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Processed food

Export curry powder and spice mixes

Branded and private-label masala for the diaspora in the Gulf, USA, UK and Canada. CRES and FSSAI needed; ethylene oxide is the big risk.

Free to exportHS 0910.91
HS code
0910.91
Mixtures of two or more spices (0910 91 00): curry powder, garam masala, sambar, chaat and similar dry blends. Wet curry pastes and sauces fall under 2103.
Export policy
Free to export
Export is Free under ITC(HS). A CRES from the Spices Board is required for spice exports, and an FSSAI licence for the packing unit.
Registrations
4
IEC, GST and those below
India’s exports, 2025-26
US$ 123 mn
to 112 countries

What is exported

Exports of spice mixtures under 0910 91 were about US$ 123 million in 2025-26 (TradeStat). The UAE, the USA, Saudi Arabia, the UK, Nigeria, Canada and Australia were the main buyers. The Spices Board counts "curry powder, paste and masala" as one export item. Buyers are Indian grocery chains, supermarket private labels and restaurant suppliers.

Varieties, grades and forms

  • Curry powderThe classic export blend for UK, African and Caribbean buyers.
  • Garam masala and dish masalasChicken, meat, biryani, chhole, pav bhaji and similar blends for the diaspora.
  • South Indian blendsSambar, rasam and chutney powders.
  • Industrial seasoningsCustom blends for snack and ready-meal makers.

Where it is grown or made

  • KeralaKochi and Ernakulam.
  • Maharashtra and GujaratMumbai–Thane, Ahmedabad, Rajkot.
  • Delhi NCR and RajasthanDelhi, Noida, Jaipur.
  • Tamil NaduChennai, Erode, Coimbatore.

Export packing

  • Retail pouches and boxes (50 g–1 kg) in shipper cartons; laminated pouches keep aroma.
  • Food-service and industrial packs of 5–25 kg with liners.

Who buys abroad

  • Indian and South Asian grocery importers and distributors
  • Supermarket private-label buyers in the UK, Gulf and Australia
  • Restaurant and catering wholesalers

The quality buyers ask for

Recipe and consistency
Fixed recipe with ingredient specifications; colour, aroma and particle size held batch to batch
Ethylene oxide
EU limit 0.02 mg/kg on curry powder and masala mixes (Spices Board SPS list)
Microbiology
Salmonella absent; total plate count, yeast and mould within buyer limits
Allergens and additives
Declare mustard, celery, gluten, nuts as each market requires; no unpermitted colours

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.
  • HalalOften askedAsked for by many Gulf, Malaysian and Indonesian buyers of processed foods; 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

Usually LCL pallets or mixed containers of retail cartons; a 20-ft typically takes about 10 pallets.

How it travels

Sea freight from JNPA, Mundra, Chennai or Kochi; air for urgent retail replenishment.

Storage

Cool, dry storage away from strong odours.

Shelf life

Retail packs typically carry 12–18 months best-before.

What goes on the pack and carton

  • 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.
  • 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".
  • 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 bag — required by FSSAI’s Labelling and Display Regulations, 2020, and used by every importing country to trace and recall.
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.
  • Every ingredient carries its own risk: aflatoxin in chilli, lead in turmeric, Sudan dyes in chilli powder, undeclared allergens such as mustard or peanut. Test the blend and each raw spice.
  • Test each lot at an NABL-accredited or board laboratory before shipment and keep the report with the lot number.
How to start small

Start with three or four best-selling blends in retail packs labelled for one market. Get a CRES and FSSAI licence, test each batch, and send a mixed pallet by LCL to an Indian grocery distributor in the UAE or UK. 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

  • Ethylene oxide alerts on Indian masala brands in 2024 led to recalls in several countries; never use EtO and keep batch-wise test reports.
  • Labels that miss allergen or language rules in the destination market — goods are held at the port.

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. FSSAI — FoSCoS food licensing portal
  5. DGFT Notification 36/2026-27 (15 Sep 2026) — no RCMC needed for consignments up to ₹3 lakh FOB

Trade data

Indian curry powder and spice mixes exports in numbers

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

Exports in 2025-26
US$ 123 mn
+7.3% a year on average, 2020-21 to 2025-26
Change from 2024-25
↑ +2%
US$ 121 mn → US$ 123 mn
Buyer countries
112
Average export price
US$ 3.76
per kg · 32,732 tonnes shipped · US$ 3.80 the year before
United Arab Emirates: US$ 17.9 mnUnited States of America: US$ 14.5 mnSaudi Arabia: US$ 9.5 mnUnited Kingdom: US$ 8.6 mnNigeria: US$ 8.2 mnCanada: US$ 7.8 mnAustralia: US$ 5.8 mnNepal: US$ 4 mnQatar: US$ 4 mnKuwait: US$ 4 mnNetherlands: US$ 3.2 mnOman: US$ 2.8 mnJapan: US$ 2.3 mnSouth Africa: US$ 2.2 mnBangladesh: US$ 2.2 mnGermany: US$ 2.1 mnItaly: US$ 2 mnGhana: US$ 1.7 mnNew Zealand: US$ 1.6 mnIraq: US$ 1.5 mnSingapore: US$ 1.1 mnBelgium: US$ 1.1 mnSri Lanka: US$ 940kKenya: US$ 830kBahrain: US$ 820kUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 17.9 mnUnited Arab EmiratesUnited States of America: US$ 14.5 mnUnited States of AmericaSaudi Arabia: US$ 9.5 mnUnited Kingdom: US$ 8.6 mnUnited KingdomNigeria: US$ 8.2 mnNigeriaCanada: US$ 7.8 mnAustralia: US$ 5.8 mnAustraliaNepal: US$ 4 mnNepalQatar: US$ 4 mnKuwait: US$ 4 mnNetherlands: US$ 3.2 mnOman: US$ 2.8 mnJapan: US$ 2.3 mnSouth Africa: US$ 2.2 mnBangladesh: US$ 2.2 mnGermany: US$ 2.1 mnItaly: US$ 2 mnGhana: US$ 1.7 mnNew Zealand: US$ 1.6 mnIraq: US$ 1.5 mnSingapore: US$ 1.1 mnBelgium: US$ 1.1 mnSri Lanka: US$ 940kKenya: US$ 830kBahrain: US$ 820kIndia
Where Indian curry powder and spice mixes goes — among our 80 countries, 2025-26
2020-21: US$ 86.3 mn862020-212021-22: US$ 84.7 mn852021-222022-23: US$ 89.2 mn892022-232023-24: US$ 108 mn1082023-242024-25: US$ 121 mn1212024-252025-26: US$ 123 mn1232025-26
India’s curry powder and spice mixes 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 2020-21 — a 14% swing between them. Keep this swing in mind when you quote.

2020-21: US$ 3.32 per kg3.322021-22: US$ 3.39 per kg2022-23: US$ 3.59 per kg2024-25: US$ 3.80 per kg3.802025-26: US$ 3.76 per kg3.762020-212021-222022-232023-242024-252025-26
Average export price of Indian curry powder and spice mixes · 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$ 86.3 mn2020-212021-22: US$ 84.7 mn2021-222022-23: US$ 89.2 mn2022-232023-24: US$ 108 mn2023-242024-25: US$ 121 mn2024-252025-26: US$ 123 mn2025-262026-27: US$ 136 mn (US$ 125 mn – US$ 148 mn)1362026-272027-28: US$ 149 mn (US$ 135 mn – US$ 163 mn)1492027-28
India’s curry powder and spice mixes exports and projection · hollow bars = projection, line = likely range
By 2027-28: US$ 149 mn

Likely range US$ 135 mn to US$ 163 mn.

Trend
+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
1United Arab EmiratesUS$ 17.9 mn-4.2%
2United States of AmericaUS$ 14.5 mn-6.6%
3Saudi ArabiaUS$ 9.5 mn-14.4%
4United KingdomUS$ 8.6 mn-4.9%
5NigeriaUS$ 8.2 mn+20.2%
6CanadaUS$ 7.8 mn+12.2%
7AustraliaUS$ 5.8 mn+14.8%
8NepalUS$ 4 mn-8.2%
9QatarUS$ 4 mn-14.3%
10KuwaitUS$ 4 mn+1%
11NetherlandsUS$ 3.2 mn+27.3%
12OmanUS$ 2.8 mn-1.1%

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. ItalyUS$ 810k → US$ 2 mn+150.6%
  2. JapanUS$ 1.7 mn → US$ 2.3 mn+34.5%
  3. NetherlandsUS$ 2.5 mn → US$ 3.2 mn+27.3%
  4. New ZealandUS$ 1.3 mn → US$ 1.6 mn+23.8%
  5. NigeriaUS$ 6.8 mn → US$ 8.2 mn+20.2%
  6. AustraliaUS$ 5.1 mn → US$ 5.8 mn+14.8%
  7. GhanaUS$ 1.5 mn → US$ 1.7 mn+14.5%
  8. CanadaUS$ 7 mn → US$ 7.8 mn+12.2%

Low demand

  1. IraqUS$ 2.1 mn → US$ 1.5 mn-28%
  2. Saudi ArabiaUS$ 11.1 mn → US$ 9.5 mn-14.4%
  3. QatarUS$ 4.7 mn → US$ 4 mn-14.3%

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
Mixtrs of two or mors prodcts of diff hdg0910 91 00 · Spices, mixtures of 2 or more products of different headingsUS$ 123 mn+2%32,732 tonnesUS$ 3.76 per kgwas US$ 3.80

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$ 603 mn
2023
India among exporters
#1
of 122 countries
India’s share of world exports
17.8%
US$ 99.8 mn
Left for others to win
US$ 460 mn
exported by other countries

Top exporters — your competitors

  1. 1IndiaUS$ 99.8 mn 17.8%
  2. 2PakistanUS$ 75.7 mn 13.5%
  3. 3NetherlandsUS$ 70.8 mn 12.7%
  4. 4GermanyUS$ 65.5 mn 11.7%
  5. 5ChinaUS$ 32.7 mn 5.8%
  6. 6SpainUS$ 29.3 mn 5.2%
  7. 7AustriaUS$ 22.8 mn 4.1%
  8. 8BelgiumUS$ 17 mn 3%
  9. 9United Arab EmiratesUS$ 15 mn 2.7%
  10. 10MalaysiaUS$ 14 mn 2.5%

Biggest buyers in the world

  1. 1USAUS$ 84.4 mn 14%
  2. 2Saudi ArabiaUS$ 62.4 mn 10.3%
  3. 3GermanyUS$ 47.6 mn 7.9%
  4. 4NetherlandsUS$ 38 mn 6.3%
  5. 5BelgiumUS$ 35.5 mn 5.9%
  6. 6United KingdomUS$ 31.9 mn 5.3%
  7. 7United Arab EmiratesUS$ 28.5 mn 4.7%
  8. 8FranceUS$ 25.7 mn 4.3%
  9. 9SingaporeUS$ 19.4 mn 3.2%
  10. 10CanadaUS$ 17.5 mn 2.9%

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$ 77.1 mnIndia 22.2% · gap US$ 60 mn
GermanyUS$ 52.7 mnIndia 10.6% · gap US$ 47.1 mn
NetherlandsUS$ 48 mnIndia 10.3% · gap US$ 43.1 mn
Saudi ArabiaUS$ 50.5 mnIndia 19.2% · gap US$ 40.8 mn
United KingdomUS$ 31.9 mnIndia 20% · gap US$ 25.5 mn
FranceUS$ 23.9 mnIndia 4.8% · gap US$ 22.7 mn
United Arab EmiratesUS$ 28.5 mnIndia 37.7% · gap US$ 17.8 mn
SingaporeUS$ 18.2 mnIndia 13.6% · gap US$ 15.7 mn
CanadaUS$ 17.4 mnIndia 29% · gap US$ 12.3 mn
SpainUS$ 11.6 mnIndia 3.1% · gap US$ 11.3 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 curry powder and spice mixes

Indian masala blends follow the diaspora: the Gulf, the USA, the UK, Canada and Australia are the main markets, with Nigeria a large buyer of curry powder. Indian brands compete with blends made locally by importers from Indian raw spices. The 2024 ethylene oxide alerts on Indian brands showed how one safety lapse can hit a whole category. Openings: clean-label, sterilised, well-labelled retail ranges and private-label packing for supermarkets.

  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. 02Fix recipes and raw-spice specs

    Write a specification for each raw spice and approve suppliers who test for residues and contaminants.

  3. 03Design labels per market

    Prepare labels to EU, US or Gulf rules before printing packs; check language and allergen rules.

  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 curry powder and spice mixes

Is a CRES needed for masala?
Yes. The Spices Board reports curry powder and masala as a spice export item, and spice exporters must hold a CRES.
How do I avoid ethylene oxide problems?
Never use EtO; sterilise with steam, buy tested raw spices and test every finished batch.
Do I need nutrition labels for the USA?
Usually yes unless an exemption applies; spices with no significant nutrients may qualify — check 21 CFR 101.
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 do spice mixes get?
1% of FOB under 0910 91 00 (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. FSSAI — Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020 (compendium)
  4. EU — Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 on food information to consumers
  5. US eCFR — 21 CFR Part 101, food labelling
  6. DGFT — Appendix 4R, RoDTEP schedule for DTA exports w.e.f. 10 Oct 2024 (Notification No. 32, 30 Sep 2024)

Who buys Indian curry powder and spice mixes

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