. Increased production of red chili and cumin in China further intensified the challenge for India.

Red chili—the leading spice in terms of both volume and earnings—showed a weak export performance due to sluggish demand in China and Bangladesh. Its export earnings dropped by 12 percent, falling from $1.34 billion to $1.17 billion.

Likewise, cumin exports declined by 14 percent—from 229,000 tonnes to 196,000 tonnes—while earnings from the spice fell by 28 percent, dropping from $732 million to $524.22 million. On the other hand, a remarkable increase was recorded in the exports of small and large cardamom.