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Export black pepper

Malabar and Tellicherry grades for the USA, UK, Canada and Europe. CRES needed; India competes with Vietnam and Brazil.

Free to exportHS 0904.11
HS code
0904.11
Pepper of the genus Piper: whole (0904 11 — garbled, ungarbled, light, pinheads, green pepper) and crushed or ground (0904 12).
Export policy
Free to export
Export is Free under ITC(HS); a CRES from the Spices Board is compulsory.
Registrations
4
IEC, GST and those below
India’s exports, 2025-26
US$ 136 mn
to 97 countries

What is exported

Pepper exports were about US$ 136 million in 2025-26 (TradeStat). The USA took about two-fifths, followed by the UK, Canada, Sweden, Germany, the UAE, the Netherlands, Australia and Japan. Indian pepper sells at a premium for its bold berries and aroma — Malabar Pepper is a GI held by the Spices Board.

Varieties, grades and forms

  • Malabar Garbled (MG 1)The standard Indian export grade: cleaned and graded black pepper.
  • Tellicherry Garbled Extra Bold (TGEB) and Special Extra Bold (TGSEB)Large berries; premium grades for gourmet and retail brands.
  • Ungarbled, light pepper and pinheadsLower grades for grinding and oleoresin extraction.
  • Green pepper (dehydrated, frozen, in brine) and white pepperValue-added forms with smaller, specialised buyers.

Where it is grown or made

  • KeralaIdukki, Wayanad, Kozhikode, Kannur; trade and processing at Kochi.
  • KarnatakaKodagu, Chikkamagaluru, Hassan — now the largest producing state.
  • Tamil NaduNilgiris and the Kolli and Shevaroy hills.

Season

Harvest from about November to February in Kerala and Karnataka; new-crop pepper reaches the market from January.

Export packing

  • Jute or PP bags of 25 or 50 kg, with an inner liner where moisture matters; buyer’s shipping marks on each bag.
  • Steam-sterilised pepper in multi-wall paper bags or lined cartons; retail jars and grinders for brands.
  • Loaded in 20-ft dry containers lined with kraft paper, with desiccants against condensation; fumigation before stuffing where the buyer asks.

Who buys abroad

  • Spice grinders and blenders who pack under their own or supermarket brands
  • Food manufacturers buying sterilised spice as an ingredient (snacks, sauces, ready meals)
  • Indian and South Asian grocery importers and distributors
  • Gourmet and organic retail brands

The quality buyers ask for

Grade
MG 1, TGEB, TGSEB and other AGMARK grade names by berry size
Bulk density and light berries
Set in the contract (grams per litre; light-berry % maximum)
Moisture
Buyer limit, commonly around 11–12%
Microbiology and contaminants
Salmonella absent; ethylene oxide, mineral oil and residues within destination limits

Certificates

  • Spices Board CRESRequiredCertificate of Registration as Exporter of Spices; required by law before exporting a listed spice.
  • FSSAI licenceRequiredCentral licence from FSSAI for the premises where food is packed or stored for export.
  • HACCPOften askedFood-safety plan for the processing unit; most importers ask for it.
  • ISO 22000 / FSSC 22000Often askedFood-safety management certification; FSSC 22000 is GFSI-recognised and asked for by large buyers.
  • BRCGS Food SafetyOften askedGFSI standard asked for by UK and many EU retailers for private-label packing.
  • Organic (NPOP / NOP / EU)Often askedOnly if sold as organic: NPOP certification from an accredited body plus the market’s own organic rules.
  • KosherOften askedAsked for by some US buyers and ingredient buyers supplying kosher brands.

Shipping, storage and shelf life

Container load

A 20-ft container typically carries about 13–16 tonnes of whole pepper in bags.

How it travels

Sea freight from Kochi or Tuticorin; air for samples and small premium lots.

Storage

Dry, cool, pest-free godown on pallets; avoid moisture pick-up after sterilisation.

Shelf life

Whole pepper typically keeps two years or more if dry.

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.
  • Lot or batch number on every pack and bag — required by FSSAI’s Labelling and Display Regulations, 2020, and used by every importing country to trace and recall.
  • USA (21 CFR 101): product name, net quantity in US and metric units, ingredients, allergens, packer or distributor name and address, Nutrition Facts unless exempt, and "Product of India".
  • EU retail packs (Regulation 1169/2011): food name, ingredients with allergens highlighted, net quantity, best-before date, storage conditions, EU importer’s name and address, and origin where required — in the language of the country of sale.
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 forms on indianspices.com → Quality). NABL-accredited private labs are also used; check the Board’s list of mandatory tests 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, and it also serves as your RCMC.indianspices.org.in ↗
  • FSSAIFood business licence. FSSAI puts food exporters under the Central licence; apply on FoSCoS for the premises you pack from.foscos.fssai.gov.in ↗

Quality and checks

  • Ethylene oxide must not be used. The EU limit is 0.1 mg/kg on most spices and 0.02 mg/kg on curry powder, masala mixes and chilli (Spices Board SPS list); steam-sterilise instead.
  • Salmonella must be absent in 25 g for the EU and Australia; buyers also check moisture, extraneous matter and mould.
  • Pesticide residues must meet the destination country’s MRLs; check them in APEDA’s International Pesticide MRL Database before you buy the crop.
  • Buyers test light berries, bulk density, moisture and piperine; the EU and USA watch for mineral oil coating and adulteration with papaya seeds.
  • Test each lot at an NABL-accredited or board laboratory before shipment and keep the report with the lot number.
How to start small

Get a CRES, buy garbled pepper from a known Kerala or Karnataka lot, steam-sterilise it and send a few tonnes to an ethnic or private-label packer in the USA or UK with the lab report. Since 15 September 2026, a consignment worth up to ₹3 lakh FOB does not need an RCMC (DGFT Notification 36/2026-27); registrations required by a law still apply.

Where new exporters go wrong

  • Selling imported pepper as Indian origin — the certificate of origin and GI rules make this a serious offence.
  • Salmonella in unsterilised pepper is a frequent cause of US FDA refusals.

Documents this product needs

Schemes that apply

Sources (5)
  1. Department of Commerce — TradeStat, India’s exports by commodity and country (2025-26)
  2. Spices Board — Major item/country-wise export of spices (2021-22 to 2025-26)
  3. Spices Board — SPS requirements for spices (risks reported in export consignments)
  4. Spices Board — List of GI tags registered for spices (as of 15 Sep 2026)
  5. DGFT Notification 36/2026-27 (15 Sep 2026) — no RCMC needed for consignments up to ₹3 lakh FOB

Trade data

Indian black pepper exports in numbers

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

Exports in 2025-26
US$ 136 mn
+12.2% a year on average, 2020-21 to 2025-26
Change from 2024-25
↑ +10.1%
US$ 123 mn → US$ 136 mn
Buyer countries
97
Average export price
US$ 7.19
per kg · 18,859 tonnes shipped · US$ 6.16 the year before
United States of America: US$ 53.1 mnUnited Kingdom: US$ 11.7 mnCanada: US$ 10.9 mnSweden: US$ 8.1 mnGermany: US$ 6 mnUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 5.7 mnNetherlands: US$ 4.7 mnAustralia: US$ 4.4 mnJapan: US$ 4.1 mnPhilippines: US$ 2.6 mnRussia: US$ 1.7 mnFrance: US$ 1.6 mnItaly: US$ 1.4 mnSpain: US$ 1.3 mnVietnam: US$ 1.2 mnMalaysia: US$ 1.2 mnSaudi Arabia: US$ 1.1 mnNepal: US$ 880kSouth Africa: US$ 870kPoland: US$ 800kTaiwan: US$ 690kNew Zealand: US$ 660kUnited States of America: US$ 53.1 mnUnited States of AmericaUnited Kingdom: US$ 11.7 mnUnited KingdomCanada: US$ 10.9 mnSweden: US$ 8.1 mnSwedenGermany: US$ 6 mnUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 5.7 mnUnited Arab EmiratesNetherlands: US$ 4.7 mnAustralia: US$ 4.4 mnAustraliaJapan: US$ 4.1 mnJapanPhilippines: US$ 2.6 mnRussia: US$ 1.7 mnFrance: US$ 1.6 mnItaly: US$ 1.4 mnSpain: US$ 1.3 mnVietnam: US$ 1.2 mnMalaysia: US$ 1.2 mnSaudi Arabia: US$ 1.1 mnNepal: US$ 880kSouth Africa: US$ 870kPoland: US$ 800kTaiwan: US$ 690kNew Zealand: US$ 660kIndia
Where Indian black pepper goes — among our 80 countries, 2025-26
2020-21: US$ 76.2 mn762020-212021-22: US$ 100 mn1002021-222022-23: US$ 89 mn892022-232023-24: US$ 87.1 mn872023-242024-25: US$ 123 mn1232024-252025-26: US$ 136 mn1362025-26
India’s black pepper exports, year by year · US$ million

The price cycle

India’s average export price per kg each year (total value ÷ total quantity). Highest in 2025-26, lowest in 2020-21 — a 83% swing between them. Keep this swing in mind when you quote.

2020-21: US$ 3.92 per kg3.922021-22: US$ 4.70 per kg2022-23: US$ 5.14 per kg2024-25: US$ 6.16 per kg2025-26: US$ 7.19 per kg7.192020-212021-222022-232023-242024-252025-26
Average export price of Indian black pepper · 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$ 76.2 mn2020-212021-22: US$ 100 mn2021-222022-23: US$ 89 mn2022-232023-24: US$ 87.1 mn2023-242024-25: US$ 123 mn2024-252025-26: US$ 136 mn2025-262026-27: US$ 141 mn (US$ 118 mn – US$ 169 mn)1412026-272027-28: US$ 156 mn (US$ 127 mn – US$ 191 mn)1562027-28
India’s black pepper exports and projection · hollow bars = projection, line = likely range
By 2027-28: US$ 156 mn

Likely range US$ 127 mn to US$ 191 mn.

Trend
+10.4% a year
Fit (R²)
0.71
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$ 53.1 mn+4.6%
2United KingdomUS$ 11.7 mn+40.5%
3CanadaUS$ 10.9 mn+19.5%
4SwedenUS$ 8.1 mn+9.6%
5GermanyUS$ 6 mn+44.5%
6United Arab EmiratesUS$ 5.7 mn+24.6%
7NetherlandsUS$ 4.7 mn+16.2%
8AustraliaUS$ 4.4 mn-6.6%
9JapanUS$ 4.1 mn+7.1%
10PhilippinesUS$ 2.6 mn+31.6%
11RussiaUS$ 1.7 mn+57.8%
12UnspecifiedUS$ 1.7 mn-19.3%

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. RussiaUS$ 1.1 mn → US$ 1.7 mn+57.8%
  2. GermanyUS$ 4.2 mn → US$ 6 mn+44.5%
  3. United KingdomUS$ 8.3 mn → US$ 11.7 mn+40.5%
  4. PhilippinesUS$ 2 mn → US$ 2.6 mn+31.6%
  5. United Arab EmiratesUS$ 4.6 mn → US$ 5.7 mn+24.6%
  6. CanadaUS$ 9.1 mn → US$ 10.9 mn+19.5%
  7. NetherlandsUS$ 4 mn → US$ 4.7 mn+16.2%

Low demand

  1. ItalyUS$ 2.2 mn → US$ 1.4 mn-35.5%
  2. UnspecifiedUS$ 2.1 mn → US$ 1.7 mn-19.3%

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, pepper, crushed or ground — crushed or ground pepper0904 12 00US$ 74.9 mn+15.8%11,098 tonnesUS$ 6.75 per kgwas US$ 5.78
Spices, pepper, neither crushed nor ground — black pepper garbled0904 11 30US$ 35.8 mn+2.9%4,030 tonnesUS$ 8.88 per kgwas US$ 7.15
Other pepper nthr crshd nor grnd0904 11 90 · Spices, pepper, neither crushed nor groundUS$ 9.1 mn+8.1%2,077 tonnesUS$ 4.36 per kgwas US$ 4.42
Spices, pepper, neither crushed nor ground — dehydrated green pepper0904 11 50US$ 8.3 mn+32%620 tonnesUS$ 13.43 per kgwas US$ 12.08
Spices, pepper, neither crushed nor ground — black pepper ungarbled0904 11 40US$ 2.5 mn+7.2%491 tonnesUS$ 5.16 per kgwas US$ 4.27
Spices, pepper, neither crushed nor ground — light black pepper0904 11 20US$ 2.2 mn-47.5%355 tonnesUS$ 6.20 per kgwas US$ 5.95
Spices, pepper, neither crushed nor ground — freez dried green pepper0904 11 70US$ 2 mn+77.4%78 tonnesUS$ 26.04 per kgwas US$ 24.39
Spices, pepper, neither crushed nor ground — pepper long0904 11 10US$ 560k-44.6%46 tonnesUS$ 12.08 per kgwas US$ 8.30
Spices, pepper, neither crushed nor ground — pepper pinheads0904 11 60US$ 100k-33.3%63 tonnesUS$ 1.59 per kgwas US$ 1.96
Spices, pepper, neither crushed nor ground — fr0zen pepper0904 11 80US$ 0-100%0.1 tonnes—

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$ 1.84 bn
2023
India among exporters
#5
of 136 countries
India’s share of world exports
4%
US$ 79.9 mn
Left for others to win
US$ 1.91 bn
exported by other countries

Top exporters — your competitors

  1. 1Viet NamUS$ 855 mn 43%
  2. 2BrazilUS$ 252 mn 12.7%
  3. 3IndonesiaUS$ 115 mn 5.8%
  4. 4Sri LankaUS$ 90.4 mn 4.5%
  5. 5IndiaUS$ 79.9 mn 4%
  6. 6GermanyUS$ 79.8 mn 4%
  7. 7United Arab EmiratesUS$ 74.1 mn 3.7%
  8. 8NetherlandsUS$ 58.3 mn 2.9%
  9. 9USAUS$ 47.6 mn 2.4%
  10. 10FranceUS$ 37.8 mn 1.9%

Biggest buyers in the world

  1. 1USAUS$ 326 mn 17.7%
  2. 2IndiaUS$ 163 mn 8.9%
  3. 3GermanyUS$ 103 mn 5.6%
  4. 4Viet NamUS$ 89.7 mn 4.9%
  5. 5United Arab EmiratesUS$ 82.5 mn 4.5%
  6. 6FranceUS$ 61.9 mn 3.4%
  7. 7JapanUS$ 61.9 mn 3.4%
  8. 8United KingdomUS$ 59 mn 3.2%
  9. 9CanadaUS$ 52.3 mn 2.8%
  10. 10NetherlandsUS$ 49.5 mn 2.7%

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$ 540 mnIndia 8.2% · gap US$ 496 mn
GermanyUS$ 166 mnIndia 4.2% · gap US$ 159 mn
VietnamUS$ 158 mnIndia 0.1% · gap US$ 158 mn
FranceUS$ 84.9 mnIndia 3% · gap US$ 82.4 mn
United Arab EmiratesUS$ 82.5 mnIndia 4.2% · gap US$ 79.1 mn
JapanUS$ 70.9 mnIndia 2.9% · gap US$ 68.8 mn
NetherlandsUS$ 64.2 mnIndia 5.5% · gap US$ 60.7 mn
ChinaUS$ 56 mnIndia 1.1% · gap US$ 55.3 mn
CanadaUS$ 62.2 mnIndia 13.3% · gap US$ 54 mn
United KingdomUS$ 59 mnIndia 12.7% · gap US$ 51.5 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 black pepper

Vietnam is the world’s largest pepper exporter, followed by Brazil and Indonesia; India sells smaller volumes at premium prices for bold Malabar and Tellicherry grades. India also imports pepper for re-export and for its own oleoresin industry. The USA, UK, Canada and northern Europe are the main buyers. Openings: steam-sterilised, residue-tested pepper for retail brands, organic pepper and value-added green pepper.

  1. 01Get your IEC and CRES

    Apply for the IEC on the DGFT portal, then the CRES on the Spices Board portal; add an FSSAI licence if you pack or process.

  2. 02Buy graded pepper

    Buy from known Kerala or Karnataka lots or the Kochi terminal market; keep traceability to farm or collection centre.

  3. 03Garble and grade

    Clean and grade to MG or Tellicherry sizes; remove light berries and stems.

  4. 04Clean, sterilise and test

    Machine-clean and sort the lot, steam-sterilise it if the buyer or market needs it, and test residues, microbiology and contaminants at an NABL or Spices Board lab.

  5. 05Agree specification, price and payment

    Put grade, tests, packing, Incoterm (FOB or CIF), shipment period and payment (advance, LC or documents against payment) in a written contract. Cover the buyer with ECGC if you give credit.

  6. 06File the shipping bill and ship

    Your customs broker files the shipping bill on ICEGATE with the invoice and packing list. After customs clearance the line issues the bill of lading; get the certificate of origin from the right agency if the buyer needs a trade-agreement rate.

  7. 07Get paid and close the file

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

Meet buyers

Trade fairs

Questions

Questions about exporting black pepper

What is the difference between Malabar and Tellicherry pepper?
Tellicherry grades are the larger berries (extra bold and special extra bold); Malabar garbled is the standard grade. Malabar Pepper is also a GI.
Can I re-export imported pepper?
Yes, but it must be declared as foreign origin; selling it as Indian or Malabar pepper breaks origin and GI rules.
Why are US shipments refused?
Most often for Salmonella or filth; steam-sterilise and keep lot-wise lab reports.
Do I need an RCMC for a small trial shipment?
Not for a consignment up to ₹3 lakh FOB since 15 Sep 2026 (DGFT Notification 36/2026-27). Registrations that a law requires, such as the Spices Board CRES or Tobacco Board registration, still apply.
What RoDTEP does pepper get?
0.9% of FOB on most whole and ground lines; 1% on dehydrated green pepper (Appendix 4R).
Sources (6)
  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 — List of GI tags registered for spices (as of 15 Sep 2026)
  4. Spices Board — Quality evaluation laboratories
  5. Department of Commerce — TradeStat, India’s exports by commodity and country (2025-26)
  6. DGFT — Appendix 4R, RoDTEP schedule for DTA exports w.e.f. 10 Oct 2024 (Notification No. 32, 30 Sep 2024)

Who buys Indian black pepper

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