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Top Nutmeg Exports & Imports by Country Plus Average Prices

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Nutmeg nuts plus powder
Nutmeg powder
In 2024, exports of nutmeg were worth a total US$218.3 million. Metrics for nutmeg specified in this article exclude mace, the seed covering from the nutmeg fruit.

Exports of nutmeg rose in value by an average 9.5% since 5 years earlier in 2020 when export sales for nutmeg were $199.4 million.

Year over year, overall export sales of the fragrant spice fell by -8.6% starting from $239 million in 2023.

Nutmeg means the seed or ground spice of the fruit from a dark-leaved evergreen tree. Sweet-tasting nutmeg is used in spicy soups, meat stews and gravies, potato and spinach dishes, rice pudding, mulled cider and eggnog. Nutmeg is also a celebrated ingredient in pumpkin pie and baked squash. It is also used as a sprinkle on rum punch, and in jams, candy, essential oils and specialty butter.

By value, the 5 biggest exporters of nutmeg (Indonesia, India, Netherlands, Vietnam and Sri Lanka) sold well over four-fifths (85%) of all nutmeg exported during 2024.

Applying a continental perspective, countries in Asia supplied the highest dollar worth of exported nutmeg during 2024 with shipments valued at $173.9 million or 79.7% of the global total. In second place were exporters based in Europe (18.6%) trailed by those in North America (1.4%). Tinier percentages originated from suppliers in Latin America (0.2%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, Africa (0.11%) then those in Oceania (0.06%) mostly Australia.

Shifting our focus to imports, the 5 leading importers of nutmeg in 2024 were mainland China, Germany, United States of America, Netherlands and Vietnam. Collectively, that quintet of top import countries bought half (50.2%) of globally imported nutmeg as measured by dollar value.

The above percentages reinforce that the total 73 exporters of nutmeg (85% for the corresponding top 5 exporters) is a more concentrated cohort compared to some 175 buying countries, islands and territories. As specified above, the top 5 importers accounted for a smaller portion of its world total at 50.2%.

As for global imports of nutmeg by continent, 66.5% of spending on imported nutmeg bought on international markets was delivered to customers in Asia ahead of importers in Europe (19.4%), Latin America (5%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, Africa (4.9%), North America (3.9%), then Oceania (0.2%) led by Australia.

We calculated the average unit price paid by importers of non-crushed and unground nutmeg to be $5,982 per ton in 2024. That dollar amount reflects a -2.4% deflation rate from the average tonnage charge of $6,128 during 2023.

For crushed or ground nutmeg, the average unit price paid by importers was costlier at $8753 per ton in 2024 inflating by 3.6% compared to the average tonnage rate of $8,446 for 2023. The higher average price is driven partially by labor and other processing expenses.

For research purposes, the 6-digit Harmonized Tariff System code prefix is 080911 for nutmeg that is neither crushed nor ground, and 080912 for crushed or ground nutmeg.

Applying those categories, 71% of world nutmeg exports by value were for non-crushed and unground nutmeg. The remaining 29% was collected for crushed or ground nutmeg versus 28.7% one year earlier.

Top Nutmeg Exports by Country

Below are the top 20 countries that exported the highest dollar value worth of nutmeg during 2024, regardless of whether the shipped nutmeg was crushed or ground.

  1. Indonesia: US$111.4 million (51% of total exported nutmeg)
  2. India: $30.9 million (14.2%)
  3. Netherlands: $16.1 million (7.4%)
  4. Vietnam: $14.7 million (6.7%)
  5. Sri Lanka: $12.5 million (5.7%)
  6. Germany: $6.8 million (3.1%)
  7. Italy: $3.7 million (1.7%)
  8. Belgium: $2.4 million (1.1%)
  9. France: $2.3 million (1.1%)
  10. Spain: $2.1 million (1%)
  11. United States: $2.1 million (1%)
  12. Austria: $2 million (0.9%)
  13. Poland: $1.3 million (0.6%)
  14. United Kingdom: $1 million (0.5%)
  15. Malaysia: $916,000 (0.4%)
  16. Singapore: $893,000 (0.4%)
  17. Canada: $884,000 (0.4%)
  18. mainland China: $669,000 (0.3%)
  19. Laos: $636,000 (0.3%)
  20. Türkiye: $621,000 (0.3%)

By value, the listed 20 countries shipped 97.9% of globally exported nutmeg in 2024.

Among the top exporters, the fastest-growing nutmeg exporters since 2023 were: United Kingdom (up 12.3%), Austria (up 10.4%), France (up 6.4%) and India (up 5.9%).

Listed suppliers that posted declines in their exported nutmeg sales were led by: Belgium (down -35.6% from 2023), Vietnam (down -28.3%), Germany (down -20.7%), Canada (down -20.6%) and mainland China (down -14.1%).

Top Nutmeg Imports by Country

The overall spending on imported nutmeg expanded by 16.5% over the 5-year period starting in 2020 but declined by -1.1% year over year since 2023.

Below are the 20 best buying markets as measured by the highest dollar value worth of nutmeg imported during 2024, for any nutmeg regardless of whether crushed or ground.

  1. mainland China: US$45.9 million (20.7% of total imported nutmeg)
  2. Germany: $19.4 million (8.8%)
  3. United States: $18.2 million (8.2%)
  4. Netherlands: $14.4 million (6.5%)
  5. Vietnam: $13.3 million (6%)
  6. United Arab Emirates: $11.2 million (5.1%)
  7. France: $8.2 million (3.7%)
  8. India: $5.9 million (2.7%)
  9. Italy: $5.8 million (2.6%)
  10. United Kingdom: $5.5 million (2.5%)
  11. Egypt: $4.9 million (2.2%)
  12. Spain: $4.5 million (2%)
  13. Japan: $4.2 million (1.9%)
  14. Canada: $3.9 million (1.7%)
  15. Belgium: $3.5 million (1.6%)
  16. Argentina: $2.6 million (1.2%)
  17. Pakistan: $2.58 million (1.2%)
  18. Dominican Republic: $2.53 million (1.1%)
  19. Austria: $2.52 million (1.1%)
  20. Nigeria: $2.4 million (1.1%)

By value, the listed 20 countries bought 81.9% of globally imported nutmeg in 2024.

Among the top importers, the fastest-growing nutmeg importers since 2023 were: Nigeria (up 3,986%), Egypt (up 103.5%), Dominican Republic (up 39.2%) and Pakistan (up 16%).

Buyer countries that posted declines in their imported nutmeg purchases were led by: Belgium (down -47.6% from 2023), Japan (down -33.4%), Italy (down -15%), Austria (down -12.7%) and India (down -12.6%).

Imported Raw Nutmeg: Lowest and Highest Unit Prices

In 2024, the world’s average unit price for imports of non-crushed and unground nutmeg was US$5,982 per ton down by -2.4% from $6,128 one year earlier in 2023.

The average tonnage charge for the number one importer of non-crushed and unground nutmeg, mainland China, was lower at $5,083.

Ranked in ascending order, listed below are the countries paying the lowest average unit prices for imported raw nutmeg in 2024.

  1. Kazakhstan: US$405 per ton (down -19% from 2023)
  2. Senegal: $411 per ton (up 68.4%)
  3. Guinea: $500 per ton (2023 data unavailable)
  4. Angola: $750 per ton (down -50%)
  5. Uganda: $1,167 per ton (down -53.3%)
  6. Kenya: $1,281 per ton (down -70.6%)
  7. Seychelles: $1,500 per ton (down -55%)
  8. Madagascar: $1,500 per ton (2023 data unavailable)
  9. Uzbekistan: $1,526 per ton (down -12.8%)
  10. Spain: $1,713 per ton (down -26.4%)
  11. Türkiye: $1,714 per ton (down -35.5%)
  12. Ivory Coast: $1,800 per ton (down -10%)
  13. Laos: $2,000 per ton (2023 data unavailable)
  14. Timor-Leste: $2,000 per ton (up 300%)
  15. Barbados: $2,400 per ton (down -56.4%)

The greatest percentage reductions in average unit price paid per ton for non-crushed and unground nutmeg were low-cost importers Kenya (down -70.6%), Barbados (down -56.4%), Seychelles (down -55%), Uganda (down -53.3%) and Angola (down -50%).

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

  1. Denmark: US$42,333 per ton (up 6.9% from 2023)
  2. Slovenia: $32,000 per ton (2023 data unavailable)
  3. Guatemala: $28,000 per ton (up 138.3%)
  4. Sweden: $27,857 per ton (down -9.6%)
  5. Norway: $27,750 per ton (up 15.6%)
  6. Austria: $18,633 per ton (up 7%)
  7. Belgium: $18,575 per ton (up 38.5%)
  8. Cyprus: $18,000 per ton (up 23.3%)
  9. Lithuania: $17,000 per ton (down -22.7%)
  10. Hungary: $16,857 per ton (up 4.3%)
  11. Estonia: $16,625 per ton (up 7.3%)
  12. Serbia: $16,000 per ton (down -33.3%)
  13. Romania: $15,857 per ton (down -26.2%)
  14. Slovakia: $15,500 per ton (up 17%)
  15. Korea, Republic of: $14,533 per ton (down -4.2%)

The strongest accelerations in terms of higher average unit prices in 2024 compared to 2023 were paid by importers in Guatemala (up 138.3%), Belgium (up 38.5%), Cyprus (up 23.3%), Slovakia (up 17%), and Norway (up 15.6%).

Imported Crushed or Ground Nutmeg: Lowest and Highest Unit Prices

In 2024, the world’s average unit price for imports of crushed or ground nutmeg was US$8,753 per ton. That average metric surpasses the $8,446 per ton for raw nutmeg in 2023 by 3.6%.

The average tonnage charge for the number one importer of crushed or ground nutmeg, United States of America, was above average at $8,959.

Ranked in ascending order, listed below are the countries paying the lowest average unit prices for imported crushed and ground nutmeg in 2024.

  1. Senegal: US$200 per ton (down -55% from 2023)
  2. Kenya: $1,000 per ton (2023 data unavailable)
  3. Grenada: $1,000 per ton (2023 data unavailable)
  4. Angola: $1,382 per ton (down -40.4%)
  5. Syria: $1,500 per ton (down -50%)
  6. Seychelles: $1,667 per ton (up 66.7%)
  7. Belize: $2,000 per ton (2023 data unavailable)
  8. Namibia: $3,000 per ton (up 2,900%)
  9. Saint Kitts/Nevis: $3,000 per ton (2023 data unavailable)
  10. Belgium: $3,072 per ton (down -70.2%)
  11. Guyana: $3,500 per ton (down -75%)
  12. Jordan: $3,900 per ton (down -66.8%)
  13. Indonesia: $3,922 per ton (down -50.7%)
  14. Uzbekistan: $4,000 per ton (down -42.9%)
  15. Barbados: $4,167 per ton (down -37.8%)

The severest percentage reductions in average unit price paid per ton for crushed or ground nutmeg from 2023 to 2024 belong to low-cost importers Guyana (down -75%), Belgium (down -70.2%), Jordan (down -66.8%) and Senegal (down -55%).

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

  1. Peru: US$25,500 per ton (down -29.2% from 2023)
  2. Oman: $23,750 per ton (up 121.3%)
  3. Slovenia: $23,000 per ton (up 0.6%)
  4. Hong Kong: $19,000 per ton (up 18.8%)
  5. Thailand: $17,818 per ton (up 4.8%)
  6. Singapore: $17,714 per ton (up 40.9%)
  7. Ecuador: $17,667 per ton (up 21.2%)
  8. Uganda: $17,000 per ton (up 44.7%)
  9. Bosnia/Herzegovina: $17,000 per ton (up 17.2%)
  10. Finland: $16,778 per ton (down -26%)
  11. Norway: $16,737 per ton (down -2.6%)
  12. Switzerland: $16,704 per ton (down -3.3%)
  13. Croatia: $16,556 per ton (up 8%)
  14. Cabo Verde: $15,500 per ton (up 187%)
  15. Denmark: $15,071 per ton (down -3%)

The greatest accelerations in terms of higher average unit prices were paid by importers of crushed or ground nutmeg in Cabo Verde (up 187% from 2023), Oman (up 121.3%), Uganda (up 44.7%), Singapore (up 40.9%), Ecuador (up 21.2%) and Hong Kong (up 18.8%).

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

Research Sources:
Alibaba, Nutmeg Showroom. Accessed on August 26, 2025

Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Field Listing: Exports – Commodities. Accessed on August 26, 2025

International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on August 26, 2025

Wikipedia, Nutmeg. Accessed on August 26, 2025