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Farm produce

Export fennel and anise seed

Fennel from Gujarat and Rajasthan for Bangladesh, the USA, China and Malaysia. CRES needed; Unjha Fennel has a GI tag.

Free to exportHS 0909.61
HS code
0909.61
Seeds of anise, badian (star anise), caraway and fennel, whole (0909 61) and crushed or ground (0909 62). Juniper berries are in the same group.
Export policy
Free to export
Export is Free under ITC(HS); fennel and aniseed are Spices Board spices, so a CRES is compulsory.
Registrations
4
IEC, GST and those below
India’s exports, 2025-26
US$ 50.3 mn
to 74 countries

What is exported

Exports under 0909 61–62 were about US$ 50 million in 2025-26 (TradeStat), almost all of it fennel. Bangladesh, the USA, China, Malaysia, Canada, the UK and the UAE were the main buyers. Fine "Lucknowi"-type green fennel is sold as a mouth freshener, bolder grades go to spice grinders.

Varieties, grades and forms

  • Lucknowi-type fine green fennelSmall, sweet, green seed sold as mouth freshener.
  • Bold (Gujarat) fennelLarger seed in purity grades (for example 98%, 99%, Singapore quality); sortexed for premium buyers.
  • Aniseed and star aniseSmall volumes; star anise is mostly imported and re-exported.

Where it is grown or made

  • GujaratMehsana, Banaskantha, Patan; Unjha APMC is the main market and Unjha Fennel is a GI.
  • RajasthanNagaur, Jodhpur, Sirohi, Tonk.

Season

Rabi crop harvested February–April; fine green fennel is picked early.

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.
  • Retail pouches and jars for mouth-freshener brands.

Who buys abroad

  • Indian and South Asian grocery importers and distributors
  • Spice grinders and blenders who pack under their own or supermarket brands
  • Bakery and liquor flavour makers (aniseed)

The quality buyers ask for

Purity
Usually 98%, 99% or 99.5% by contract
Colour
Natural green; no added colour
Contaminants
Salmonella, ethylene oxide 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.
  • Organic (NPOP / NOP / EU)Often askedOnly if sold as organic: NPOP certification from an accredited body plus the market’s own organic rules.

Shipping, storage and shelf life

Container load

A 20-ft container typically carries about 12–14 tonnes of fennel in bags.

How it travels

Sea freight from Mundra or Kandla; road to Bangladesh.

Storage

Cool, dark, dry storage; green colour fades in light and heat.

Shelf life

Typically about a year for whole seed.

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".
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.
  • Purity (usually 98–99.5% by contract), colour, and freedom from dust and stones; sortexed seed fetches better prices.
  • Test each lot at an NABL-accredited or board laboratory before shipment and keep the report with the lot number.
How to start small

Buy cleaned fennel at Unjha APMC, sortex it to the buyer’s purity, test it and send a part container to an Indian grocery importer in the USA, UK or Canada. 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

  • Artificially coloured green fennel is rejected and can bring an import alert.
  • Mixing seasons or grades in one lot; buyers sample every bag.

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 — List of GI tags registered for spices (as of 15 Sep 2026)
  4. Spices Board — SPS requirements for spices (risks reported in export consignments)
  5. DGFT Notification 36/2026-27 (15 Sep 2026) — no RCMC needed for consignments up to ₹3 lakh FOB

Trade data

Indian fennel and anise seed exports in numbers

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

Exports in 2025-26
US$ 50.3 mn
+3.1% a year on average, 2020-21 to 2025-26
Change from 2024-25
↓ -46.2%
US$ 93.5 mn → US$ 50.3 mn
Buyer countries
74
Average export price
US$ 1.51
per kg · 33,423 tonnes shipped · US$ 1.21 the year before
Bangladesh: US$ 8.2 mnUnited States of America: US$ 7.2 mnChina: US$ 6 mnMalaysia: US$ 3.9 mnCanada: US$ 3.8 mnUnited Kingdom: US$ 2.3 mnUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 2.3 mnSri Lanka: US$ 1.9 mnSaudi Arabia: US$ 1.7 mnAustralia: US$ 1.4 mnNepal: US$ 1.1 mnIndonesia: US$ 1 mnSouth Africa: US$ 970kMorocco: US$ 740kKuwait: US$ 480kThailand: US$ 470kNetherlands: US$ 460kSingapore: US$ 460kVietnam: US$ 390kNew Zealand: US$ 350kItaly: US$ 340kNigeria: US$ 330kGermany: US$ 310kQatar: US$ 290kJapan: US$ 240kBangladesh: US$ 8.2 mnBangladeshUnited States of America: US$ 7.2 mnUnited States of AmericaChina: US$ 6 mnChinaMalaysia: US$ 3.9 mnMalaysiaCanada: US$ 3.8 mnUnited Kingdom: US$ 2.3 mnUnited KingdomUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 2.3 mnUnited Arab EmiratesSri Lanka: US$ 1.9 mnSaudi Arabia: US$ 1.7 mnAustralia: US$ 1.4 mnNepal: US$ 1.1 mnIndonesia: US$ 1 mnSouth Africa: US$ 970kMorocco: US$ 740kKuwait: US$ 480kThailand: US$ 470kNetherlands: US$ 460kSingapore: US$ 460kVietnam: US$ 390kNew Zealand: US$ 350kItaly: US$ 340kNigeria: US$ 330kGermany: US$ 310kQatar: US$ 290kJapan: US$ 240kIndia
Where Indian fennel and anise seed goes — among our 80 countries, 2025-26
2020-21: US$ 43.2 mn432020-212021-22: US$ 59.7 mn602021-222022-23: US$ 42.2 mn422022-232023-24: US$ 84.2 mn842023-242024-25: US$ 93.5 mn942024-252025-26: US$ 50.3 mn502025-26
India’s fennel and anise seed exports, year by year · US$ million

The price cycle

India’s average export price per kg each year (total value ÷ total quantity). Highest in 2022-23, lowest in 2024-25 — a 60% swing between them. Keep this swing in mind when you quote.

2020-21: US$ 1.23 per kg2021-22: US$ 1.45 per kg2022-23: US$ 1.94 per kg1.942024-25: US$ 1.21 per kg1.212025-26: US$ 1.51 per kg1.512020-212021-222022-232023-242024-252025-26
Average export price of Indian fennel and anise seed · 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$ 43.2 mn2020-212021-22: US$ 59.7 mn2021-222022-23: US$ 42.2 mn2022-232023-24: US$ 84.2 mn2023-242024-25: US$ 93.5 mn2024-252025-26: US$ 50.3 mn2025-262026-27: US$ 78.3 mn (US$ 49.3 mn – US$ 125 mn)782026-272027-28: US$ 84.9 mn (US$ 50.6 mn – US$ 142 mn)852027-28
India’s fennel and anise seed exports and projection · hollow bars = projection, line = likely range
By 2027-28: US$ 84.9 mn

Likely range US$ 50.6 mn to US$ 142 mn.

Trend
+8.3% a year
Fit (R²)
0.2 — weak, read with care
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
1BangladeshUS$ 8.2 mn+17.6%
2United States of AmericaUS$ 7.2 mn-11.1%
3ChinaUS$ 6 mn-85.2%
4MalaysiaUS$ 3.9 mn-16.5%
5CanadaUS$ 3.8 mn+2.7%
6United KingdomUS$ 2.3 mn-15%
7United Arab EmiratesUS$ 2.3 mn-48.3%
8Sri LankaUS$ 1.9 mn+1.6%
9Saudi ArabiaUS$ 1.7 mn-36.3%
10AustraliaUS$ 1.4 mn+0.7%
11NepalUS$ 1.1 mn-22.4%
12IndonesiaUS$ 1 mn-3.8%

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. BangladeshUS$ 6.9 mn → US$ 8.2 mn+17.6%

Low demand

  1. ChinaUS$ 40.4 mn → US$ 6 mn-85.2%
  2. MoroccoUS$ 2.6 mn → US$ 740k-72%
  3. United Arab EmiratesUS$ 4.4 mn → US$ 2.3 mn-48.3%
  4. Saudi ArabiaUS$ 2.6 mn → US$ 1.7 mn-36.3%
  5. NepalUS$ 1.4 mn → US$ 1.1 mn-22.4%
  6. MalaysiaUS$ 4.7 mn → US$ 3.9 mn-16.5%
  7. United KingdomUS$ 2.7 mn → US$ 2.3 mn-15%
  8. United States of AmericaUS$ 8.1 mn → US$ 7.2 mn-11.1%

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
Other seeds of caraway or fennel0909 61 39 · Spices, seeds of anise, badian, caraway or fennel, juniper berries, neither crushed nor groundUS$ 42.9 mn-49.6%31,167 tonnesUS$ 1.38 per kgwas US$ 1.14
Spices, seeds of anise, badian, caraway or fennel, juniper berries, crushed or ground — caraway or fennel0909 62 30US$ 3 mn+4.2%1,309 tonnesUS$ 2.26 per kgwas US$ 2.45
Spices, seeds of anise, badian, caraway or fennel, juniper berries, neither crushed nor ground — of seed quality0909 61 31US$ 2 mn-32.6%563 tonnesUS$ 3.48 per kgwas US$ 3.72
Spices, seeds of anise, badian, caraway or fennel, juniper berries, neither crushed nor ground — other seeds of anise0909 61 19US$ 740k+17.5%115 tonnesUS$ 6.42 per kgwas US$ 7.28
Spices, seeds of anise, badian, caraway or fennel, juniper berries, neither crushed nor ground — other seeds of badian0909 61 29US$ 720k+26.3%97 tonnesUS$ 7.41 per kgwas US$ 6.71
Spices, seeds of anise, badian, caraway or fennel, juniper berries, crushed or ground — anise0909 62 10US$ 570k+16.3%80 tonnesUS$ 7.10 per kgwas US$ 7.74
Spices, seeds of anise, badian, caraway or fennel, juniper berries, crushed or ground — badian0909 62 20US$ 180k-28%23 tonnesUS$ 7.78 per kgwas US$ 7.45
Other seeds of juniper berry0909 61 49 · Spices, seeds of anise, badian, caraway or fennel, juniper berries, neither crushed nor groundUS$ 130k+116.7%35 tonnesUS$ 3.67 per kgwas US$ 3.30
Spices, seeds of anise, badian, caraway or fennel, juniper berries, neither crushed nor ground — of seed quality0909 61 11US$ 80k-42.9%18 tonnesUS$ 4.49 per kgwas US$ 6.41
Spices, seeds of anise, badian, caraway or fennel, juniper berries, neither crushed nor ground — of seed quality0909 61 21US$ 70k+600%7.9 tonnesUS$ 8.85 per kgwas US$ 4.90
Spices, seeds of anise, badian, caraway or fennel, juniper berries, neither crushed nor ground — of seed quality0909 61 41US$ 10k-97.6%2.4 tonnesUS$ 4.10 per kgwas US$ 1.36
Spices, seeds of anise, badian, caraway or fennel, juniper berries, crushed or ground — juniper berries0909 62 40US$ 10k0%5.6 tonnesUS$ 1.79 per kgwas US$ 1.71

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$ 425 mn
2023
India among exporters
#2
of 95 countries
India’s share of world exports
17.7%
US$ 78.5 mn
Left for others to win
US$ 365 mn
exported by other countries

Top exporters — your competitors

  1. 1ChinaUS$ 81.8 mn 18.4%
  2. 2IndiaUS$ 78.5 mn 17.7%
  3. 3Viet NamUS$ 76.9 mn 17.3%
  4. 4EgyptUS$ 64.3 mn 14.5%
  5. 5GermanyUS$ 28.6 mn 6.5%
  6. 6TürkiyeUS$ 12.4 mn 2.8%
  7. 7United Arab EmiratesUS$ 10.6 mn 2.4%
  8. 8SpainUS$ 9.7 mn 2.2%
  9. 9PolandUS$ 8.9 mn 2%
  10. 10LithuaniaUS$ 7.7 mn 1.7%

Biggest buyers in the world

  1. 1IndiaUS$ 96.8 mn 22.8%
  2. 2USAUS$ 37.9 mn 8.9%
  3. 3GermanyUS$ 36.1 mn 8.5%
  4. 4United Arab EmiratesUS$ 19.8 mn 4.7%
  5. 5ChinaUS$ 18.9 mn 4.5%
  6. 6United KingdomUS$ 16.5 mn 3.9%
  7. 7TürkiyeUS$ 11.9 mn 2.8%
  8. 8MalaysiaUS$ 9.9 mn 2.3%
  9. 9Viet NamUS$ 9.1 mn 2.1%
  10. 10ItalyUS$ 9 mn 2.1%

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.

GermanyUS$ 37.1 mnIndia 1.6% · gap US$ 36.5 mn
United States of AmericaUS$ 38.5 mnIndia 22.7% · gap US$ 29.8 mn
United KingdomUS$ 16.5 mnIndia 17.8% · gap US$ 13.5 mn
United Arab EmiratesUS$ 19.8 mnIndia 33.7% · gap US$ 13.1 mn
ItalyUS$ 9.6 mnIndia 5.7% · gap US$ 9.1 mn
NetherlandsUS$ 9.4 mnIndia 7.1% · gap US$ 8.7 mn
FranceUS$ 8.3 mnIndia 2.9% · gap US$ 8 mn
SpainUS$ 7.4 mnIndia 2.3% · gap US$ 7.2 mn
JapanUS$ 5.6 mnIndia 5.3% · gap US$ 5.3 mn
VietnamUS$ 5.9 mnIndia 10.8% · gap US$ 5.3 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 fennel and anise seed

India is a leading producer and exporter of fennel, with Gujarat and Rajasthan growing almost all of it; Unjha in north Gujarat is the main market. Egypt, China and Turkey are competitors. Buyers want clean, sortexed, green seed. Openings: premium mouth-freshener grades for the diaspora, and branded retail packs using the new Unjha Fennel GI (2026).

  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 at Unjha

    Buy new-crop fennel at Unjha APMC; inspect colour, size and dust.

  3. 03Sortex to purity

    Clean and colour-sort to the contract purity; never add colour.

  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 fennel and anise seed

Is aniseed the same as fennel?
No — they are different plants, but share the same HS group (0909 61–62). India exports mostly fennel.
Where is fennel traded?
Unjha APMC in Mehsana district, Gujarat is the main market.
Why was my fennel rejected?
Common reasons are added colour, Salmonella, low purity or residues above limits.
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.
How long will RoDTEP rates stay?
DGFT Notification 41/2026-27 continues the scheme at the rates in force on 30 Sep 2026 until 31 Dec 2026. Watch dgft.gov.in for what follows.
Sources (5)
  1. Spices Board — Major item/country-wise export of spices (2021-22 to 2025-26)
  2. Spices Board — List of GI tags registered for spices (as of 15 Sep 2026)
  3. Spices Board — SPS requirements for spices (risks reported in export consignments)
  4. Department of Commerce — TradeStat, India’s exports by commodity and country (2025-26)
  5. DGFT — Appendix 4R, RoDTEP schedule for DTA exports w.e.f. 10 Oct 2024 (Notification No. 32, 30 Sep 2024)

Who buys Indian fennel and anise seed

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