GLOBAL SELLING BLOG

How to export spices from India: Taking the legacy of Indian taste global

From cardamom, turmeric to cilantro and cumin, sellers can start spices export business from India in an easy and hassle-free way with Amazon Global selling. We tell you everything you need to know to run your export business in this blog.

Meet Manish Jain – a Rajasthan-based seller, who chose the road not taken by his family and started a spice export business from India. “So many herbs, so many spices – that’s what I love about India,” the founder of Herbs & Crops Overseas proudly says. While his family had an electronic business, Manish knew he wanted to take Indian taste to the world with his brand. Through ecommerce exports, he could achieve this in a seamless manner. “Starting from a 200 sq. ft office space to a 200% profitable spices export business in the UK and Japan, Amazon Global Selling has helped me achieve my dreams,” he adds.

Manish identified that Indian herbs and spices are very indigenous to the country and their demand in the global market is growing, courtesy its natural benefits and use in Ayurveda. Add to that – the ease of commerce exports programs like Amazon Global Selling, which enable thousands of businesses reach international customers.

Like Manish, there are many Indian sellers who have been successfully exporting spices and selling it on Amazon international marketplaces like the USA, the UAE, the UK, and more. This story also stands as a testimony for the growing spices export from India.

India produces about 75 of the 109 varieties of spices listed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and accounts for half of the global trading in spices¹. The pleasing aroma, fine texture, and high medicinal value make spices a top export product from India. With organic Indian farming gaining prominence across the globe, India has now become the world’s largest exporter and producer of spices. India exported spices worth US$ 3.62 billion in the year 2020².

What spices can be exported from India?

Different spices find different usage in our day to day lives. Some spices are used as appetizers, some as preservatives and some are used in Ayurveda or herbal beauty and skincare products.

Here are the top spices exported from India

Documents required for spices export

To export spices from India, it is important for sellers to understand the compliances and documents required to ensure a seamless export journey.

1. The export business or brand needs to be registered with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), which facilitates online filing of the application and requires the following:
• Name of the business
• Details about the partners, if any, and origin
• Profit sharing ratio (If any)
• Address proof

2. FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) food license is required for food-related business operated in India⁴.

3. GST Registration is mandatory for businesses who want to export spices from India.

4. For any export business from India, sellers will need to obtain an Import Export Code (IEC). It is a 10-digit code given by the DGFT (Directorate General of Foreign Trade India), that grants license to importers and exporters to trade across the borders legally. To know more about IEC, read here.

5. Certificate of Registration as Export of Spices (CRES) from the Spice Board India is also an important legal document in exporting spices globally. The board enforces guidelines to keep a check on the hygiene and quality of the Indian spices exported to the global markets. This can be obtained online⁵.

Visit the Exports Compliance Dashboard to meet your documentation requirements

How to export spices from India with Amazon?

Ecommerce exports has certainly made selling internationally easier for Indian sellers. With its increasing customer base of 300 million+ and seamless registration, Amazon Global Selling enables businesses of all sizes to sell across the world via international marketplaces like USA, UAE, UK, Japan and more. Exporting spices from India can be done in a seamless and hassle-free manner with Amazon’s logistics and tools. Following are the steps to help you start your spices export business:

Register

List

Ship

Frequently Asked Questions

Which countries import spices from India the most?

Indian spices are exported across 160 countries including the USA, the UK, the UAE, Germany and others.

Which states in India are the major producers of spices?

In India, the states that are known for the major production⁶ of spices are:
• Kerala
• Rajasthan
• Madhya Pradesh
• Gujarat
• Karnataka
• Goa
• Andhra Pradesh

How can I start my spices export business from India?

The process to start export business is simple. With Amazon Global Selling, you can export spices to 18 marketplaces by:
1. Registering your business
2. Listing your products and selecting your target marketplaces
3. Shipping your orders by yourself or in a hassle-free manner with Amazon FBA

Published on September 22, 2021.

Sources:
1 https://www.indiantradeportal.in/vs.jsp?lang=0&id=0,30,50,180
2 https://www.ibef.org/exports/spice-industry-indias.aspx
3 http://www.indianspices.com/
4 https://www.fssai.gov.in/
5 http://www.indianspices.com/hin/sites/default/files/faq.pdf
6 https://www.statista.com/statistics/870934/spice-production-by-state-india/

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