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Top Cardamoms Exports & Imports by Country Plus Average Prices

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Cardamom spice bowl
Cardamoms bowl
In 2022, exports of cardamoms were worth a total US$765.8 million.

Exports of cardamoms inflated by an average 10.8% since 2018 when export sales for cardamoms amounted to $665.1 million.

Year over year, overall export revenues for the strong-tasting spice made from plant seeds shrank by -30.4% compared to $1.1 billion for 2021.

Cardamoms are typically used in sweet and savory Asian dishes and spice mixes. They are also flavoring ingredients in coffee and teas, baked treats, chewing gum, garnishes, curry pastes and alcoholic drinks like bitters and gin.

Guatemala is a country in Central America sharing its northern border with Mexico and near the Caribbean to its east.

By value, the 5 biggest exporters of cardamoms (Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Nepal and the Netherlands) sold 92.5% of all cardamoms exported during 2022..

Applying a continental perspective, countries in Latin America excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean supplied the highest dollar worth of exported cardamoms during 2022 with shipments valued at $422.8 million or 55.2% of the global total. In second place were exporters in Asia (39.1%) trailed by those in Europe (5.1%), Africa (0.3%), North America (also 0.3%) and Oceania (0.04%) led by Australia.

Shifting our focus to imports, the 5 leading importers of cardamoms in 2022 were the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, mainland China, India and Bangladesh. Collectively, that quintet of top import countries bought approaching three-fifths (57.9%) of globally imported cardamoms as measured by dollar value.

The above percentages suggest the total 86 exporters of cardamoms (92.5% for the corresponding top 5 exporters) is a more concentrated cohort compared to 153 buying countries, islands and territories. The top 5 importers accounted for a smaller portion of its world total at 57.9%.

As for global imports of cardamoms by continent, 80% of cardamoms purchased on international markets was delivered to customers in Asia (80%), Europe (8.9%), North America (5%), Africa (4.9%), Oceania (0.7%) led by Australia and New Zealand, then Latin America (0.4%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean.

We calculated the average unit price paid by importers of non-crushed and unground cardamoms to be $11,931 per ton in 2022. That dollar amount reflects a -20% decrease from the average tonnage rate of $14,918 during 2021.

Surprisingly, processed cardamoms exports scored a lower unit price. For crushed or ground cardamoms, the average unit price paid by importers was $10,936 per ton in 2022 down -31.3% from the average tonnage rate of $15,912 for 2021. Usually, a higher average price is driven by labor costs and other processing expenses.

For research purposes, the 6-digit Harmonized Tariff System code prefix is 090831 for cardamoms that is neither crushed nor ground, and 090832 for crushed or ground cardamoms.

Drilling down on those categories, 94.9% of world cardamoms exports by value were for non-crushed and unground cardamoms. The remaining 5.1% was paid for shipments of crushed or ground cardamoms.

Top Cardamoms Exports by Country

Below are the top 20 countries that exported the highest dollar value worth of cardamoms during 2022, regardless of whether the shipped cardamoms was crushed, ground or raw.

  1. Guatemala: US$418.5 million (54.6% of total cardamom exports)
  2. India: $155.1 million (20.3%)
  3. Indonesia: $70.1 million (9.2%)
  4. Nepal: $46.6 million (6.1%)
  5. Netherlands: $18.4 million (2.4%)
  6. Singapore: $8.8 million (1.1%)
  7. Germany: $6.9 million (0.9%)
  8. Vietnam: $4.9 million (0.6%)
  9. Honduras: $4.2 million (0.5%)
  10. United Kingdom: $3.6 million (0.5%)
  11. Bhutan: $2.9 million (0.4%)
  12. Türkiye: $2.7 million (0.3%)
  13. United Arab Emirates: $2.2 million (0.3%)
  14. Bahrain: $2.2 million (0.3%)
  15. Sweden: $1.9 million (0.3%)
  16. Tanzania: $1.72 million (0.2%)
  17. France: $1.66 million (0.2%)
  18. United States: $1.4 million (0.2%)
  19. Spain: $1.23 million (0.2%)
  20. Finland: $1.18 million (0.2%)

By value, the listed 20 countries shipped 98.7% of globally exported cardamoms in 2022.

Among the top exporters, the fastest-growing cardamoms exporters since 2021 were: Vietnam (up 478.9%), Türkiye (up 73.5%), Finland (up 36.9%) and Tanzania (up 33%).

Those countries that posted declines in their exported cardamoms sales were led by: United Arab Emirates (down -98.2% from 2021), Bhutan (down -61.4%), Singapore (down -59.8%), United Kingdom (down -58.5%) and the United States of America (down -39.9%).

Top Cardamoms Imports by Country

Overall spending on imported cardamoms expanded by 40.6% over the 5-year period starting in 2018 but reduced by -28.2% year over year since 2021.

Below are the 20 best buying markets as measured by the highest dollar value worth of cardamoms imported during 2022, for any cardamoms regardless of whether crushed or ground.

  1. United Arab Emirates: US$130.4 million (16.9% of total imported cardamoms)
  2. Saudi Arabia: $128.9 million (16.7%)
  3. China: $85.6 million (11.1%)
  4. India: $56.3 million (7.3%)
  5. Bangladesh: $44.6 million (5.8%)
  6. Egypt: $32.1 million (4.2%)
  7. United States: $30.1 million (3.9%)
  8. Jordan: $28 million (3.6%)
  9. Pakistan: $23.5 million (3%)
  10. Kuwait: $16.3 million (2.1%)
  11. Germany: $13.1 million (1.7%)
  12. Afghanistan: $12.3 million (1.6%)
  13. Qatar: $12 million (1.6%)
  14. Netherlands: $11.9 million (1.5%)
  15. United Kingdom: $11.8 million (1.5%)
  16. Syria: $10.9 million (1.4%)
  17. Singapore: $9.9 million (1.3%)
  18. Japan: $9.3 million (1.2%)
  19. Canada: $8.7 million (1.1%)
  20. Iraq: $7.9 million (1%)

By value, the listed 20 countries bought 88.8% of globally imported cardamoms in 2022.

Among the top importers, Qatar was the lone growing importer of cardamoms thanks to its 1.7% increase compared to 2021.

Those countries that posted declines in their imported cardamoms purchases were led by: Singapore (down -56.1% from 2021), Iraq (down -53.9%), Germany (down -46.4%), Netherlands (down -43.4%) and the United Kingdom (down -42.4%).

Imported Raw Cardamoms: Lowest and Highest Unit Prices

In 2022, the world’s average unit price for imports of non-crushed and unground cardamoms was US$11,931 per ton down by -20% from 2021.

The average tonnage charge for the number one importer of non-crushed and unground cardamoms, United Arab Emirates, was lower at $9,241.

Ranked in ascending order, listed below are the countries paying the lowest average unit prices for imported raw cardamoms in 2022.

  1. Liberia: US$111 per ton (down -96.3% from 2021)
  2. Senegal: $500 per ton (2021 data unavailable)
  3. Tanzania: $750 per ton (2021 data unavailable)
  4. Ethiopia: $952 per ton (down -26.8%)
  5. Angola: $1,000 per ton (down -40%)
  6. Botswana: $1,000 per ton (2021 data unavailable)
  7. Guatemala: $1,139 per ton (down -43%)
  8. Nigeria: $1,333 per ton (2021 data unavailable)
  9. Malta: $1,778 per ton (2021 data unavailable)
  10. Grenada: $2,000 per ton (2021 data unavailable)
  11. Uzbekistan: $2,000 per ton (down -84.6%)
  12. Tajikistan: $2,182 per ton (2021 data unavailable)
  13. Kenya: $2,333 per ton (down -41.7%)
  14. Seychelles: $3,600 per ton (up 45.9%)
  15. Cyprus: $3,714 per ton (down -82.2%)

The greatest reductions in average unit price paid per ton for non-crushed and unground cardamoms from 2021 to 2022 belong to low-cost importers Liberia (down -96.3%), Uzbekistan (down -84.6%) and Cyprus (down -82.2%).

The following countries paid the highest average unit prices for imported unprocessed cardamoms.

  1. Hungary: US$35,000 per ton (up 18.6% from 2021)
  2. Ireland: $28,667 per ton (down -6.4%)
  3. Switzerland: $28,500 per ton (down -22.3%)
  4. Uruguay: $26,000 per ton (down -3.7%)
  5. Belgium: $25,857 per ton (up 29.3%)
  6. Denmark: $25,273 per ton (up 12.3%)
  7. Norway: $24,824 per ton (down -11.3%)
  8. Macao: $23,500 per ton (up 18.3%)
  9. Romania: $23,444 per ton (down -0.4%)
  10. Portugal: $22,000 per ton (down -43.9%)
  11. Costa Rica: $22,000 per ton (up 144.4%)
  12. Poland: $21,634 per ton (up 0.6%)
  13. Estonia: $21,571 per ton (down -41.4%)
  14. Guyana: $21,000 per ton (down -3.7%)
  15. Lithuania: $21,000 per ton (down -13.7%)

The greatest accelerations in terms of higher average unit prices paid in 2022 compared to 2021 were experienced by importers in Costa Rica (up 144.4%), Belgium (up 29.3%), Hungary (up 18.6%), Macao (up 18.3%) and Denmark (up 12.3%).

Imported Crushed or Ground Cardamoms: Lowest and Highest Unit Prices

In 2022, the world’s average unit price for imports of crushed and ground cardamoms was US$10,936 per ton down by -31.3% from an average $15,912 per ton for 2021.

The average tonnage charge for the number one importer of crushed and ground cardamom (by weight), the United States of America, was higher at $11,168.

Ranked in ascending order, listed below are the countries paying the lowest average unit prices for imported crushed and ground cardamoms in 2022.

  1. Honduras: US$200 per ton (2021 data unavailable from 2021)
  2. Hong Kong: $419 per ton (down -98.6%)
  3. Democratic Rep. Congo: $500 per ton (2021 data unavailable)
  4. Senegal: $500 per ton (up 350.5%)
  5. Guatemala: $587 per ton (down -0.8%)
  6. Angola: $1,000 per ton (2021 data unavailable)
  7. Panama: $1,000 per ton (down -80%)
  8. Iran: $1,000 per ton (2021 data unavailable)
  9. Pakistan: $1,229 per ton (down -38.4%)
  10. Benin: $2,000 per ton (2021 data unavailable)
  11. Namibia: $2,000 per ton (up 199.9%)
  12. Tajikistan: $2,278 per ton (down -24.1%)
  13. Ethiopia: $2,387 per ton (up 19.4%)
  14. Vietnam: $2,458 per ton (2021 data unavailable)
  15. Seychelles: $2,500 per ton (2021 data unavailable)

The severest reduction in average unit price paid per ton for crushed and ground cardamoms from 2021 to 2022 belongs to low-cost importers Hong Kong (down -98.6%), Panama (down -80%), Pakistan (down -38.4%) and Tajikistan (down -24.1%).

The following countries paid the highest average unit prices for imported crushed or ground cardamoms.

  1. Finland: US$277,500 per ton (up 562.6% from 2021)
  2. Morocco: $59,000 per ton (2021 data unavailable)
  3. Russia: $39,200 per ton (up 8.9%)
  4. Slovenia: $39,000 per ton (2021 data unavailable)
  5. Thailand: $36,750 per ton (down -21.8%)
  6. Oman: $36,000 per ton (up 84.6%)
  7. Portugal: $34,000 per ton (down -20.9%)
  8. Switzerland: $33,667 per ton (down -3.5%)
  9. Romania: $32,000 per ton (up 40.3%)
  10. Austria: $31,125 per ton (down -13.3%)
  11. Ireland: $30,400 per ton (down -16%)
  12. Denmark: $29,859 per ton (down -7%)
  13. Italy: $28,250 per ton (down -0.3%)
  14. Estonia: $25,931 per ton (down -23%)
  15. Mali: $25,000 per ton (down -3.8%)

The strongest accelerations in terms of higher average unit prices in 2022 compared to 2021 were paid by importers of crushed or ground cardamoms in Finland (up 562.6%), Oman (up 84.6%) and Romania (up 40.3%).

See also Top Exported Spices by Sales, Weight and Unit Value, Cinnamon Exports by Country, Top Black Pepper Exports & Imports by Country Plus Average Prices, Top Cloves Exports & Imports by Country Plus Average Prices and Top Nutmeg Exports & Imports by Country Plus Average Prices

Research Sources:
Alibaba, Cardamoms Showroom. Accessed on October 17, 2023

Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Field Listing: Exports – Commodities. Accessed on October 17, 2023

International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on October 17, 2023

Wikipedia, Cardamom. Accessed on October 17, 2023