Processed food
Export instant coffee and tea extracts
Spray-dried and freeze-dried instant coffee — one of India’s main value-added coffee exports — plus instant tea.
- HS code
- 2101 Extracts, essences and concentrates of coffee, tea or maté: instant coffee (2101 11 10–20), coffee preparations (2101 12), instant tea (2101 20 10), roasted chicory (2101 30).
- Export policy
- Free to export Free, but coffee exports need Coffee Board registration and an export permit with an ICO certificate of origin for each shipment (including instant and flavoured coffee); tea exporters need a Tea Board licence under the Tea (Distribution & Export) Control Order, 2005.
- Registrations
- 5 IEC, GST and those below
- India’s exports, 2025-26
- US$ 825 mn to 131 countries
What is exported
India is one of the major hubs for instant coffee, and value-added products made up nearly 38% of its coffee exports (PIB, Nov 2025). Large plants in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu make spray-dried, agglomerated and freeze-dried coffee in bulk and private label. Indian coffee’s top destinations overall are Italy, Germany, Belgium and Russia. Instant tea is a smaller line made by tea companies.
Varieties, grades and forms
- Spray-dried instant coffeePowder; the volume product for private label.
- Agglomerated and freeze-dried coffeeGranules for premium jars.
- Coffee–chicory blends and premixesPremixes need a Coffee Board NOC rather than a permit.
- Instant tea (2101 20 10)Made by tea companies; Tea Board rules apply.
Where it is grown or made
- KarnatakaKodagu, Chikkamagaluru and Hassan — coffee growing; instant plants around Bengaluru.
- Andhra Pradesh and Tamil NaduLarge instant coffee plants (Nellore, Chittoor, Theni).
- Assam and West BengalInstant tea from tea companies.
The quality buyers ask for
- Moisture
- Low moisture to the buyer’s limit; product is hygroscopic
- Physical
- Solubility, bulk density, particle size and colour by product type
- Contaminants
- Acrylamide (EU benchmark) and ochratoxin A within limits
- Caffeine
- Declared where required; decaffeinated to the destination’s limit
Certificates
- Coffee Board registration and export permitRequiredExporter registration and RCMC, then an export permit and ICO certificate of origin for each consignment.
- Tea Board licence (instant tea)Often askedExporter licence and RCMC from the Tea Board for tea, including instant tea.
- FSSAI licenceRequiredCentral licence from FSSAI for the premises where the food is made, packed or stored for export. Apply on FoSCoS.
- 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.
- Organic (NPOP / NOP / EU)Often askedOnly if you sell the product as organic: NPOP certification plus the buyer market’s own organic rules.
Shipping, storage and shelf life
Cartons or drums on pallets in dry containers; retail jars in cartons.
Sea freight from Chennai, Krishnapatnam or Kochi.
Airtight packs, cool and dry.
Typically 18–24 months in sealed packs.
What goes on the pack and carton
- EU retail packs (Regulation 1169/2011): name of the food, ingredients with allergens highlighted, net quantity, best-before or use-by date, storage conditions, the EU importer’s name and address, origin where required — in the language of the country of sale.
- USA (21 CFR 101): product name, net quantity in US and metric units, ingredients, major allergens (including sesame), the packer’s or distributor’s name and place of business, Nutrition Facts unless exempt, and “Product of India”.
- Gulf countries: Arabic text (Arabic plus English is normal), production and expiry dates, net weight, country of origin and importer details. Confirm current rules with your importer.
- Lot or batch number on every pack and carton, matching the invoice and packing list, so the goods can be traced and recalled.
The Coffee Board runs quality-control facilities for coffee (coffeeboard.gov.in). For contaminants and micro, use an NABL-accredited or FSSAI-notified lab (nabl-india.org, fssai.gov.in).
Benefits of exporting this product
- RoDTEP refund on this line
Instant coffee, flavoured or not (2101 11 10, 2101 11 20): 2.9% of FOB, capped at ₹13.20 per kg. Coffee preparations (2101 12 00): 0.9%. Instant tea (2101 20 10): 1%. Rate as listed in Appendix 4R (w.e.f. 10 Oct 2024); DGFT Notification 41/2026-27 keeps the rates in force on 30 Sep 2026 unchanged until 31 Dec 2026. Check your exact 8-digit line on dgft.gov.in before you price.
DGFT — Appendix 4R, RoDTEP schedule for DTA exports w.e.f. 10 Oct 2024 (Notification No. 32, 30 Sep 2024) ↗ - UK trade agreement (CETA)
PIB notes that under the India–UK CETA the UK will give duty-free access for roast-and-ground and instant coffee. Confirm the agreement’s entry into force and your rules of origin on commerce.gov.in before quoting duty-free prices.
PIB — Brewing Prosperity: India’s coffee story (Nov 2025) ↗
Where to register
- Coffee BoardExporter registration and RCMC, then an export permit and ICO certificate of origin for each consignment through the Board’s e-permit system. Coffee premixes get a No Objection Certificate instead.coffeeboard.gov.in ↗
- Tea BoardExporter licence for tea, and RCMC for exporters of bulk, packet, tea-bag and instant tea.teaboard.gov.in ↗
- 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 ↗
Quality and checks
- Moisture, solubility, bulk density, colour and caffeine to the buyer’s specification.
- Acrylamide (EU benchmark levels apply to instant coffee) and ochratoxin A limits.
- Labels made for the destination: ingredients, allergens, net quantity, best-before date, importer details and the language that country requires.
Register with the Coffee Board, then trade instant coffee in bulk cartons or private-label jars from an established Indian plant; a first order is often a mixed pallet for a diaspora or Gulf distributor. 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
- Shipping coffee without a Coffee Board export permit — customs will hold the consignment.
- Moisture pick-up makes instant coffee cake; packs must be airtight and stored dry.
Documents this product needs
Schemes that apply
- RoDTEP Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products
- Drawback Duty Drawback (All Industry Rates)
- LUT Letter of Undertaking for zero-rated exports under GST
- ECGC ECGC export credit insurance for small exporters
- Districts as Export Hubs Districts as Export Hubs
- MAI / MAS Market Access Initiative (now Market Access Support under EPM)
Sources (6)
- Coffee Board — Exporter registration, RCMC and export permits
- Coffee Board — Circular on export permits for flavoured coffee and NOC for premixes
- PIB — Brewing Prosperity: India’s coffee story (Nov 2025)
- Tea Board — Guidelines for exporter licence under the Tea (Distribution & Export) Control Order, 2005
- Tea Board — Guidelines for RCMC (bulk, packet, tea bags and instant tea exporters)
- DGFT — Appendix 4R, RoDTEP schedule for DTA exports w.e.f. 10 Oct 2024 (Notification No. 32, 30 Sep 2024)
Trade data
Indian instant coffee and tea extracts exports in numbers
From the Department of Commerce’s TradeStat, country by country. US$, Indian financial years (April–March).
- Exports in 2025-26
- US$ 825 mn +20.1% a year on average, 2020-21 to 2025-26
- Change from 2024-25
- ↑ +17.7% US$ 701 mn → US$ 825 mn
- Buyer countries
- 131
- Average export price
- US$ 7.19 per kg · 1,14,728 tonnes shipped · US$ 6.29 the year before
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 60% swing between them. Keep this swing in mind when you quote.
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.
Likely range US$ 1.14 bn to US$ 1.26 bn.
- Trend
- +19.7% a year
- Fit (R²)
- 0.99
- 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.
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
- El SalvadorUS$ 720k → US$ 10.2 mn↑+1,316.7%
- GuineaUS$ 3.6 mn → US$ 8.3 mn↑+129.8%
- SenegalUS$ 9.3 mn → US$ 17.4 mn↑+88%
- MaliUS$ 4.7 mn → US$ 8.6 mn↑+83.9%
- BangladeshUS$ 10.7 mn → US$ 18.8 mn↑+76.6%
- RussiaUS$ 87.5 mn → US$ 147 mn↑+68.5%
- NetherlandsUS$ 12.4 mn → US$ 19.4 mn↑+56.6%
- MauritaniaUS$ 6 mn → US$ 9.1 mn↑+51.8%
↓ Low demand
- BelgiumUS$ 9.5 mn → US$ 4.5 mn↓-52.3%
- South AfricaUS$ 12.2 mn → US$ 7.2 mn↓-40.9%
- IraqUS$ 8.4 mn → US$ 6.3 mn↓-24.7%
- ItalyUS$ 22.9 mn → US$ 17.6 mn↓-23.2%
- GermanyUS$ 12.3 mn → US$ 10.5 mn↓-15.2%
- Saudi ArabiaUS$ 12.3 mn → US$ 10.7 mn↓-12.8%
- TaiwanUS$ 10.9 mn → US$ 9.5 mn↓-12.8%
- VietnamUS$ 19.1 mn → US$ 17.1 mn↓-10.8%
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 line | Value 2025-26 | Change | Quantity | Average price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Instant coffee not flavoured2101 11 20 · Extracts, essences and concentrates, of coffee, and preparations with a basis of these extracts, essences… | US$ 611 mn | ↑+19.2% | 58,205 tonnes | US$ 10.49 per kgwas US$ 9.26 |
Extracts, essences and concentrates, of tea or mate, and preparations with a basis of these extracts… — instant tea2101 20 10 | US$ 55.9 mn | ↓-5.2% | 8,613 tonnes | US$ 6.49 per kgwas US$ 6.03 |
Other exrcts essncs and cncntrts of coffee2101 11 90 · Extracts, essences and concentrates, of coffee, and preparations with a basis of these extracts, essences… | US$ 46.3 mn | ↑+21% | 1,640 tonnes | US$ 28.25 per kgwas US$ 31.20 |
Other roasted coffee,substitutes,extracts essences and concentrates2101 30 90 · Chicory, roasted and other roasted coffee substitutes, extracts, essences and concentrates thereof | US$ 37.3 mn | ↑+15.8% | 21,207 tonnes | US$ 1.76 per kgwas US$ 1.62 |
Other extrcts essncsand cncntrts of tea/mate2101 20 90 · Extracts, essences and concentrates, of tea or mate, and preparations with a basis of these extracts… | US$ 32.4 mn | ↑+2.6% | 8,576 tonnes | US$ 3.77 per kgwas US$ 4.44 |
Extracts, essences and concentrates, of coffee, and preparations with a basis of these extracts, essences… — instant coffee flavoured2101 11 10 | US$ 19.8 mn | ↑+86.8% | 1,580 tonnes | US$ 12.50 per kgwas US$ 9.03 |
Chicory, roasted and other roasted coffee substitutes, extracts, essences and concentrates thereof — chicory roasted2101 30 10 | US$ 11.8 mn | ↓-12.1% | 13,208 tonnes | US$ 0.89 per kgwas US$ 0.83 |
Preparation with a basis of extrcts essncs or cncntrts or with a basis of coffee2101 12 00 · Preparations with a basis of extracts, essences or concentrates or with a basis of coffee | US$ 9.9 mn | ↑+300.4% | 1,344 tonnes | US$ 7.36 per kgwas US$ 4.51 |
Extracts, essences and concentrates, of tea or mate, and preparations with a basis of these extracts… — quick brewing black tea2101 20 20 | US$ 960k | ↓-14.3% | 341 tonnes | US$ 2.82 per kgwas US$ 3.00 |
Extracts, essences and concentrates, of tea or mate, and preparations with a basis of these extracts… — tea aroma2101 20 30 | US$ 70k | ↓-36.4% | 10 tonnes | US$ 6.76 per kgwas US$ 6.80 |
Extracts, essences and concentrates, of coffee, and preparations with a basis of these extracts, essences… — coffee aroma2101 11 30 | US$ 30k | ↓-50% | 2.8 tonnes | US$ 10.57 per kgwas US$ 21.43 |
Roasted coffee substitutes2101 30 20 · Chicory, roasted and other roasted coffee substitutes, extracts, essences and concentrates thereof | US$ 30k | ↑0% | 1.6 tonnes | US$ 18.34 per kgwas US$ 13.99 |
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$ 10.4 bn 2023
- India among exporters
- #7 of 135 countries
- India’s share of world exports
- 5.1% US$ 546 mn
- Left for others to win
- US$ 10.2 bn exported by other countries
Top exporters — your competitors
- 1GermanyUS$ 1.1 bn 10.3%
- 2BrazilUS$ 744 mn 6.9%
- 3SpainUS$ 689 mn 6.4%
- 4Viet NamUS$ 686 mn 6.4%
- 5NetherlandsUS$ 630 mn 5.9%
- 6IndonesiaUS$ 627 mn 5.8%
- 7IndiaUS$ 546 mn 5.1%
- 8MalaysiaUS$ 525 mn 4.9%
- 9USAUS$ 407 mn 3.8%
- 10United KingdomUS$ 399 mn 3.7%
Biggest buyers in the world
- 1USAUS$ 1.05 bn 10.1%
- 2GermanyUS$ 665 mn 6.4%
- 3United KingdomUS$ 561 mn 5.4%
- 4PhilippinesUS$ 532 mn 5.1%
- 5NetherlandsUS$ 421 mn 4%
- 6FranceUS$ 416 mn 4%
- 7PolandUS$ 360 mn 3.5%
- 8ChinaUS$ 313 mn 3%
- 9CanadaUS$ 263 mn 2.5%
- 10JapanUS$ 263 mn 2.5%
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.
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 instant coffee and tea extracts
India is one of the major hubs for instant coffee production and export, and value-added products make up nearly 38% of its coffee exports (PIB, Nov 2025). Brazil, Vietnam, Germany and others also supply instant coffee. Indian plants make bulk and private-label coffee for buyers in Russia, Central Asia, Africa, the Gulf and Europe. The India–UK CETA promises duty-free UK access for instant coffee once in force, which is an opening for private-label supply.
- 01Register with the Coffee Board
Get exporter registration and RCMC (Tea Board licence for instant tea).
- 02Agree the specification
Fix type, density, moisture, pack and contaminant limits.
- 03Source from a plant
Use an established instant-coffee plant with food-safety certification.
- 04Get the export permit
Apply for the Coffee Board permit and ICO certificate for each shipment.
- 05Make the export label
Design a label for the destination’s law — not the Indian label — and have the importer approve it before printing.
- 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.
- 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.
Questions
Questions about exporting instant coffee and tea extracts
Do I need a Coffee Board permit for instant coffee?
Is the UK duty-free for instant coffee now?
What RoDTEP applies?
Who registers instant tea exporters?
Can I use my Indian label abroad?
Sources (6)
- Coffee Board — Exporter registration, RCMC and export permits
- Coffee Board — Circular on export permits for flavoured coffee and NOC for premixes
- PIB — Brewing Prosperity: India’s coffee story (Nov 2025)
- Tea Board — Guidelines for exporter licence under the Tea (Distribution & Export) Control Order, 2005
- Tea Board — Guidelines for RCMC (bulk, packet, tea bags and instant tea exporters)
- DGFT — Appendix 4R, RoDTEP schedule for DTA exports w.e.f. 10 Oct 2024 (Notification No. 32, 30 Sep 2024)
Who buys Indian instant coffee and tea extracts
All countries →
RUBMoscowRussiaGrowing buyer of Indian food, medicines and machinery. Payments need care because of sanctions; EAC certification applies.From India 2025-26US$ 4.49 bn
EURBerlinGermanyEurope's largest economy and India's biggest EU partner. Values quality, certificates and supply-chain transparency.From India 2025-26US$ 11.5 bn
EURRomeItalyManufacturing buyer of Indian leather, yarn, castings, chemicals and seafood. EU rules apply.From India 2025-26US$ 7.79 bn
CETAGBPLondonUnited KingdomNew CETA in force since July 2026 — most Indian goods now enter duty-free. Strong market for garments, food and engineering.From India 2025-26US$ 13.4 bn
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