Turmeric is a plant-based spice from the ginger family. It is typically associated with a sharp orange-yellow powder used as a coloring and pepper-like flavoring ingredient for food dishes including curry, but also serves as a clothing dye.
Worldwide exports of turmeric appreciated by an average 7% from 5 years earlier in 2019 when turmeric exports totaled $305.6 million.
Year over year, the dollar value of turmeric exports fell by -4.4% compared to $342.1 million for 2022.
The 5 biggest turmeric exporters (India, Netherlands, Myanmar, Fiji and Germany) generated almost four-fifths (78.8%) of globally exported turmeric sales during 2023.
Applying a continental lens, countries in Asia sold the greatest dollar worth of exported turmeric during 2023 with shipments valued at $254.7 million or 77.9% of the global total. In second place were exporters in Europe at 12.6%. Smaller percentages came from sellers located in Oceania (4.2%) mostly Fiji and Australia, Latin America (2.3%) including the Caribbean, North America (1.7%) mostly the United States of America, then Africa (1.6%).
Turning our focus to turmeric imports, the 5 leading importers of turmeric in 2023 were the United States of America, Bangladesh, United Arab Emirates, India and Germany. Collectively, that quintet of top buyers generated 41% of global spending on imported turmeric.
Those percentages suggest a more concentrated cohort of 113 turmeric exporters in total (78.8% for top 5 suppliers) compared to 190 importing countries, islands and territories and its top 5 importers (41% for the respective imports total).
From a continental perspective, 45.6% of globally imported turmeric was delivered to Asian countries trailed by importers in Europe (22%), North America (17.7%) then Africa (9.3%), Latin America (3.8%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, then Oceania (1.5%) mostly Australia.
In 2023, the worldwide average unit price paid by importers was $1,388 per ton of turmeric. That dollar amount reflects a -16.2% price reduction from the average tonnage rate of $1,657 for 2022.
For research purposes, the 6-digit Harmonized Tariff System code prefix is 091030 for turmeric also referred to as curcuma.
Top Turmeric Exports by Country
Below are the top 15 countries that exported the highest dollar value worth of turmeric during 2023.
- India: US$212.7 million (65% of turmeric exports)
- Netherlands: $13.3 million (4.1%)
- Myanmar: $12.7 million (3.9%)
- Fiji: $10.3 million (3.1%)
- Germany: $8.7 million (2.7%)
- Indonesia: $8.5 million (2.6%)
- Peru: $5.3 million (1.6%)
- United States: $5.2 million (1.6%)
- Vietnam: $4.6 million (1.4%)
- Spain: $4.5 million (1.4%)
- France: $3.6 million (1.1%)
- Australia: $3.4 million (1%)
- Ethiopia: $3.1 million (0.9%)
- Austria: $2.9 million (0.9%)
- Cambodia: $2.7 million (0.8%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 92.1% of globally exported turmeric in 2023.
Among the top exporters, the fastest-growing turmeric exporters since 2022 were: France (up 68.4%), Peru (up 35.7%), Spain (up 31.1%) and Austria (up 29.6%).
Those leading supplier countries that posted declines in their exported turmeric sales were led by: Vietnam (down -37.1% from 2022), Myanmar (down -26.6%), Cambodia (down -16%), Indonesia (down -8.3%) and the Netherlands (down -7.5%).
Top Turmeric Imports by Country
The overall cost for imported turmeric expanded by 12.2% over the 5-year period starting in 2019 but dropped by -9.6% since 2022.
Below are the 15 best buying markets as measured by the highest dollar value worth of turmeric imported during 2023.
- United States: US$50.8 million (15.1% of turmeric imports)
- Bangladesh: $37.5 million (11.1%)
- United Arab Emirates: $19.2 million (5.7%)
- India: $15.4 million (4.6%)
- Germany: $15.3 million (4.5%)
- Malaysia: $12.9 million (3.8%)
- Morocco: $12.7 million (3.8%)
- mainland China: $11.4 million (3.4%)
- Netherlands: $11.2 million (3.3%)
- United Kingdom: $11.1 million (3.3%)
- Japan: $9.3 million (2.8%)
- Canada: $7.8 million (2.3%)
- Saudi Arabia: $7.3 million (2.2%)
- France: $6.9 million (2.1%)
- Iran: $6.3 million (1.9%)
By value, the listed 15 countries bought 69.7% of globally imported turmeric in 2023.
Among the top importers, the fastest-growing turmeric importers since 2022 were: United Arab Emirates (up 105.9%), Bangladesh (up 30.7%), Malaysia (up 7.6%) and France (up 7.2%).
Those countries that posted declines in their imported turmeric purchases were led by: Iran (down -79% from 2022), India (down -43.9%), Saudi Arabia (down -36.2%), mainland China (down -29.7%) and the Netherlands (down -19.1%).
Lowest and Highest Unit Prices for Imported Turmeric
In 2023, the world’s average unit price for imported turmeric was US$1,388 per ton down by -16.2% from an average tonnage rate of $1,657 for 2022.
The average tonnage charge paid by the number one turmeric importer, the United States of America, was lower at $1,000 per ton–perhaps benefiting from economies of scale.
Ranked in ascending order, listed below are the countries paying the lowest average unit prices for imported turmeric in 2023.
- India: US$167 per ton (down -88.3% from 2022)
- mainland China: $182 per ton (down -76.3%)
- United Arab Emirates: $385 per ton (down -66.7%)
- Canada: $388 per ton (down -90.2%)
- Netherlands: $497 per ton (down -77.5%)
- Bangladesh: $500 per ton (down -49.7%)
- Morocco: $700 per ton (down -51.5%)
- Iran: $704 per ton (down -39.2%)
- Japan: $744 per ton (down -67.9%)
- France: $769 per ton (down -75%)
- United Kingdom: $784 per ton (down -71.3%)
- Malaysia: $838 per ton (down -35.3%)
- Saudi Arabia: $965 per ton (down -44%)
- United States of America: $1,000 per ton (down -78.4%)
- Germany: $1,000 per ton (down -64%)
Posting the strongest reductions in average unit price per ton for turmeric were low-cost importers Canada (down -90.2% from 2022), India (down -88.3%), United States of America (down -78.4%), Netherlands (down -77.5%) and mainland China (down -76.3%).
The following countries paid for imported turmeric costing the highest average unit prices.
- Marshall Islands: US$72,333 per ton (up 3516.7% from 2022)
- British Virgin Islands: $12,000 per ton (up 500%)
- Cuba: $11,500 per ton (up 283.3%)
- Greenland: $9,286 per ton (2022 data unavailable)
- Lesotho: $8,934 per ton (up 197.8%)
- Benin: $8,857 per ton (up 608.6%)
- Comoros: $8,758 per ton (2022 data unavailable)
- Solomon Islands: $8,000 per ton (up 255.6%)
- Belize: $8,000 per ton (up 100%)
- Guinea: $7,692 per ton (up 92.3%)
- Malawi: $7,488 per ton (2022 data unavailable)
- Saint Vincent /Grenadines: $7,133 per ton (up 42.7%)
- Saint Kitts/Nevis: $7,000 per ton (up 250%)
- Liberia: $6,905 per ton (up 1693.5%)
- Faroe Islands: $6,857 per ton (2022 data unavailable)
The leaders in terms of inflated average unit prices paid in 2023 compared to 2022 were Marshall Islands (up 3,517%), Liberia (up 1,694%), Benin (up 608.6%), British Virgin Islands (up 500%) then Cuba (up 283.3%).
See also Top Exported Spices by Sales, Weight and Unit Value, Cinnamon Exports by Country, Top Garlic Exports by Country, Top Ginger Exporters and Top Peppermint Exports & Imports by Country
Research Sources:
Alibaba, Turmeric Showroom. Accessed on October 4, 2024
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Field Listing: Exports – Commodities. Accessed on October 4, 2024
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on October 4, 2024
Wikipedia, Turmeric. Accessed on October 4, 2024