How to Export Spices from India: Complete 2026 Business Guide
India Ships More Spices Than Any Other Country — Here's the Part Nobody Warns You About
Spices are one of the most attractive product categories for new exporters — India grows nearly every major spice on earth, demand is stable worldwide, and margins can be healthy if you source right. But in our 15+ years of training exporters, spices is also the category where we see the most confused first-timers, because it's not covered by IEC and GST alone.
If you want to export spices from India, there's a statutory regulator sitting between you and your first shipment: the Spices Board of India. Skip this step, and customs won't clear your container — no matter how solid your buyer relationship is.
This guide walks through the complete process to start a spice export business: registrations, HS codes, quality requirements, top markets, and the mistakes that cost first-time spice exporters real money.
Why the Spices Board Registration Isn't Optional
Under the Spices Board Act, 1986, no one can legally export any of the 52 scheduled spices from India without a Certificate of Registration as Exporter of Spices (CRES) — this applies on top of, not instead of, your standard IEC.
The Spices Board, headquartered in Kochi under the Ministry of Commerce, acts as the official export promotion body for spices — covering everything from pepper and cardamom to turmeric, chilli, and value-added forms like oleoresins. CRES confirms to customs and to your buyer's country that you're a recognised, compliant spice exporter, not just someone with an IEC shipping food items informally.
Step-by-Step: How to Register as a Spice Exporter in India
Getting CRES takes five steps — get your IEC first, then apply on the DGFT portal linked to the Spices Board, upload documents, pay the fee, and receive your certificate typically within 7-10 working days.
- Get your IEC first. CRES cannot be applied for without an active Import Export Code — this is the non-negotiable starting point.
- Register on the DGFT portal and access the CRES application linked to the Spices Board (Para 2.94 of the Foreign Trade Policy governs this).
- List your spices with ITC (HS) Codes. You'll specify exactly which of the 52 scheduled spices you plan to export, along with target destination countries.
- Upload supporting documents: GST registration, PAN, business address proof, cancelled cheque, and — if you're a manufacturer — your factory license or GMP/HACCP certificate where applicable.
- Pay the registration fee and e-sign. Once the Spices Board verifies your IEC, GST, and document set, your CRES appears on your DGFT dashboard.
CRES Fees and Validity in 2026
CRES registration costs roughly ₹5,000 for merchant exporters and ₹15,000 for manufacturer exporters (plus GST), and the certificate is valid for three financial years before renewal is required.
| Exporter Type | Approx. Registration Fee | Validity |
|---|---|---|
| Merchant Exporter | ₹5,000 + 18% GST | 3 financial years |
| Manufacturer Exporter | ₹15,000 + 18% GST | 3 financial years |
| Renewal (either type) | Similar to new registration fee | Renewed every 3 years |
Mark your CRES expiry date carefully — renewal isn't automatic, and letting it lapse can mean re-applying as a fresh applicant with a longer process. If you're setting up a spice export operation from scratch, our Exim Business Setup service handles IEC and CRES registration together so you're not managing two separate approval timelines.
Common HS Codes for Major Indian Spice Exports
Each spice category has its own HS (Harmonized System) code under Chapter 09 of the customs tariff — pepper falls under 0904, cardamom under 0908, and turmeric under 0910, and getting this code right on your shipping bill is essential for correct duty and documentation.
| Spice | HS Code (Indicative) |
|---|---|
| Black/White Pepper | 0904 11 / 0904 12 |
| Chilli / Capsicum, dried | 0904 21 / 0904 22 |
| Cardamom (small) | 0908 31 |
| Turmeric | 0910 30 |
| Cumin Seeds | 0909 31 / 0909 32 |
| Coriander Seeds | 0909 21 / 0909 22 |
Always confirm the exact 8-digit ITC-HS code for your specific product form (whole, ground, or value-added) on the official DGFT trade classification tool before filing — codes can vary based on processing level and packaging.
Quality, Packaging, and Food Safety Requirements
Spice exports must meet FSSAI licensing requirements domestically and the food safety, pesticide residue, and labelling standards of the destination country — the two most common rejection reasons at foreign ports are excess moisture content and pesticide residue above permitted limits.
- FSSAI license: Mandatory for any food product exporter, including spices, alongside your CRES and IEC.
- Moisture and microbial limits: The EU and US in particular enforce strict aflatoxin and Salmonella testing on spice consignments.
- Packaging standards: Moisture-proof, food-grade packaging that meets both Indian export norms and the importing country's labelling rules (ingredient list, net weight, country of origin, batch number).
- Fumigation/phytosanitary certificate: Often required for certain destinations to certify the shipment is pest-free.
Top Export Markets for Indian Spices in 2026
The United States, China, Bangladesh, UAE, and Vietnam remain among the largest destinations for Indian spice exports, with the US and China typically topping the value charts for premium categories like pepper and chilli.
Different markets favour different spices — the US and EU are strong for value-added and organic-certified spices at premium pricing, while Middle Eastern and Southeast Asian markets often move higher volumes of whole and semi-processed spices. Matching your product form to the right buyer market matters as much as getting your paperwork right. If you're still working on finding your first international buyers, our guide on finding international buyers covers sourcing strategies that apply directly to spice exports.
APEDA vs Spices Board: Which One Applies to You?
If your product falls under the Spices Board's 52 scheduled spices, CRES from the Spices Board is what you need — APEDA governs a different, broader basket of agricultural and processed food products and doesn't overlap with scheduled spice categories.
This is a common point of confusion for new agri-exporters: APEDA (Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority) handles registration for many food exports, but scheduled spices specifically fall under the Spices Board's jurisdiction instead. It's worth confirming with the Spices Board whether your exact product is on the scheduled list before you proceed with registration.
Realistic Investment and Margins for a Spice Export Business
A small spice export operation can realistically start with ₹2-5 lakh in working capital for sourcing, packaging, and a first sample shipment, with margins varying widely by spice type, processing level, and whether you sell as raw commodity or branded packaged product.
Raw/unprocessed spice exports tend to run on thinner margins due to commodity pricing, while cleaned, graded, and branded packaged spices — especially organic-certified ones — command noticeably better realizations in markets like the US and EU. If margin, not just volume, is your goal, investing in basic processing and certification early pays off.
FAQs on Exporting Spices from India
Turning India's Spice Advantage into Your Export Business
India's position as the world's largest spice exporter isn't going anywhere — but capturing a share of that market means getting the compliance layer right before you chase your first buyer. CRES, HS codes, and food safety documentation aren't optional extras; they're what separates a serious spice export business from a shipment stuck at customs.
At GFE Business, our EXIM training covers category-specific export requirements like this alongside general IEC, documentation, and buyer outreach training. If you're serious about building a spice export business the right way, explore our Export Import Training program to get started with a proper compliance foundation.