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Top Nutmeg Exports & Imports by Country Plus Average Prices

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Nutmeg nuts plus powder
Nutmeg powder
In 2022, exports of nutmeg were worth a total US$254.8 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 53.3% since 2018 when export sales for nutmeg were $166.2 million.

Year over year, overall export sales of the fragrant spice grew by 3.3% starting from $246.6 in 2021.

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, Vietnam, Netherlands and the United Arab Emirates) sold about four-fifths (80.9%) of all nutmeg exported during 2022.

Applying a continental perspective, countries in Asia supplied the highest dollar worth of exported nutmeg during 2022 with shipments valued at $134.2 million or 80.2% of the global total. In second place were exporters in Europe (17.7%) trailed by those in North America (1.8%). Tinier percentages originated from suppliers in Latin America (0.2%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, then Africa (0.06%).

Shifting our focus to imports, the 5 leading importers of nutmeg in 2022 are mainland China, United States of America, Vietnam, Germany and the Netherlands. Collectively, that quintet of top import countries bought almost half (44.6%) of globally imported nutmeg as measured by dollar value.

The above percentages reinforce that the total 67 exporters of nutmeg (80.9% for the corresponding top 5 exporters) is a more concentrated cohort compared to 170-plus buying countries, islands and territories. The top 5 importers accounted for a smaller portion of its world total at 44.6%.

As for global imports of nutmeg by continent, 42.5% of spending on imported nutmeg bought on international markets was delivered to customers in Asia ahead of importers in Europe (34.3%), North America (11.2%), Africa (5.9%), Latin America (5.1%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, and Oceania (1%) led by Australia.

We calculated the average unit price paid by importers of non-crushed and unground nutmeg to be $7,344 per ton in 2022. That dollar amount reflects a 28.8% inflation rate from the average tonnage charge of $5,701 during 2021.

For crushed or ground nutmeg, the average unit price paid by importers was costlier at $9,757 per ton in 2022 up 32.9% compared to the average tonnage rate of $7,341 for 2021. 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, 56.8% of world nutmeg exports by value were for non-crushed and unground nutmeg. The remaining 43.2% was collected for crushed or ground nutmeg.

Top Nutmeg Exports by Country

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

  1. Indonesia: US$124.8 million (49% of total exported nutmeg)
  2. India: $26.1 million (10.3%)
  3. Vietnam: $23 million (9%)
  4. Netherlands: $18.7 million (7.3%)
  5. United Arab Emirates: $13.4 million (5.3%)
  6. Sri Lanka: $12.8 million (5%)
  7. Germany: $7.6 million (3%)
  8. Italy: $4.5 million (1.8%)
  9. Belgium: $3.2 million (1.2%)
  10. Spain: $2.7 million (1.1%)
  11. United States: $2.5 million (1%)
  12. Canada: $2.2 million (0.9%)
  13. France: $1.9 million (0.8%)
  14. Austria: $1.7 million (0.7%)
  15. Singapore: $1.3 million (0.5%)
  16. Malaysia: $1.2 million (0.5%)
  17. United Kingdom: $992,000 (0.4%)
  18. Poland: $982,000 (0.4%)
  19. China: $693,000 (0.3%)
  20. Sweden: $601,000 (0.2%)

By value, the listed 20 countries shipped 98.5% of globally exported nutmeg in 2022.

Among the top exporters, the fastest-growing nutmeg exporters since 2021 were: Spain (up 15.4%), United States of America (up 12.2%), United Arab Emirates (up 10.2%) and the United Kingdom (up 6.7%).

Those countries that posted declines in their exported nutmeg sales were led by: mainland China (down -40.3% from 2021), Belgium (down -24.2%), Sweden (down -13.6%), Germany (down -13.5%) and Singapore (down -12.8%).

Top Nutmeg Imports by Country

The overall cost for imported nutmeg expanded by 68.6% over the 5-year period starting in 2018 but declined by -2.9% year over year since 2021.

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

  1. China: US$34.7 million (14.3% of total imported nutmeg)
  2. United States: $21.3 million (8.8%)
  3. Vietnam: $20 million (8.3%)
  4. Germany: $17.2 million (7.1%)
  5. Netherlands: $14.8 million (6.1%)
  6. United Arab Emirates: $13 million (5.4%)
  7. Italy: $8.4 million (3.5%)
  8. France: $8.1 million (3.3%)
  9. India: $7.8 million (3.2%)
  10. Japan: $7.5 million (3.1%)
  11. United Kingdom: $6.8 million (2.8%)
  12. Canada: $5.6 million (2.3%)
  13. Spain: $5.5 million (2.3%)
  14. Belgium: $5.3 million (2.2%)
  15. Egypt: $4.4 million (1.8%)
  16. Brazil: $3.3 million (1.3%)
  17. Austria: $3 million (1.2%)
  18. Indonesia: $2.89 million (1.2%)
  19. Ghana: $2.87 million (1.2%)
  20. Argentina: $2.7 million (1.1%)

By value, the listed 20 countries bought 80.6% of globally imported nutmeg in 2022.

Among the top importers, the fastest-growing nutmeg importers since 2021 were: Indonesia (up 185.8%), Netherlands (up 45.2%), Canada (up 38.3%) and Italy (up 32%).

Those countries that posted declines in their imported nutmeg purchases were led by: mainland China (down -42.3% from 2021), Spain (down -19%), Belgium (down -16%), Egypt (down -9.6%) and Argentina (down -1.3%).

Imported Raw Nutmeg: Lowest and Highest Unit Prices

In 2022, the world’s average unit price for imports of non-crushed and unground nutmeg was US$7,344 per ton up by 28.8% from $5,701 one year earlier in 2021.

The average tonnage charge for the number one importer of non-crushed and unground nutmeg, mainland China, was lower at $4,821.

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

  1. Senegal: US$214 per ton (down -9.3% from 2021)
  2. Kazakhstan: $333 per ton (up 33.2%)
  3. Liberia: $333 per ton (down -50.1%)
  4. Congo: $429 per ton (up 28.8%)
  5. Timor-Leste: $500 per ton (same as prior year)
  6. Tanzania: $667 per ton (up 211.7%)
  7. Angola: $800 per ton (down -26.1%)
  8. Democratic Rep. Congo: $903 per ton (up 26.5%)
  9. Türkiye: $982 per ton (down -47.7%)
  10. Uganda: $1,000 per ton (up 33.3%)
  11. Kyrgyzstan: $1,000 per ton (2021 data unavailable)
  12. Cabo Verde: $1,333 per ton (down -87.9%)
  13. Nigeria: $1,376 per ton (up 77.5%)
  14. Uzbekistan: $1,500 per ton (down -28.9%)
  15. Ethiopia: $1,627 per ton (up 9.3%)

There were 5 double-digit percentage reductions in average unit price paid per ton for non-crushed and unground nutmeg from 2021 to 2022. These were low-cost importers Cabo Verde (down -87.9%), Liberia (down -50.1%), Türkiye (down -47.7%), Uzbekistan (down -28.9%) and Angola (down -26.1%).

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

  1. Sweden: US$33,000 per ton (up 6.5% from 2021)
  2. Denmark: $27,800 per ton (down -24.9%)
  3. Slovenia: $27,000 per ton (down -27%)
  4. Norway: $26,667 per ton (up 22.6%)
  5. Portugal: $21,143 per ton (down -11.4%)
  6. Switzerland: $19,000 per ton (up 16.6%)
  7. Luxembourg: $19,000 per ton (2021 data unavailable)
  8. Estonia: $18,833 per ton (up 5.9%)
  9. Serbia: $18,000 per ton (up 2.9%)
  10. Nicaragua: $18,000 per ton (up 86.2%)
  11. Hungary: $16,833 per ton (up 47.1%)
  12. Lithuania: $16,000 per ton (up 14.3%)
  13. Austria: $15,019 per ton (down -12.2%)
  14. Chile: $15,000 per ton (up 58.1%)
  15. Belgium: $14,987 per ton (up 11.9%)

The strongest accelerations in terms of higher average unit prices in 2022 compared to 2021 were paid by importers in Nicaragua (up 86.2%), Chile (up 58.1%) and Hungary (up 47.1%).

Imported Crushed or Ground Nutmeg: Lowest and Highest Unit Prices

In 2022, the world’s average unit price for imports of crushed or ground nutmeg was US$9,757 per ton. That average metric exceeds the $7,341 per ton for raw nutmeg in 2021 by 32.9%.

The average tonnage charge for the number one importer of crushed or ground nutmeg, United States of America, was above average at $10,028.

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

  1. Togo: US$409 per ton (2021 data unavailable)
  2. Democratic Rep. Congo: $440 per ton (down -9.8% from 2021)
  3. Congo: $440 per ton (down -26.7%)
  4. Benin: $667 per ton (2021 data unavailable)
  5. Namibia: $1,000 per ton (2021 data unavailable)
  6. Liberia: $1,400 per ton (down -37.8%)
  7. Botswana: $1,500 per ton (up 50%)
  8. Nigeria: $1,520 per ton (up 190.1%)
  9. Seychelles: $1,667 per ton (down -16.7%)
  10. Angola: $1,765 per ton (down -11.8%)
  11. Timor-Leste: $2,000 per ton (2021 data unavailable)
  12. Belize: $2,000 per ton (up 100%)
  13. Guyana: $3,000 per ton (up 50%)
  14. Kazakhstan: $3,385 per ton (up 53.9%)
  15. Ivory Coast: $3,500 per ton (down -12.5%)

There were 5 double-digit percentage reductions in average unit price paid per ton for crushed or ground nutmeg from 2021 to 2022. These were low-cost importers Liberia (down -37.8%), Congo (down -26.7%), Seychelles (down -16.7%), Ivory Coast (down -12.5%) and Angola (down -11.8%).

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

  1. Hong Kong: US$31,000 per ton (up 93.8% from 2021)
  2. Paraguay: $30,000 per ton (up 275%)
  3. Bosnia/Herzegovina: $23,000 per ton (up 4.5%)
  4. Luxembourg: $21,000 per ton (down -16%)
  5. Finland: $20,833 per ton (up 11.1%)
  6. Slovenia: $19,750 per ton (up 14.5%)
  7. Moldova: $19,000 per ton (up 128%)
  8. Mauritius: $19,000 per ton (up 11.8%)
  9. Dominican Republic: $17,750 per ton (up 13.3%)
  10. Ireland: $17,692 per ton (up 12%)
  11. Bermuda: $17,500 per ton (up 40%)
  12. Ecuador: $17,429 per ton (up 18.2%)
  13. Cyprus: $17,000 per ton (up 96.1%)
  14. Jamaica: $16,976 per ton (up 18.9%)
  15. Iceland: $16,000 per ton (up 33.3%)

The greatest accelerations in terms of higher average unit prices were paid by importers of crushed or ground nutmeg in Bosnia and Herzegovina (up 275% from 2021), Moldova (up 128%), Cyprus (up 96.1%) and Hong Kong (up 93.8%).

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 October 30, 2023

Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Field Listing: Exports – Commodities. Accessed on October 30, 2023

International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on October 30, 2023

Wikipedia, Nutmeg. Accessed on October 30, 2023