What is the demand for spices and herbs on the European market?

European imports of spices and herbs have been subject to various dynamics in the past few years. There is an increased interest in sustainably sourced spices, and related certification is becoming more important. Among the products in highest demand are dried chillies, ginger and pepper. Juniper berries and seeds of anise, badian, caraway, cinnamon and cardamom also offer good opportunities in the European market. 

1. What makes Europe an interesting market for spices and herbs?

Market size and dependence on external suppliers make Europe an attractive target market for suppliers from developing countries. The European countries that present the most opportunities overall are the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, the United Kingdom, Poland and France.

Europe's mature and large market offers stability for suppliers

Europe is a mature and diverse market for spices and herbs, home to two of the ten largest importing countries in the world. The overall demand in Europe is relatively stable, and volumes are large. With a population of almost 530 million consumers, Europe imports more spices and herbs than North and South America. Asia’s spices and herbs imports represent a considerable share (45%) of the global market volume. This is because the total and per capita consumption of spices and herbs is much higher in Asia than in other regions. Most of the world’s spices are produced and processed in tropical regions of Asia.

Source: GloballyCool based on UNComtrade, September 2024

Europe depends on imports from developing countries

Most of Europe's spice imports come from developing countries (all countries on the OECD-DAC list). This is different for herbs, as most herbs consumed in Europe are also produced within Europe. Figure 2 shows import volumes from developing countries peaking in 2021. This was mainly the result of record harvests of several spices and herbs that year. Europe imports about 490,000 tonnes of spices and herbs from developing countries every year. This is 16-18% of the global average annual volume of spices and herbs coming from developing countries. Europe is also an important destination for the more expensive spices and herbs. This is reflected in its higher (20-24%) share in global import value.

Source: GloballyCool based on UN Comtrade, September 2024

Over the 2019-2023 period, the import volume of spices and herbs grew at an average annual rate (CAGR) of +1.0%. Growth from developing countries was lower (+0.1%) and was highest for intra-European trade (+2.9%), while imports from the rest of the world (excluding developing countries) declined by -2.2%. 

Most herbs consumed in Europe are locally produced

The dependence on imports from developing countries also means that, for most products, there is not much competition from European producers. There are however a few exceptions. Production of dried herbs (and a few spices) takes place in France, Italy, Greece, Bulgaria, Poland, Romania, Spain, Hungary and Germany. Parsley and basil are among the most popular dried herbs, but European production also includes bay leaves, celery leaves, chives, coriander leaves, dill tips, chervil, fennel, marjoram, oregano, rosemary, sage, savoury, tarragon and thyme. 

Recent years seem to show a decline in herbs production in these European countries, but production is scattered across Europe and there is little sector-level data to prove this. However, if this is a trend and it continues and the lower domestic or regional supply is supplemented with imports, it could offer opportunities for developing country suppliers. 

Forecast: volumes to remain stable

In the short to medium term, European import volumes will remain relatively stable, possibly with limited growth due to the role of spices and herbs as a replacement for salt and a flavour enhancer in plant-based products. This does not mean that fluctuations will not take place: import volumes often fluctuate due to non-stable production levels in the countries of origin. 

Inflation is also influencing consumption of spices and herbs. In Europe, inflation was highest in 2022 (when food prices rose 8.4%) and 2023 (around 5.3%), and is expected to be considerably lower in 2024 and beyond (2.8% projected for 2024). 

In previous years, high inflation affected higher-end markets most. For example, the organic food market shrank in several European countries due to high prices, driving consumers to switch to conventional food products. This also negatively affected the market for organic spices and herbs. Looking ahead, though economic conditions remain weak in some countries (such as Germany), lower inflation will create good conditions for demand for organic and other higher-valued spices and herbs. 

Figure 3: Nutmeg in a Swiss mainstream supermarket

Source: GloballyCool, July 2023

According to the Harmonised index of consumer prices (HICP) in European Union (EU) markets, the index for salt, spices and culinary herbs was 134.21 points in August 2024 (EUROSTAT), compared to 115.18 points in October 2022. This means that consumer prices for these products went up by 16.5% in less than two years. Inflation peaked in the period of October 2022-December 2023. In 2024, inflation returned to substantially lower levels (around 2% on average).

European imports of spices and herbs are likely to increase moderately in the next years. After a slowdown in 2023, the EU economy is expected to grow by 1.0% in 2024 and a further 1.7-1.8% in 2025. Average inflation levels are predicted to drop to 2.7% in 2024 and 2.2% in 2025. Although the EU economy is forecast to pick up, growth rates are expected to remain lower than in South Asia and Southeast Asia, where economic and market growth have averaged much higher in the past decade.

European hubs will remain strong destinations

The most important ports for spices and herbs in Europe are Rotterdam (Netherlands), Hamburg (Germany), Antwerp (Belgium), Felixstowe (United Kingdom), Valencia (Spain) and Marseille (France). After products arrive at those ports they are unloaded and transported by truck to other parts of Europe. The Port of Rotterdam is the largest in Europe. 

The main destinations of spices and herbs imports are forecast to remain the same in the years to come. This means that the Netherlands will keep its position as the largest hub for spice imports into Europe. Other hubs in Europe are Germany (especially for black pepper from Brazil), France (vanilla from Madagascar) and Spain (dried chillies and particular herbs used in processing). 

Supply dynamics of single spices have a strong influence on imports

The average growth of the total market is greatly influenced by supply or market developments related to single spices. While this is impacting import values even more (because prices tend to fluctuate more than volumes), this also has an impact on the total import volume and its trajectory. 

Figure 4 shows that several spices experienced a small decline in imports in 2022-2023 (in line with the consumption slowdown due to inflation pressure), but there are also spices that follow a different pattern. For example: 

• Pepper: imports in 2022 dropped to levels lower than those of 2018, and plummeted further in 2023. Basically, the main reason for the lower imports since 2022 is the difficult economic situation in Europe.
• Curcuma: imports peaked in 2020 and 2021 because of COVID-19, with curcuma being used massively as an immunity booster. In 2022, imports dropped below the 2018 import volume. 2023 showed a small recovery of 4.5%.
• Cumin: imports peaked in 2021 due to record harvests. Because of misharvests in 2022 and 2023 (mostly in Türkiye), imports dropped in both years to levels almost as low as those of 2019.
• Nutmeg: imports peaked in 2019 and 2022, with between 8-10% lower volumes imported in 2020, 2021 and 2023.
• Cloves, ginger and vanilla: imports reached record volumes in 2021 and 2022, but declined in 2023. Vanilla production is dominated by Madagascar, where supply dynamics caused European import volumes to drop strongly in 2023. 

Also for the short-to-medium term, the expectation is that the supply volumes of certain spices will continue to show a dynamic pattern. Cumin and pepper are examples of such spices, with supply volumes strongly impacted by climate conditions in large supplying countries like India, Vietnam, Türkiye and Brazil. 

Table 1: European import volumes from developing countries, by spice, by year and averaged, 2019-2023

Source: GloballyCool based on UNComtrade, September 2024

*Juniper berries and seeds of anise, badian, caraway or fennel

Import of ground spices grows much faster than unground spices

There is a clear trend towards importing ground spices from developing countries. Although import volumes of ground spices (107,200 tonnes in 2023) are still much lower than of whole spices (301,700 tonnes), ground spices have grown at a much higher rate (+3.8% versus -1.1% per year on average). 

Table 2a: European imports of whole spices from developing countries, in thousand tonnes, 2019-2023

Source: GloballyCool, based on UNComtrade, September 2024

Table 2b: European imports of ground spices from developing countries, in thousand tonnes, 2019-2023

Source: GloballyCool, based on UNComtrade, September 2024

The trend of rising exports of ground spices to Europe at the cost of whole spices is likely to continue in the short to medium term. 

Above-average import growth for sustainably produced spices and herbs

The largest organic food markets in Europe are Germany, France, Italy and Switzerland, with estimated retail market values of €16, €14, €4.0 and €3.8 billion, respectively. As a percentage of the total market, organic food market volumes differ per country. In Germany, for example, this percentage is 4-5%.

Specific statistics for organic herbs and spices are not available, but the most traded and consumed herbs and spices – in first place pepper (black) and dried chilies, also ginger and curcuma – are also the most relevant in the organic market segment. In terms of share, organic black pepper is also the spice with the highest share of the total market, which is below 2-3% of total European imports. 

The latest report on imports of organic products to Europe mentions spices, however spices are part of a large category (tropical fruit, nuts and spices), of which spices only take a very small share. 

As an indication of the export potential to individual European countries, Figure 4 shows the number of organic‑certified importers of processed agricultural products for use in food in the largest European markets. Note that the United Kingdom and Switzerland are not included in this database, as neither country is part of the EU. The two countries, especially Switzerland, are important markets for organic spices and herbs.

Source: GloballyCool based on EU Commission database, July 2023

A large number of organic-certified importers in a country indicates market opportunities for organic produce, since importers need to be certified for trading organic produce. Therefore, the best opportunities for organic produce exports are in the EU markets displayed in Figure 4. 

In addition to organic-produced food, there is also growing consumer commitment to ethical and sustainably produced food. An important certification scheme with this focus is Fairtrade. Other certification schemes are Rainforest Alliance and BCorp. As the Fairtrade market is based on the certification scheme, traders can only trade Fairtrade-certified products if they have a certification too. 

Source: GloballyCool based on Fairtrade database, July 2023

Whereas the segment of organic spices and herbs is already small, this is even more the case for Fairtrade-certified produce. The pioneer market for Fairtrade-certified products is the United Kingdom, while Switzerland too has developed into an important market. 

One of the pioneering companies for Fairtrade-certified spices in the United Kingdom is Steenbergs. One of the market leaders in the United Kingdom, British Pepper and Spice, has also obtained a Fairtrade certificate. In Switzerland, two important Fairtrade-certified spices importers are Pronatec and JC Fridlin. Important Fairtrade-certified companies in the Netherlands are the business-to-business cinnamon specialist Royal Polak Spices and the trading house Catz. 

Following Figure 5, Germany has the highest number of Fairtrade-certified traders (111), followed by France (88), the Netherlands and Switzerland (both with 52). Together with the United Kingdom (48) and Italy (38), these countries offer the most potential for exporters of Fairtrade-certified spices and herbs. 

India has the largest number of Fairtrade-certified companies in the spices segment, while Egypt has the largest number in the herbs segment. Whereas the segment of organic spices and herbs is already small, the segment of Fairtrade-certified spices and herbs is even smaller (less than 0.5% of the total market volume).

The European market for Fairtrade-certified spices and herbs is expected to grow gradually over the next three to five years, influenced by the following trends and developments:

• Rising consumer awareness and demand for ethical products. This growing awareness, especially among younger consumers, is driving demand for Fairtrade products, including spices and herbs.
• Sustainability and traceability regulations: European Union regulations are increasingly focusing on sustainability, traceability and ethical sourcing. As these regulations tighten, manufacturers may turn to Fairtrade-certified sources to comply with new requirements and to appeal to consumers looking for responsibly sourced products.
• Retailers promoting Fairtrade: several major retailers in Europe (e.g. Coop in Switzerland, Lidl in Germany and several other countries, REWE Group in Germany) are gradually expanding their Fairtrade-certified product offerings in response to consumer demand. Increased shelf space and online visibility for Fairtrade spices and herbs could lead to greater awareness and sales.
• Growth in organic and health-conscious markets: the organic and health-conscious segments, while small, are growing in Europe. Consumers in these niches are often more willing to pay premiums for ethically and sustainably produced goods, which can benefit Fairtrade-certified spices and herbs.
• Education and marketing efforts: as the Fairtrade organisation and others continue to educate consumers about the benefits of Fairtrade-certified products, more people will purchase these products. Targeted marketing and certification visibility will be essential in expanding consumer awareness.

Supply chain challenges and potential higher costs for Fairtrade-certified spices could limit market growth, especially if inflation and economic uncertainty continue.

2. Which European markets offer the most opportunities for spices and herbs?

The main European markets for spices and herbs providing opportunities for exporters from developing countries are the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, the United Kingdom, Poland and France. These markets combine certain characteristics, mainly sizeable imports of spices and herbs from developing countries, total market size, and relevance of organic or Fairtrade market segments. 

Source: GloballyCool based on UNComtrade, September 2024

Each region has different supply profiles

You can group European countries into roughly four different regions: Western, Northern, Southern and Eastern Europe. Each region has a different profile if you look at their supplying regions. The most important characteristics and differences are: 

• Western Europe accounts for almost half (48% in 2023) of Europe's spices and herbs imports from developing countries. It is home to the two top importing countries, the Netherlands and Germany, while France is another large market, followed by Austria in fourth place. Western Europe is the dominant destination region for spices and herbs from South America (Brazil and Peru) and Southeast Asia (Vietnam and Indonesia). It is also the main market for intra-European trade coming from Western and Southern Europe. Furthermore, the region is a top destination for spices and herbs from East Asia (predominantly ginger from China).
• Southern Europe is the second-largest market for spices and herbs, accounting for 25% of European imports from developing countries. Spain is the region’s largest importing country, followed by Italy and Greece. The region stands out because of its large imports from East Asia, which is mainly dried chillies imported from China.
• Northern Europe accounts for 18% of Europe's imports from developing countries. The United Kingdom accounts for about two-thirds of the total market, followed by Sweden. This region stands out because of its relatively high imports from South Asia (dried chillies, cumin and curcuma from India).
• Eastern Europe takes 8% of European imports, with Poland accounting for over 50% of the region's imports from developing countries, followed by the Czech Republic and Bulgaria. Most of the region's imports, however come from the rest of Europe. Imports from outside Europe mostly come from East Asia (dried chillies and paprika, and ginger from China) and Southeast Asia (mainly pepper from Vietnam). 

Europe's largest destinations for spices and herbs

Source: GloballyCool based on UNComtrade, September 2024

In 2023, Spain (Southern Europe) became the largest destination for spices and herbs from developing countries. The Netherlands, Germany and France (Western Europe), the United Kingdom (Northern Europe) and Poland (Eastern Europe) followed. Buyers in these leading markets have a lot of experience in importing spices and herbs from developing countries. For that reason, you can best focus on these countries.

Spain: leading importer from developing countries

Spain is Europe's leading importer of spices and herbs from developing countries and also has the highest market share, with over 90% of all its spices and herbs imports sourced from developing countries (98,000 tonnes in 2023). Between 2019 and 2023, Spain’s overall imports of spices and herbs increased at an average annual rate (CAGR) of 5.4%. Its imports from developing countries grew at a CAGR of 5.9%.

Table 3: Most important developing countries supplying Spain

Source: GloballyCool based on UN Comtrade, September 2024

Spain mainly imports dried chillies and paprika, amounting to 74,000 tonnes in 2023 (+7.4% per year). It uses these products for the production of paprika (pimentón, often also known as ‘Spanish paprika’). Spain is Europe’s largest producer and processor of paprika and a range of dried paprika derivates that are widely used as colouring and flavouring agents, for example in food preparations. Spain is also a leading European market for saffron. Paprika and saffron are key ingredients in Spain's main rice dish, paella, and many other culturally important recipes. 

Spain's leading destinations for spices and herbs exports (mainly dried chillies and paprika) are the United Kingdom, Germany, France and the Netherlands. There are around 110 companies in Spain specialised in trading and manufacturing spices. The country has a very dynamic food industry, focused on formulations for food products, seasonings and spices.

The number of organic-certified importers of processed agricultural products for use in food in Spain is the third-highest in Europe. This looks promising, but it should be noted that this is a very broad category and not fully representative of the organic market opportunities in Spain. Spain is believed to be a smaller organic spice market than the United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands. One example of a Spanish organic-certified spice importer is Sabatër. 

3. Which products from developing countries have the most potential in the European market for spices and herbs?

This chapter spotlights six promising products to give an idea of the potential for spices and herbs in the European market. These products are dried chillies, ginger, pepper, juniper berries and miscellaneous seeds, cinnamon and cardamom. This selection was based on the performance of European (EU27 plus the United Kingdom plus Switzerland) import volumes from developing countries, combined with a review of market trends. 

Table 6: Top 6 spices and herbs imported by Europe from developing countries, import volume in thousand tonnes (2019-2023)

Source: GloballyCool based on UNComtrade, September 2024

The specific opportunities for your spices and herbs will highly depend on your supply capacities, including: 

• volume
• quality
• pricing
• certification

These aspects will define your target market and market segment. 

An important opportunity lies also in the situation that the number of supplying countries for certain spices and their quality levels may be too limited for certain European buyers. These buyers may therefore be open to new options that could help spread supply risks. Although several countries are important suppliers of spices and herbs, most individual countries supply only a limited range. 

Dried chillies and paprika

Capsicum (chilli and paprika) is a popular spice in European cuisine. The European market widely relies on imports, as capsicums grow best in warm, sunny climates. In 2023, direct imports of dried chillies and paprika from developing countries to Europe totalled 122,300 tonnes. This amounts to an average annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.7% since 2019. The spice called ‘allspice’ also belongs to this group of spices. 

Spain is by far Europe's largest import and processing hub of dried chillies and paprika, generally accounting for more than half of total European imports. Spain's import volumes grew by 7.4% per year in 2019-2023, reaching a record high of 74,400 tonnes in 2023. Germany comes in second place (15,200 tonnes in 2023), followed by the United Kingdom (8,400 tonnes) and the Netherlands (4,900 tonnes).

Table 8: Top developing countries supplying dried chillies and paprika to Europe in 2023

Source: GloballyCool based on UN Comtrade, September 2024

India is the world's largest producer of a wide variety of dried chillies. However, it is only Europe’s second-largest supplier, as the EU has tightened controls for pesticide presence for several capsicum varieties from India. This makes Europe a difficult market for Indian exporters of dried chillies. Currently, Europe imports most of its chillies from China. The market also offers interesting opportunities for smaller supplying countries. For example, Zambia has become Europe’s third-largest supplier within just a few years.

Ginger 

Ginger offers opportunities for exporters from many different developing countries. In 2023, direct imports of ginger from developing countries to Europe totalled 149,100 tonnes. This represents a CAGR of 0.4% since 2019. The Netherlands (62,400 tonnes), Germany (30,600 tonnes) and the United Kingdom (26,400 tonnes) are the top three destinations, accounting for a combined share of about 80% of European imports. Smaller markets include Spain (9,500 tonnes), Poland (4,400 tonnes) and Italy (3,200 tonnes).

The trade statistics for ginger include both dried and fresh ginger. Fresh ginger and dried whole ginger account for at least 80% of the total volume exported to Europe, and ground ginger for about 9%. The leading suppliers of dried ginger to Europe are China, Peru, Nigeria and India. Brazil, Thailand and Costa Rica mainly export fresh ginger to Europe, while China and Peru export both fresh and dried ginger to Europe. 

Table 7: Top developing countries supplying ginger to Europe in 2023

Source: GloballyCool based on UN Comtrade, September 2024

In the coming years, market growth is expected to be driven by several factors. These include the widespread use of ginger in the food and beverage industry, the health benefits of consuming ginger and research on the medical properties of ginger. For example, ginger tea has become very popular across Europe. While the fresh ginger market has greatly benefited from this trend, the dried and semi-dehydrated ginger market has also capitalised on the rising use of ginger as an ingredient in tea mixes and herbal infusions.

The expanding ginger market in Europe offers opportunities for exporters from developing countries. Buyers are increasingly willing to invest in long-term relationships or collaborations with their suppliers to ensure sufficient supplies. Certification, and especially sustainability certification, can give you a competitive edge when supplying ginger to the European market. 

Pepper 

Pepper is one of the most important and widely consumed spices in Europe. It is an important ingredient in many dishes. The popularity of pepper does not decrease over time, as its specific characteristics make it impossible to find a good substitute. Also, European consumers are used to the taste of pepper, given its centuries-long presence in European cuisine. In 2023, Europe imported 68,000 tonnes of pepper directly from developing countries.

Figure 8: Black pepper before harvesting, Vietnam

Source: GloballyCool, August 2024

Germany is the leading importer (18,900 tonnes in 2023, 28% of European imports), followed by the United Kingdom (9,200 tonnes, 13%), the Netherlands (8,200 tonnes, 12%) and France (6,800 tonnes, 10%). Countries such as Spain (4,000 tonnes), Austria (3,500 tonnes) and Italy (2,200 tonnes) also import substantial volumes.

Table 11: Top developing countries supplying pepper to Europe in 2023

Source: GloballyCool based on UN Comtrade, September 2024

Sustainability has become increasingly important and several pepper suppliers in developing countries are members of IDH’s Sustainable Spice Initiative. Nedspice, a large international producer of spices from the Netherlands, has partnered with them to assist farmers in sustainably improving their farming practices. By 2021, more than 2,300 farmers were involved in their Farmers Partnership Programme for the production of sustainable black pepper in Vietnam (Europe’s leading pepper supplier), and more than 500 were Rainforest Alliance-certified.

As pepper is the most common spice in Europe, it is also the spice for which organic-certified products are more easily available. Several mainstream supermarkets in Western Europe sell one or more types of organic‑certified pepper, like Albert Heijn from the Netherlands. Overall, the best opportunities for organic-certified pepper are in Western Europe, mostly in Germany, France and the Netherlands. The most important Fairtrade markets are the United Kingdom, Switzerland and Germany. 

Juniper berries and seeds of anise, badian and caraway

Juniper berries are an aromatic spice commonly used in traditional European dishes such as stews, roasts, sauerkraut and sauces. They are also used to flavour spirits like gin. Despite their name, juniper berries are actually the female seed cones of the coniferous juniper tree. As one of the few spices that grow in cold areas, juniper originates from Northern Europe and alpine regions. They are mainly imported as whole berries, neither crushed nor ground.

Import data for juniper berries also include seeds of anise, badian and caraway. In 2023, Europe imported 14,700 tonnes of these spices. Germany is Europe’s leading importer by far, accounting for around 40-50% of total imports (6,100 tonnes in 2023). The United Kingdom and Spain followed, with 13% of the import market each in 2023 (1,900 tonnes).

Table 9: Top developing countries supplying juniper berries and seeds of anise, badian and caraway to Europe in 2023

Source: GloballyCool based on UN Comtrade, September 2024

Egypt is Europe’s leading supplier of this product category, mainly due to exports of anise and caraway seeds. Türkiye is among the world’s leading producers of juniper berries. North Macedonian juniper berries are known for their quality and high essential oil content, making the country a preferred supplier for companies like Verstegen in the Netherlands.

Cinnamon

Cinnamon is an important spice with many applications in the European market, but most notably in the bakery segment. Also, Ceylon (not cassia) cinnamon is often considered a functional ingredient. An effective dose (1-6 gr per day) has anti-diabetic (blood sugar-lowering) effects. Mostly because of this property, Ceylon cinnamon has considerable growth potential in the European market. 

European imports of cinnamon (whole and crushed/ground) from developing countries reached 18,100 tonnes in 2023. These imports generally fluctuate between around 18,000 and 22,000 tonnes per year.

Table 10: Top developing countries supplying cinnamon to Europe in 2023

Source: GloballyCool based on UN Comtrade, September 2024

Vietnam is likely to further increase its market share in the next few years and overtake Indonesia as Europe’s leading supplier of cinnamon. Interestingly, although Vietnam has significantly grown its cinnamon production in the past decade, part of its exports are re-exported cinnamon originally imported from Indonesia. Vietnam is among Indonesia's most important export destinations for cinnamon. 

Sri Lanka's cinnamon exports have been under pressure due to the relatively high prices of its Ceylon cinnamon. Promising for Sri Lanka's cinnamon industry is that in 2022 the country received its first-ever Geographical Indication (GI) certification from the European Commission. Also, the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) has established Pure Ceylon Cinnamon as a global brand. This brand can be only used by companies that have acquired a relevant Food Safety Management System certificate. 

Organic and sustainably sourced cinnamon is mostly found in organic supermarkets in Europe like Ekoplaza (Netherlands), Bio c' Bon (France), and Alnatura and Biomarkt (Germany). In the United Kingdom, Switzerland and the main Nordic countries, organic-certified and Fairtrade-certified products can be found in mainstream supermarkets too. 

Cardamom

Cardamom, often called the ‘Queen of Spices’, holds a unique place in the European market, particularly due to its uses in ethnic cuisine and health products. European demand for cardamom is driven by the growing popularity of South Asian and Middle Eastern cuisines and its use in traditional European recipes. In the United Kingdom, cardamom is used in tea blends. 

In 2023, Europe imported 2.8 thousand tonnes of cardamom, mainly from developing countries such as Guatemala and India. Guatemala is the largest producer globally and supplies over 60% of Europe's cardamom imports, often at competitive prices. India meanwhile excels in the niche market for certified organic and Fairtrade cardamom, supplying nearly 9% of European imports.

The European market is focused on high-quality and sustainably sourced cardamom. Organic certification is gaining importance, with countries like Sweden and the UK leading organic product consumption. Single-origin spices are also becoming popular as consumers seek traceable and unique products with distinctive flavours. While whole cardamom dominates the European market in terms of volume, ground cardamom is more stable and appears to be a growing segment, particularly from Guatemala.

Guatemala and India dominate this market, but countries such as Honduras, Tanzania and Indonesia are emerging players, offering opportunities in niche segments that may not be fully exploited yet, such as for cardamom with a very volatile oil content. European buyers increasingly want transparency and sustainably produced and dried cardamom and are demanding strict compliance with food safety regulations. India faces particular challenges here, with cardamom shipments subject to increased border control following numerous incidents with high pesticide levels. 

Table 12: Top developing countries supplying cardamom to Europe in 2023

Source: GloballyCool based on UN Comtrade, September 2024

Preliminary forecasts for the 2024-2025 cardamom harvest in Guatemala, the world’s leading cardamom production country, indicated a lower production output, by up to 50%. Production will reach between 17,000 and 20,000 tonnes, down from the usual approximately 36,000 tonnes per year. This drop is expected to have a huge impact on global cardamom prices in the short to medium term and shows that the overreliance on one supply country makes the supply chain vulnerable. The production shortfall in Guatemala will create opportunities for other cardamom-producing countries.

Globally Cool carried out this study on behalf of CBI.

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