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Processed food

Export dehydrated onion, garlic and vegetables

White onion and garlic flakes, kibbled and powder from Gujarat for food makers worldwide. Microbiology and moisture decide orders.

Free to exportHS 0712
HS code
0712
Dried vegetables, whole, cut, sliced, broken or in powder: onion (0712 20), garlic flakes and powder (0712 90 20–40), potato and others.
Export policy
Free to export
Free. The onion export curbs of 2023–25 (ban, minimum export price and export duty) were applied to fresh onion under 0703, not to dehydrated onion under 0712 as far as we could check — confirm the current line on DGFT before contracting.
Registrations
5
IEC, GST and those below
India’s exports, 2025-26
US$ 310 mn
to 118 countries

What is exported

India is a leading supplier of dehydrated white onion and garlic — flakes, kibbled, chopped, minced, granules and powder — used by spice blenders, snack and soup makers. Most units are around Mahuva and Gondal in Gujarat. APEDA reports processed-vegetable exports went mainly to the USA, the UK, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia and Indonesia in 2025-26.

Varieties, grades and forms

  • White onion flakes, kibbled, chopped, minced, granules, powderGraded by particle size; the largest line.
  • Red and pink onion productsSmaller volumes for specific buyers.
  • Garlic flakes, granules and powder (0712 90 20–40)Often sold with onion to the same blenders.
  • Other dried vegetablesPotato, carrot, cabbage, ginger and moringa leaf powder.

Where it is grown or made

  • GujaratMahuva (Bhavnagar) and Gondal (Rajkot) — the main dehydration cluster; Jamnagar.
  • Maharashtra and Madhya PradeshJalgaon and Nashik; Indore and Mandsaur for garlic.

Season

White onion for dehydration is harvested mainly from January to April; units store and process through the year.

Export packing

  • Poly-lined corrugated cartons or multi-wall bags, usually 20–25 kg, with desiccant where needed (typical trade practice).
  • Palletised and shrink-wrapped in dry containers.

Who buys abroad

  • Spice blenders and seasoning makers
  • Snack, soup and ready-meal manufacturers
  • Food-ingredient traders in Europe and the USA

The quality buyers ask for

Moisture
Typically 4–6% maximum by buyer specification
Particle size
Flakes, kibbled, chopped, minced, granules and powder by mesh size
Microbiology
Meets the destination’s microbiological criteria and the buyer’s specification
Foreign matter
Metal-detected and sieved; free of stones, hair and insects

Certificates

  • FSSAI licenceRequiredCentral licence from FSSAI for the premises where the food is made, packed or stored for export. Apply on FoSCoS.
  • APEDA RCMCRequiredRegistration with APEDA, issued as an RCMC on the DGFT portal. Since 15 Sep 2026, a consignment up to ₹3 lakh FOB can go without it.
  • ISO 22000 / FSSC 22000Often askedFood-safety management certification; FSSC 22000 is GFSI-recognised, which large retailers and brands look for.
  • BRCGS Food SafetyOften askedGFSI-recognised standard asked for by UK and many EU retailers for private label.
  • HalalOften askedAsked for by many buyers in the Gulf, Malaysia and Indonesia. Use a body the destination recognises.
  • KosherOften askedAsked for by some US buyers and ingredient buyers supplying kosher brands.
  • US FDA food-facility registrationOften askedEvery facility making food for the USA must register with the FDA, and each shipment needs prior notice. Canned and acidified foods also need FCE/SID process filing.

Shipping, storage and shelf life

Container load

A 20-ft container typically holds about 12–16 tonnes of flakes in 20–25 kg cartons, more for powder (your forwarder confirms).

How it travels

Sea freight from Pipavav, Mundra or Nhava Sheva.

Storage

Cool and dry, in sealed liners; humidity causes caking.

Shelf life

Typically 12–24 months in sealed packaging.

What goes on the pack and carton

  • Bulk cartons and drums: product and grade, lot number, production and best-before dates, net and gross weight, “Product of India”, exporter name and the buyer’s shipping marks.
  • Lot or batch number on every pack and carton, matching the invoice and packing list, so the goods can be traced and recalled.
Where to get it tested

Use an FSSAI-notified laboratory (fssai.gov.in → notified labs) or an NABL-accredited lab with your product and test in scope (nabl-india.org). APEDA-recognised labs are listed on apeda.gov.in → Quality → Recognised Organisations. Ask the buyer which lab reports they accept before you send samples.

Benefits of exporting this product

Where to register

  • FSSAIFood business licence. Food exporters come under the Central licence; apply on FoSCoS and keep it valid for the premises you make or pack from.foscos.fssai.gov.in ↗
  • APEDARegistration-cum-Membership Certificate (RCMC) for APEDA-scheduled products. Apply on the DGFT portal after you have your IEC.dgft.gov.in ↗
  • Buyer-country food registrationMany importing countries register the foreign plant or the product — for example US FDA food-facility registration, GACC registration for China, or product registration in some Gulf states. Check APEDA’s importing-country regulations page.apeda.gov.in ↗

Quality and checks

  • Moisture, total plate count, yeast and mould, coliforms, E. coli and Salmonella to the buyer’s specification.
  • No ethylene oxide treatment for the EU; steam sterilisation is used where low microbial counts are needed.
  • Foreign matter checks (metal detection, sieving) and pesticide residues.
How to start small

Buy from an FSSAI-licensed dehydration unit with HACCP or FSSC 22000, send samples with full lab reports to spice blenders and food-ingredient traders, and begin with a 20-ft load on advance or LC. Since 15 September 2026, a consignment worth up to ₹3 lakh FOB does not need an RCMC (DGFT Notification 36/2026-27); licences that a law requires, such as FSSAI, still apply.

Where new exporters go wrong

  • Micro counts above the buyer’s limit — the lot is rejected or must be re-sterilised at your cost.
  • Moisture pick-up in humid transit causes caking; use lined bags and desiccants.

Documents this product needs

Schemes that apply

Sources (6)
  1. APEDA — Processed Vegetables (exports and destinations, 2025-26)
  2. DGFT — Appendix 4R, RoDTEP schedule for DTA exports w.e.f. 10 Oct 2024 (Notification No. 32, 30 Sep 2024)
  3. APEDA — Importing countries’ regulations
  4. FSSAI — FoSCoS food licensing portal
  5. APEDA — DGFT notifications for APEDA products
  6. DGFT Notification 36/2026-27 (15 Sep 2026) — no RCMC needed for consignments up to ₹3 lakh FOB

Trade data

Indian dehydrated onion, garlic and vegetables exports in numbers

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

Exports in 2025-26
US$ 310 mn
+10% a year on average, 2020-21 to 2025-26
Change from 2024-25
↑ +3.5%
US$ 300 mn → US$ 310 mn
Buyer countries
118
Average export price
US$ 1.61
per kg · 1,92,447 tonnes shipped · US$ 1.87 the year before
Indonesia: US$ 34.2 mnGermany: US$ 32.6 mnUnited States of America: US$ 30.9 mnBrazil: US$ 24.7 mnRussia: US$ 14.5 mnBelgium: US$ 14.2 mnUnited Kingdom: US$ 13.6 mnNetherlands: US$ 8.9 mnCanada: US$ 8.4 mnSpain: US$ 8.4 mnPoland: US$ 8.1 mnSouth Africa: US$ 7.4 mnNepal: US$ 7.2 mnTürkiye: US$ 6.8 mnNigeria: US$ 5.9 mnMexico: US$ 5.1 mnVietnam: US$ 4.5 mnThailand: US$ 4 mnMalaysia: US$ 4 mnCôte d’Ivoire: US$ 3.8 mnUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 3.4 mnAustralia: US$ 3 mnBangladesh: US$ 2.7 mnPhilippines: US$ 2.7 mnIndonesia: US$ 34.2 mnIndonesiaGermany: US$ 32.6 mnGermanyUnited States of America: US$ 30.9 mnUnited States of AmericaBrazil: US$ 24.7 mnBrazilRussia: US$ 14.5 mnBelgium: US$ 14.2 mnUnited Kingdom: US$ 13.6 mnNetherlands: US$ 8.9 mnCanada: US$ 8.4 mnSpain: US$ 8.4 mnSpainPoland: US$ 8.1 mnSouth Africa: US$ 7.4 mnSouth AfricaNepal: US$ 7.2 mnTürkiye: US$ 6.8 mnNigeria: US$ 5.9 mnMexico: US$ 5.1 mnVietnam: US$ 4.5 mnThailand: US$ 4 mnMalaysia: US$ 4 mnCôte d’Ivoire: US$ 3.8 mnUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 3.4 mnAustralia: US$ 3 mnBangladesh: US$ 2.7 mnPhilippines: US$ 2.7 mnIndia
Where Indian dehydrated onion, garlic and vegetables goes — among our 80 countries, 2025-26
2020-21: US$ 192 mn1922020-212021-22: US$ 204 mn2042021-222022-23: US$ 211 mn2112022-232023-24: US$ 226 mn2262023-242024-25: US$ 300 mn3002024-252025-26: US$ 310 mn3102025-26
India’s dehydrated onion, garlic and vegetables exports, year by year · US$ million

The price cycle

India’s average export price per kg each year (total value ÷ total quantity). Highest in 2021-22, lowest in 2020-21 — a 60% swing between them. Keep this swing in mind when you quote.

2020-21: US$ 1.19 per kg1.192021-22: US$ 1.90 per kg1.902022-23: US$ 1.73 per kg2024-25: US$ 1.87 per kg2025-26: US$ 1.61 per kg1.612020-212021-222022-232023-242024-252025-26
Average export price of Indian dehydrated onion, garlic and vegetables · 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$ 192 mn2020-212021-22: US$ 204 mn2021-222022-23: US$ 211 mn2022-232023-24: US$ 226 mn2023-242024-25: US$ 300 mn2024-252025-26: US$ 310 mn2025-262026-27: US$ 339 mn (US$ 306 mn – US$ 376 mn)3392026-272027-28: US$ 376 mn (US$ 335 mn – US$ 422 mn)3762027-28
India’s dehydrated onion, garlic and vegetables exports and projection · hollow bars = projection, line = likely range
By 2027-28: US$ 376 mn

Likely range US$ 335 mn to US$ 422 mn.

Trend
+10.9% a year
Fit (R²)
0.89
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
1IndonesiaUS$ 34.2 mn+4.7%
2GermanyUS$ 32.6 mn+8.7%
3United States of AmericaUS$ 30.9 mn-8.8%
4BrazilUS$ 24.7 mn-6.3%
5RussiaUS$ 14.5 mn+26.9%
6BelgiumUS$ 14.2 mn+6.9%
7United KingdomUS$ 13.6 mn+11.8%
8NetherlandsUS$ 8.9 mn+11.5%
9CanadaUS$ 8.4 mn+24.5%
10SpainUS$ 8.4 mn+26.8%
11PolandUS$ 8.1 mn+14%
12South AfricaUS$ 7.4 mn+5.8%

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. ThailandUS$ 1.6 mn → US$ 4 mn+152.5%
  2. RussiaUS$ 11.4 mn → US$ 14.5 mn+26.9%
  3. SpainUS$ 6.6 mn → US$ 8.4 mn+26.8%
  4. CanadaUS$ 6.7 mn → US$ 8.4 mn+24.5%
  5. Côte d’IvoireUS$ 3.2 mn → US$ 3.8 mn+20.1%
  6. NepalUS$ 6.1 mn → US$ 7.2 mn+17.8%
  7. VietnamUS$ 3.9 mn → US$ 4.5 mn+16.9%
  8. TürkiyeUS$ 5.9 mn → US$ 6.8 mn+15.7%

Low demand

  1. MalaysiaUS$ 7.9 mn → US$ 4 mn-49.6%
  2. MexicoUS$ 6.5 mn → US$ 5.1 mn-22.8%
  3. United Arab EmiratesUS$ 4.3 mn → US$ 3.4 mn-20.4%
  4. NigeriaUS$ 6.7 mn → US$ 5.9 mn-11.5%

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
Vegetables, onions, whole, cut, sliced, broken or in powder but not further prepared, dried — onions dried0712 20 00US$ 232 mn+2.5%1,31,328 tonnesUS$ 1.77 per kgwas US$ 2.06
Vegetables, mixtures of vegetables in heading no. 0712, whole, cut, sliced, broken or in powder but not… — dehydrated garlic flakes0712 90 30US$ 30.5 mn-4.1%19,605 tonnesUS$ 1.56 per kgwas US$ 1.79
Vegetables, mixtures of vegetables in heading no. 0712, whole, cut, sliced, broken or in powder but not… — dehydrated garlic powder0712 90 20US$ 21.4 mn+25.6%15,751 tonnesUS$ 1.36 per kgwas US$ 1.31
Vegetables, mixtures of vegetables in heading no. 0712, whole, cut, sliced, broken or in powder but not… — others,dried0712 90 90US$ 15.1 mn+8%3,016 tonnesUS$ 5.01 per kgwas US$ 4.06
Vegetables, mixtures of vegetables in heading no. 0712, whole, cut, sliced, broken or in powder but not… — potatoes0712 90 60US$ 3.9 mn+16.7%21,281 tonnesUS$ 0.18 per kgwas US$ 0.22
Vegetables, mixtures of vegetables in heading no. 0712, whole, cut, sliced, broken or in powder but not… — dried garlic0712 90 40US$ 2.7 mn+16.6%935 tonnesUS$ 2.86 per kgwas US$ 2.87
Vegetables, mixtures of vegetables in heading no. 0712, whole, cut, sliced, broken or in powder but not… — marjoram, oregano0712 90 50US$ 1.7 mn+45%204 tonnesUS$ 8.51 per kgwas US$ 9.54
Mushrooms of genus agarigvs,dried,whle,ct,slced,brkn0712 31 00 · Vegetables, mushrooms of the genus Agaricus, whole, cut, sliced, broken or in powder but not further…US$ 1.4 mn-37.5%204 tonnesUS$ 6.63 per kgwas US$ 11.87
Others (e.g.truffles etc..)dried.0712 39 00 · Vegetables, mushrooms and truffles in item 0712.3, whole, cut, sliced, broken or in powder but not further…US$ 1.1 mn+28.2%82 tonnesUS$ 13.25 per kgwas US$ 17.54
Vegetables, mixtures of vegetables in heading no. 0712, whole, cut, sliced, broken or in powder but not… — asparagus dried0712 90 10US$ 40k-86.7%38 tonnesUS$ 1.04 per kgwas US$ 1.44
Vegetables, shiitake mushrooms, whole, cut, sliced, broken or in powder but not further prepared, dried — shiitake (lentinusedodes)0712 34 00US$ 10k—1.0 tonnesUS$ 10.00 per kg

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$ 3.1 bn
2023
India among exporters
#2
of 138 countries
India’s share of world exports
5.9%
US$ 211 mn
Left for others to win
US$ 3.4 bn
exported by other countries

Top exporters — your competitors

  1. 1ChinaUS$ 1.81 bn 50.1%
  2. 2IndiaUS$ 211 mn 5.9%
  3. 3USAUS$ 202 mn 5.6%
  4. 4GermanyUS$ 201 mn 5.6%
  5. 5PolandUS$ 111 mn 3.1%
  6. 6NetherlandsUS$ 111 mn 3.1%
  7. 7FranceUS$ 102 mn 2.8%
  8. 8TürkiyeUS$ 82.4 mn 2.3%
  9. 9EgyptUS$ 71.2 mn 2%
  10. 10SpainUS$ 69.1 mn 1.9%

Biggest buyers in the world

  1. 1JapanUS$ 353 mn 11.4%
  2. 2USAUS$ 276 mn 8.9%
  3. 3GermanyUS$ 256 mn 8.3%
  4. 4IsraelUS$ 164 mn 5.3%
  5. 5FranceUS$ 127 mn 4.1%
  6. 6NetherlandsUS$ 121 mn 3.9%
  7. 7CanadaUS$ 117 mn 3.8%
  8. 8ThailandUS$ 112 mn 3.6%
  9. 9United KingdomUS$ 103 mn 3.3%
  10. 10Rep. of KoreaUS$ 102 mn 3.3%

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.

JapanUS$ 354 mnIndia 0.5% · gap US$ 352 mn
United States of AmericaUS$ 304 mnIndia 4.6% · gap US$ 290 mn
GermanyUS$ 290 mnIndia 10.7% · gap US$ 259 mn
CanadaUS$ 132 mnIndia 6.1% · gap US$ 124 mn
FranceUS$ 128 mnIndia 3.5% · gap US$ 123 mn
South KoreaUS$ 109 mnIndia 0.1% · gap US$ 109 mn
NetherlandsUS$ 115 mnIndia 7.4% · gap US$ 106 mn
United KingdomUS$ 103 mnIndia 13.1% · gap US$ 89.8 mn
ItalyUS$ 86.6 mnIndia 2.3% · gap US$ 84.6 mn
VietnamUS$ 86.5 mnIndia 3.2% · gap US$ 83.7 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 dehydrated onion, garlic and vegetables

India and China are the two main suppliers of dehydrated onion and garlic to the world, with Egypt and the USA also in the trade. India’s strength is white onion from Gujarat and a large dehydration cluster around Mahuva. Demand comes from spice blenders, snack, soup and ready-meal makers. Buyers increasingly ask for steam-sterilised, low-micro product with full food-safety certification — that is where the better prices are.

  1. 01Pick a reliable unit

    Choose an FSSAI-licensed dehydration plant with FSSC 22000 or BRCGS and steam sterilisation.

  2. 02Agree the specification

    Fix grade, mesh, moisture and micro limits in the contract.

  3. 03Send pre-shipment samples

    Send samples with lab reports for buyer approval.

  4. 04Test the lot

    Test the production lot at an NABL lab; keep counter samples.

  5. 05Register abroad

    Make sure the plant is FDA-registered for the USA and listed where needed.

  6. 06Book, stuff and file

    Book the container, stuff it with a pre-shipment check, file the shipping bill on ICEGATE and get the certificate of origin and any health certificate.

  7. 07Get paid and close the file

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

Meet buyers

Trade fairs

Questions

Questions about exporting dehydrated onion, garlic and vegetables

Is dehydrated onion affected by onion export bans?
The 2023–25 curbs were on fresh onion (0703) as far as we could check, not dehydrated onion (0712). Policy can change quickly — check DGFT before each contract.
Why was my lot rejected for micro?
Open-air drying and poor hygiene raise counts. Use plants with steam sterilisation and test every lot.
Can I use ethylene oxide to sterilise?
Not for the EU and many other markets, where it is banned; use steam sterilisation.
What RoDTEP do I get?
Dried onion and garlic lines: 3.9% of FOB, capped at ₹5.90 per kg, continued to 31 Dec 2026.
Do I need an RCMC for my first small shipment?
Since 15 Sep 2026, a consignment up to ₹3 lakh FOB can go without an RCMC (DGFT Notification 36/2026-27). FSSAI and other legal licences still apply, and you need an RCMC to claim most export benefits.
Sources (5)
  1. APEDA — Processed Vegetables (exports and destinations, 2025-26)
  2. DGFT — Appendix 4R, RoDTEP schedule for DTA exports w.e.f. 10 Oct 2024 (Notification No. 32, 30 Sep 2024)
  3. FSSAI — Notified food testing laboratories
  4. NABL — laboratory search
  5. APEDA — Importing countries’ regulations

Who buys Indian dehydrated onion, garlic and vegetables

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