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Processed food

Export sauces, ketchup and condiments

Curry pastes, chutneys, chilli sauce and ketchup for diaspora and mainstream shelves. Labels and additives decide entry.

Free to exportHS 2103
HS code
2103
Sauces and preparations, mixed condiments and seasonings: soya sauce (2103 10), tomato ketchup (2103 20), mustard (2103 30), curry paste, chilli sauce, mayonnaise and mixed seasonings (2103 90).
Export policy
Free to export
Free under ITC(HS) Schedule 2.
Registrations
5
IEC, GST and those below
India’s exports, 2025-26
US$ 151 mn
to 105 countries

What is exported

India exports curry and cooking pastes, mango chutney, chilli sauce, ketchup and ready gravies. APEDA lists chilli sauce, tomato ketchup and curry paste among the main miscellaneous preparations exported; that group went mainly to the USA, the UAE, Malaysia, the UK and Australia in 2025-26.

Varieties, grades and forms

  • Curry and cooking pastes (2103 90 10)Tikka masala, korma, vindaloo bases.
  • Chilli sauce (2103 90 20) and ketchup (2103 20)Retail and food-service packs.
  • Chutneys and dipsMango chutney and mint dips (check classification: some go under 2001 or 2007).
  • Mayonnaise, dressings and mixed seasonings (2103 90 30–40)Mainly for the Gulf and neighbours.

Where it is grown or made

  • MaharashtraMumbai, Pune and Nashik — sauces and pastes.
  • Gujarat and PunjabKetchup and condiment plants.
  • Kerala and Tamil NaduCurry pastes and chutneys.

Export packing

  • Retail packs printed to the destination’s labelling law, in master cartons on pallets; mixed-product containers are common for diaspora buyers.
  • Glass jars with dividers, PET bottles, sachets and pouches; bulk in pails or drums for food service.

Who buys abroad

  • Indian and South Asian grocery distributors in the USA, UK, Canada, Australia and the Gulf
  • Gulf hypermarket chains and their private labels
  • Restaurants and food-service distributors

The quality buyers ask for

pH and stability
pH, water activity and process validated; acidified sauces at equilibrium pH 4.6 or below for US rules
Additives
Only colours, preservatives and additives permitted in the destination, at permitted levels
Spice contaminants
Ethylene oxide, aflatoxin and illegal dyes absent or within limits
Allergens
Controlled and declared to the destination’s list (the EU has 14 allergens; the USA includes sesame)

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.
  • 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.
  • 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.

Shipping, storage and shelf life

Container load

Palletised cartons in 20-ft or 40-ft dry containers; mixed-product loads are common.

How it travels

Sea freight; LCL or air for samples and first small orders.

Storage

Cool, dry and away from sunlight; avoid heat inside containers in summer.

Shelf life

Typically 9–18 months, depending on recipe, pH and pack.

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.
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

  • Labels made for the destination: ingredients, allergens, net quantity, best-before date, importer details and the language that country requires.
  • Only colours, preservatives and additives permitted in the destination, at permitted levels.
  • pH and process control; acidified sauces for the USA need FDA process filing (21 CFR 114).
  • Ethylene oxide, aflatoxin and Sudan dye checks on chilli and spice ingredients.
How to start small

Start with two shelf-stable sauces made by an FSSAI- and FDA-registered co-packer, and ship them with other Indian foods in a mixed container. 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 with the Indian label — wrong format, undeclared allergens or a non-permitted colour gets the goods detained or destroyed.
  • Skipping US FDA facility registration or prior notice — the shipment is refused at the US port.
  • Glass breakage — use dividers and pallet wrapping, or switch to PET and pouches.

Documents this product needs

Schemes that apply

Sources (6)
  1. APEDA — Miscellaneous Preparations (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. US eCFR — 21 CFR Part 114, acidified foods
  4. APEDA — Importing countries’ regulations
  5. FSSAI — FoSCoS food licensing portal
  6. DGFT Notification 36/2026-27 (15 Sep 2026) — no RCMC needed for consignments up to ₹3 lakh FOB

Trade data

Indian sauces, ketchup and condiments exports in numbers

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

Exports in 2025-26
US$ 151 mn
+12.9% a year on average, 2020-21 to 2025-26
Change from 2024-25
↑ +7.5%
US$ 140 mn → US$ 151 mn
Buyer countries
105
Average export price
US$ 1.85
per kg · 81,409 tonnes shipped · US$ 2.60 the year before
United States of America: US$ 23 mnUnited Kingdom: US$ 18.6 mnUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 14.1 mnAustralia: US$ 13.3 mnOman: US$ 8.7 mnSaudi Arabia: US$ 8.1 mnBangladesh: US$ 7.2 mnIndonesia: US$ 7.1 mnCanada: US$ 5.8 mnNetherlands: US$ 4.3 mnNepal: US$ 4.2 mnPhilippines: US$ 2.8 mnMalaysia: US$ 2.6 mnQatar: US$ 2.3 mnKuwait: US$ 2.3 mnGermany: US$ 2.2 mnChina: US$ 2.1 mnSri Lanka: US$ 1.8 mnIraq: US$ 1.6 mnSingapore: US$ 1.3 mnJordan: US$ 1.1 mnKenya: US$ 970kSouth Africa: US$ 830kTaiwan: US$ 780kMauritius: US$ 740kUnited States of America: US$ 23 mnUnited States of AmericaUnited Kingdom: US$ 18.6 mnUnited KingdomUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 14.1 mnUnited Arab EmiratesAustralia: US$ 13.3 mnAustraliaOman: US$ 8.7 mnSaudi Arabia: US$ 8.1 mnBangladesh: US$ 7.2 mnBangladeshIndonesia: US$ 7.1 mnIndonesiaCanada: US$ 5.8 mnNetherlands: US$ 4.3 mnNepal: US$ 4.2 mnPhilippines: US$ 2.8 mnMalaysia: US$ 2.6 mnQatar: US$ 2.3 mnKuwait: US$ 2.3 mnGermany: US$ 2.2 mnChina: US$ 2.1 mnSri Lanka: US$ 1.8 mnIraq: US$ 1.6 mnSingapore: US$ 1.3 mnJordan: US$ 1.1 mnKenya: US$ 970kSouth Africa: US$ 830kTaiwan: US$ 780kMauritius: US$ 740kIndia
Where Indian sauces, ketchup and condiments goes — among our 80 countries, 2025-26
2020-21: US$ 82 mn822020-212021-22: US$ 79.2 mn792021-222022-23: US$ 97.4 mn972022-232023-24: US$ 117 mn1172023-242024-25: US$ 140 mn1402024-252025-26: US$ 151 mn1512025-26
India’s sauces, ketchup and condiments exports, year by year · US$ million

The price cycle

India’s average export price per kg each year (total value ÷ total quantity). Highest in 2024-25, lowest in 2025-26 — a 41% swing between them. Keep this swing in mind when you quote.

2020-21: US$ 2.59 per kg2021-22: US$ 2.37 per kg2022-23: US$ 2.44 per kg2024-25: US$ 2.60 per kg2.602025-26: US$ 1.85 per kg1.852020-212021-222022-232023-242024-252025-26
Average export price of Indian sauces, ketchup and condiments · 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$ 82 mn2020-212021-22: US$ 79.2 mn2021-222022-23: US$ 97.4 mn2022-232023-24: US$ 117 mn2023-242024-25: US$ 140 mn2024-252025-26: US$ 151 mn2025-262026-27: US$ 176 mn (US$ 160 mn – US$ 194 mn)1762026-272027-28: US$ 203 mn (US$ 183 mn – US$ 226 mn)2032027-28
India’s sauces, ketchup and condiments exports and projection · hollow bars = projection, line = likely range
By 2027-28: US$ 203 mn

Likely range US$ 183 mn to US$ 226 mn.

Trend
+15.1% a year
Fit (R²)
0.95
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$ 23 mn-4.4%
2United KingdomUS$ 18.6 mn+11.3%
3United Arab EmiratesUS$ 14.1 mn+10.4%
4AustraliaUS$ 13.3 mn+13.4%
5OmanUS$ 8.7 mn+0.6%
6Saudi ArabiaUS$ 8.1 mn-0.9%
7BangladeshUS$ 7.2 mn-6.3%
8IndonesiaUS$ 7.1 mn+1,117.2%
9CanadaUS$ 5.8 mn-19.5%
10NetherlandsUS$ 4.3 mn+26.5%
11NepalUS$ 4.2 mn+42.5%
12PhilippinesUS$ 2.8 mn+29.9%

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. IndonesiaUS$ 580k → US$ 7.1 mn+1,117.2%
  2. NepalUS$ 2.9 mn → US$ 4.2 mn+42.5%
  3. PhilippinesUS$ 2.1 mn → US$ 2.8 mn+29.9%
  4. NetherlandsUS$ 3.4 mn → US$ 4.3 mn+26.5%
  5. Sri LankaUS$ 1.5 mn → US$ 1.8 mn+21.1%
  6. IraqUS$ 1.4 mn → US$ 1.6 mn+17.3%
  7. KuwaitUS$ 2 mn → US$ 2.3 mn+14.6%
  8. AustraliaUS$ 11.7 mn → US$ 13.3 mn+13.4%

Low demand

  1. TürkiyeUS$ 1.6 mn → US$ 360k-76.9%
  2. CanadaUS$ 7.2 mn → US$ 5.8 mn-19.5%
  3. ChinaUS$ 2.5 mn → US$ 2.1 mn-15.9%

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 mixed condiments and mixed seasonings2103 90 90 · Sauces and preparations therefor, mixed condiments and mixed seasoningsUS$ 68.1 mn+8.9%22,172 tonnesUS$ 3.07 per kgwas US$ 3.02
Mcxed, condiments and mixed seasoning2103 90 40 · Sauces and preparations therefor, mixed condiments and mixed seasoningsUS$ 45.2 mn+10.1%39,302 tonnesUS$ 1.15 per kgwas US$ 2.82
Sauces and preparations therefor, mixed condiments and mixed seasonings — curry paste2103 90 10US$ 11.6 mn+4.4%3,320 tonnesUS$ 3.48 per kgwas US$ 3.63
Tomato ketchup and other tomato sauces2103 20 00 · Sauces, tomato ketchup and other tomato saucesUS$ 11 mn+4.7%6,913 tonnesUS$ 1.58 per kgwas US$ 1.59
Sauces and preparations therefor, mixed condiments and mixed seasonings — chilli sauce2103 90 20US$ 7.9 mn-2.4%5,413 tonnesUS$ 1.45 per kgwas US$ 1.49
Majonnaise and salad dressings2103 90 30 · Sauces and preparations therefor, mixed condiments and mixed seasoningsUS$ 4.3 mn-0.5%1,825 tonnesUS$ 2.37 per kgwas US$ 2.55
Sauces, soya — soya sauce2103 10 00US$ 1.9 mn-2.1%1,366 tonnesUS$ 1.39 per kgwas US$ 1.40
Mustard flour and meal and prepared mustard2103 30 00 · Mustard flour and meal and prepared mustardUS$ 780k+8.3%1,098 tonnesUS$ 0.71 per kgwas US$ 1.42

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$ 18.4 bn
2023
India among exporters
#34
of 159 countries
India’s share of world exports
0.6%
US$ 109 mn
Left for others to win
US$ 19.6 bn
exported by other countries

Top exporters — your competitors

  1. 1USAUS$ 2.24 bn 11.4%
  2. 2ChinaUS$ 2.16 bn 10.9%
  3. 3ItalyUS$ 1.91 bn 9.7%
  4. 4NetherlandsUS$ 1.4 bn 7.1%
  5. 5GermanyUS$ 1.27 bn 6.4%
  6. 6ThailandUS$ 981 mn 5%
  7. 7BelgiumUS$ 729 mn 3.7%
  8. 8MexicoUS$ 637 mn 3.2%
  9. 9SpainUS$ 591 mn 3%
  10. 10PolandUS$ 570 mn 2.9%

Biggest buyers in the world

  1. 1USAUS$ 2.4 bn 13.1%
  2. 2United KingdomUS$ 1.31 bn 7.1%
  3. 3FranceUS$ 1.11 bn 6%
  4. 4GermanyUS$ 1.06 bn 5.8%
  5. 5CanadaUS$ 1.03 bn 5.6%
  6. 6NetherlandsUS$ 657 mn 3.6%
  7. 7AustraliaUS$ 514 mn 2.8%
  8. 8China, Hong Kong SARUS$ 497 mn 2.7%
  9. 9MexicoUS$ 489 mn 2.7%
  10. 10JapanUS$ 356 mn 1.9%

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$ 2.8 bnIndia 0.9% · gap US$ 2.77 bn
United KingdomUS$ 1.31 bnIndia 1.2% · gap US$ 1.3 bn
FranceUS$ 1.2 bnIndia 0% · gap US$ 1.2 bn
GermanyUS$ 1.16 bnIndia 0.3% · gap US$ 1.15 bn
CanadaUS$ 1.11 bnIndia 0.7% · gap US$ 1.1 bn
NetherlandsUS$ 747 mnIndia 0.3% · gap US$ 745 mn
AustraliaUS$ 514 mnIndia 2.5% · gap US$ 501 mn
JapanUS$ 376 mnIndia 0.1% · gap US$ 376 mn
South KoreaUS$ 346 mnIndia 0.2% · gap US$ 345 mn
ItalyUS$ 346 mnIndia 0.1% · gap US$ 345 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 sauces, ketchup and condiments

Sauces and condiments are a large world trade led by US, European and Asian brands. India’s share is in curry pastes, chutneys, chilli sauces and Indian cooking bases, sold first to diaspora shoppers and increasingly to mainstream buyers who cook Indian food at home. APEDA lists chilli sauce, ketchup and curry paste among the main miscellaneous preparations exported, which went mainly to the USA, the UAE, Malaysia, the UK and Australia in 2025-26. The openings are private-label curry sauces and clean-label condiments.

  1. 01Fix the recipe

    Check every additive and spice input for the destination.

  2. 02Validate the process

    Confirm pH and heat treatment; file acidified-food process with FDA for the USA.

  3. 03Make the export label

    Design a label for the destination’s law — not the Indian label — and have the importer approve it before printing.

  4. 04Test spice inputs

    Test chilli and spices for aflatoxin, ethylene oxide and dyes.

  5. 05Pack safely

    Use dividers for glass or switch to PET and pouches.

  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 sauces, ketchup and condiments

Is mango chutney a sauce?
It depends on the recipe; it can fall under 2001, 2007 or 2103. Confirm classification with your broker.
Why are spice-based sauces tested so much?
Past rejections for ethylene oxide, aflatoxin and illegal dyes in spices make buyers cautious.
What RoDTEP applies?
All lines under 2103: 1.3% of FOB.
Can I use my Indian label abroad?
Rarely. Each market has its own label law — make a separate export label and get the importer to approve it.
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 — Miscellaneous Preparations (exports and destinations, 2025-26)
  2. US eCFR — 21 CFR Part 114, acidified foods
  3. DGFT — Appendix 4R, RoDTEP schedule for DTA exports w.e.f. 10 Oct 2024 (Notification No. 32, 30 Sep 2024)
  4. EU — Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 on food information to consumers
  5. FSSAI — Notified food testing laboratories

Who buys Indian sauces, ketchup and condiments

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