That dollar amount results from a 24.8% increase compared to $3.11 billion 5 years earlier in 2019.
Year over year, the total value of the crushed or ground spices studied in this article accelerated by 17.8% versus $3.75 billion starting in 2022.
The top 5 spices exports by overall sales are crushed or ground peppercorn, spice mixtures, pepper, turmeric and cinnamon. Collectively, those exported spice commodities represent over fourth-fifths (82%) of spices sold on international markets up from 81.6% for 2022.
In addition to total export sales, this article delves into which major spices are the biggest exports in terms of the most valuable based on unit value per ton shipped as well as shipment weight.
For research purposes, the Harmonized System (HS) codes for crushed or ground: peppercorn is 090422, spice mixtures is 091091, turmeric is 091030, pepper is 090412, saffron is 091020, cinnamon is 090620, ginger is 090620, vanilla is 090520, nutmeg is 090812, cardamoms is 090832, cumin seeds is 090932, coriander seeds is 090922, and cloves is 090720.
Top Exported Spices by Global Sales
Listed below are the most valuable crushed or ground spices exported in 2023 ranked by total sales for each product category.
Also shown is percentage that each entry represents based on the overall value of crushed or ground exported spices.
- Peppercorn: US$1.6 billion (40.8% of global total)
- Spice mixtures: $561.8 million (14.5%)
- Pepper $489.5 million (12.6%)
- Turmeric: $327.1 million (8.4%)
- Cinnamon: $216.1 million (5.6%)
- Saffron: $214.9 million (5.5%)
- Ginger: $134.6 million (3.5%)
- Cumin seeds: $108.9 million (2.8%)
- Nutmeg $82.7 million (2.1%)
- Coriander seeds $63.3 million (1.6%)
- Vanilla: $49.4 million (1.3%)
- Cardamoms: $27 million (0.7%)
- Cloves $18.8 million (0.5%)
In terms of revenue, double-digit gains were recorded for cumin seeds (up 30.6% from 2022), peppercorn (up 17.8%), coriander seeds (up 14.4%), spice mixtures (up 12.1%) then cloves (up 11%).
The severest decliners were the international sales for the mint-like spice cardamoms (down -47.9% from 2022) used for sweet and savoury dishes particularly in Asia, saffron (down -36.3%), vanilla (down -30.2%) and nutmeg (down -25.3%).
Most Valuable Exported Spices by Unit Value
The most valuable spices as measured by average unit price per ton shipped.
The average unit value for the crushed or ground spices categories presented in this article is US$24,761 per ton in 2023. The average unit value for spices inflated by 6.6% compared to an average $23,217 one year earlier for 2022.
Ranked in descending order, listed below are the spices with the highest unit values in 2023.
- Saffron: US$235,912 per ton (Up 16.1% from 2022)
- Vanilla: $26,845 (Down -30.5%)
- Cardamoms: $12,095 (Up 14.9%)
- Nutmeg $9,729 (Down -2%)
- Cloves $8,732 (Up 6.8%)
- Pepper $5,885 (Down -3.4%)
- Cumin seeds: $4,920 (Up 45.8%)
- Cinnamon: $4,765 (Down -14.7%)
- Spice mixtures: $4,741 (Up 3.2%)
- Peppercorn: $2,985 (Up 5.9%)
- Coriander seeds $2,592 (Up 37%)
- Turmeric: $1,423 (same)
- Ginger: $1,264 (Down -77.3%)
A pair among the listed posted unit values higher than the worldwide average of $24,761 per ton. The world’s costliest spice as measured by unit price are saffron well head of second-place vanilla.
Double-digit gains in unit value per ton were generated by cumin seeds (up 45.8% from 2022), coriander seeds (up 37%), saffron (up 16.1%) and cardamoms (up 14.9%).
Recording the severest declines in unit value per ton were ginger (down -77.3% since 2022), vanilla (down -30.5%) then cinnamon (down -14.7%).
The trio of leading saffron exporters are Iran, Spain and Afghanistan. Those 3 countries were responsible for 87.4% of the total value of crushed or ground spices during 2023, up from 82.3% compared to 2022.
Biggest Exports of Spices by Weight
Shifting our focus to the weight of spice shipments, a total 1.18 million tons in crushed or ground spices were exported during 2023.
- Peppercorn: 530,765 tons
- Turmeric: 229,866 tons
- Spice mixtures: 118,499 tons
- Ginger: 106,485 tons
- Pepper 83,174 tons
- Cinnamon: 45,358 tons
- Coriander seeds 24,404 tons
- Cumin seeds: 22,131 tons
- Nutmeg 8,502 tons
- Cardamoms: 2,236 tons
- Cloves 2,158 tons
- Vanilla: 1,841 tons
- Saffron: 911 tons
The 5 heaviest shipments of spices by tonnage are comprised of peppercorn, turmeric which is a key ingredient in curry powder, spice mixtures, ginger and pepper. Collectively, that quintet of major spices represents 90.9% of all spices shipped by weight in 2023.
By total shipment weight, the top 3 suppliers of exported peppercorn are China, Spain and India. That trio was responsible for 77.9% of the total weight of crushed or ground spices shipped during 2023, down from 78.1% one year earlier.
See also Top Garlic Exports by Country, Top Ginger Exporters by Country, Onions Exports by Country, Top Pickles Exporters by Country and Top Salt Exports & Imports by Country Plus Average Prices
Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Field Listing: Exports – Commodities. Accessed on October 19, 2024
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on October 19, 2024
Wikipedia, Saffron. Accessed on October 19, 2024
Wikipedia, Spice. Accessed on October 19, 2024
Wikipedia, Turmeric. Accessed on October 19, 2024