Top Saffron Exports & Imports by Country Plus Average Prices

In 2022, globally exported saffron was worth a total US$188.6 million. Saffron is used mainly for food seasoning, in traditional medicine and as ingredients for fabric dyes and perfumes.

The spice, with its sweet honey and grassy hay-like aroma, is also used in religious ceremonies notably in India.

Worldwide exports of saffron shrank by an average -60% since 2018 when saffron exports totaled $471.6 million.

Year over year, the dollar value of saffron exports fell by -34.6% compared to $288.3 million in 2021.

Key Geographic Insights for Saffron Exports & Imports

The 5 biggest saffron exporters are Iran, Spain, Afghanistan, Nigeria and the Netherlands. Combined, that leading cohort of international suppliers generated 86.9% of globally exported saffron sold during 2022.

Applying a continental lens, countries in Asia sold the greatest dollar worth of exported saffron during 2022 with shipments valued at $109.3 million or 58% of the world total. In second place were exporters in Europe at 38.3%. Tinier percentages came from Africa (3%), North America (0.6%) mostly the United States, Latin America plus the Caribbean (0.08%), then Oceania (0.02%) Australia and New Zealand only.

Focusing on saffron imports, the 5 leading importers of saffron in 2022 were Spain, United States of America, India, Italy and mainland China. That quintet of top buyers bought about three-fifths (60.1%) of globally imported saffron by total cost.

Those percentages suggest a more concentrated cohort of 77 saffron exporters in total (86.9% for top 5 suppliers) compared to some 154 importing countries, islands and territories and the corresponding top 5 importers (60.1%).

From a continental perspective, 54.2% of globally imported saffron was delivered to countries in Europe trailed by importers in Asia (29.7%), North America (12.5%) then Africa (1.3%), Oceania led by Australia and New Zealand (1.2%), then Latin America (1%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean.

In 2022, we calculated the worldwide average unit price paid by importers to be $134,613 per ton of saffron. That dollar amount reflects a 3.8% price appreciation from the average tonnage rate of $129,695 for 2021.

Saffon is the world’s most valuable exported spice. Its inflated prices are partly due to labor costs since it takes roughly 70,000 hand-picked crocus flowers to produce one pound of saffron (150,000 flowers per kilogram).

For research purposes, the 6-digit Harmonized Tariff System code prefix is 091020 for saffron.

Top Saffron Exports by Country

Below are the top 15 countries that exported the highest dollar value worth of saffron during 2022.

1. Iran: US$85 million (45% of total saffron exports)
2. Spain: $51.8 million (27.5%)
3. Afghanistan: $18.5 million (9.8%)
4. Nigeria: $5.4 million (2.9%)
5. Netherlands: $3.3 million (1.7%)
6. France: $3 million (1.6%)
7. Portugal: $2.9 million (1.5%)
8. Greece: $2.6 million (1.4%)
9. Poland: $1.9 million (1%)
10. China: $1.8 million (0.9%)
11. Germany: $1.6 million (0.8%)
12. Italy: $1.17 million (0.6%)
13. India: $1.11 million (0.6%)
14. United States: $1.1 million (0.6%)
15. United Arab Emirates: $1.05 million (0.6%)

By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 96.6% of globally exported saffron in 2022.

Among the top exporters, the fastest-growing saffron exporters since 2021 were: Nigeria (up 376.2%), mainland China (up 167.5%), Netherlands (up 51.4%) and the United States of America (up 27.8%).

Those countries that posted declines in their exported saffron sales were led by: United Arab Emirates (down -89.8% from 2021), Greece (down -57.1%), Afghanistan (down -55.9%), Iran (down -44.9%) and Italy (down -38.4%).

Top Saffron Imports by Country

The overall spending on imported saffron totaled $182.3 million falling by -39.5% over the 5-year period starting in 2018 and dropping -23.3% since 2021.

Below are the 15 best buying markets as measured by the highest dollar value worth of saffron imported during 2022.

1. Spain: US$44.6 million (24.5% of total saffron imports)
2. United States: $20 million (11%)
3. India: $18.5 million (10.2%)
4. Italy: $13.4 million (7.4%)
5. China: $13 million (7.2%)
6. France: $8.8 million (4.8%)
7. Sweden: $7.2 million (3.9%)
8. Qatar: $4.9 million (2.7%)
9. United Kingdom: $4.6 million (2.5%)
10. United Arab Emirates: $4.4 million (2.4%)
11. Portugal: $3.9 million (2.1%)
12. Germany: $3.8 million (2.1%)
13. Switzerland: $3.7 million (2.1%)
14. Belgium: $2.8 million (1.5%)
15. Canada: $2.5 million (1.4%)

By value, the listed 15 countries bought 85.7% of globally imported saffron in 2022.

Among the top importers, the fastest-growing saffron importers since 2021 were: United Kingdom (up 83.1%), Spain (up 47.8%), Belgium (up 32.7%) and Sweden (up 26.7%).

Major buyer countries that posted declines in their imported saffron purchases were led by: United Arab Emirates (down -65.3%), mainland China (down -58.8%), Germany (down -20.2%), India (down -14.8%) and Portugal (down -9.8%).

Lowest and Highest Unit Prices for Imported Saffron

The world’s average unit price for imported saffron was US$134,613 per ton in 2022, advancing by 3.8% compared to the average $129,695 per ton for 2021.

The average tonnage charge paid by the number one saffron importer, Spain, was an above-average $892,240 per ton.

Ranked in ascending order, listed below are the countries paying the lowest average unit prices for imported saffron in 2022.

1. Sri Lanka: US$70 per ton (2021 data unavailable)
2. Niger: $77 per ton (2021 data unavailable)
3. Somalia: $360 per ton (down -21.6% from 2021)
4. Democratic Rep. Congo: $500 per ton (2021 data unavailable)
5. Djibouti: $611 per ton (down -10.7%)
6. Mauritania: $667 per ton (2021 data unavailable)
7. Laos: $1,000 per ton (2021 data unavailable)
8. Sudan: $1,155 per ton (2021 data unavailable)
9. Ivory Coast: $1,250 per ton (down -68.8%)
10. North Korea: $1,356 per ton (2021 data unavailable)
11. South Sudan: $1,362 per ton (2021 data unavailable)
12. Saint Helena: $1,462 per ton (2021 data unavailable)
13. Angola: $1,813 per ton (up 52%)
14. Ethiopia: $2,000 per ton (down -60%)
15. Marshall Islands: $2,000 per ton (down -33.3%)

Posting the severest reductions in average unit price per ton for saffron were low-cost importers Ivory Coast (down -68.8% from 2021), Ethiopia (down -60%), Marshall Islands (down -33.3%), Somalia (down -21.6%), then Djibouti (down -10.7%).

The following countries paid the highest average unit prices for imported saffron.

1. Poland: US$1,276,000 per ton (up 68.7% from 2021)
2. Germany: $1,263,000 per ton (up 6.4%)
3. Japan: $1,158,500 per ton (up 29.8%)
4. Spain: $892,240 per ton (up 124.7%)
5. Argentina: $719,000 per ton (up 68.7%)
6. Austria: $687,000 per ton (down -3%)
7. Hong Kong: $601,000 per ton (up 27.8%)
8. Sweden: $512,143 per ton (up 81%)
9. Bahrain: $479,333 per ton (up 124.9%)
10. China: $407,375 per ton (up 31.3%)
11. Switzerland: $373,900 per ton (down -2.9%)
12. Taiwan: $331,500 per ton (up 0.3%)
13. India: $298,581 per ton (down -32.7%)
14. Qatar: $274,000 per ton (up 25.2%)
15. Singapore: $268,333 per ton (up 51.2%)

The leaders in terms of inflated average unit prices paid in 2022 compared to 2021 were Bahrain (up 124.9%), Spain (up 124.7%), Sweden (up 81%), Poland (up 68.7%) and Argentina (also up 68.7%).

See also Top Exported Spices by Sales, Weight and Unit Value, Top Turmeric Exports & Imports by Country, Cinnamon Exports by Country, Top Garlic Exports by Country, Top Ginger Exporters and Top Peppermint Exports & Imports by Country

Research Sources:
Alibaba, Saffron Showroom. Accessed on October 7, 2023

Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Field Listing: Exports – Commodities. Accessed on October 7, 2023

International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on October 7, 2023

Wikipedia, Saffron. Accessed on October 7, 2023