In this article, we look at the top 10 spice producing countries in the world. If you want to read about trends in the spice industry, go to Top 25 Spice Producing Countries in the World, where we have also discussed about some of the leading companies in the trade.
10. Nepal
Production (tonnes) in 2021: 397,021
Nepal is the tenth largest producer of spices in the world. In 2021, it exported over $7 million worth of spices, mainly to India, Hong Kong, and Germany.
9. Vietnam
Production (tonnes) in 2021: 449,519
Annual spice output in Vietnam is projected to be 466,000 tonnes by 2026. It is believed that turmeric has been cultivated in the country for more than a thousand years. Anise, black pepper, and cinnamon are other commonly used spices in Vietnam.
8. Thailand
Production (tonnes) in 2021: 509,117
Thailand, situated in southeast Asia, ranks eighth on the list of top spice producing countries in the world, with a total volume of production in excess of half a million in 2021 according to FAO. Thailand generated $84 million in spice export revenue in 2021. Pakistan is the largest buyer of Thai spices.
7. Ethiopia
Production (tonnes) in 2021: 617,893
Ethiopia is a country in East Africa, which is the seventh largest producer of spices in the world. There are four spices that are considered native to Ethiopia and are widely used in food ingredients. These are berbere, turmeric, black cardamom, and ajwain.
6. Türkiye
Production (tonnes) in 2021: 638,009
With an export revenue of $135 million attributed to spices in 2021, Türkiye is the among the largest exporters of spices in the world. Major destinations that received Turkish spice exports included the United States, China, Germany, Poland, and Canada. The country is also the 34th largest importer of spices.
5. Bangladesh
Production (tonnes) in 2021: 800.231
More than 70 different kinds of spices are grown in Bangladesh. A majority of them belong to the botanical families of ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, and black pepper. Bangladesh is the fifth largest producer of spices in the world with a total output of over 0.8 million tonnes in 2021.
4. Indonesia
Production (tonnes) in 2021: 809,474
Indonesia is the largest economy in southeast Asia. Spices help contribute in the nation’s economic success. Indonesia is the 23rd largest exporter of the commodity in the world, having generated $29 million in spice export revenue in 2021 according to the OEC.
3. Nigeria
Production (tonnes) in 2021: 837,495
Nigeria ranks third on the list of the top spice producing countries in the world. The country’s spice production volume is estimated to reach 1.2 million tonnes by 2026, at an annual compound growth rate of 3.1% starting from 2021.
2. China
Production (tonnes) in 2021: 1,259,634
China is the second largest producer of spices in the world, and in 2021, it was the biggest exporter of spices in the world, with an export trade volume of $783 million. Netherlands imported Chinese spices worth $90 million that year, which made it the top destination for Chinese spice exports. Sichuan peppercorn is a widely grown spice in China that is an important ingredient in Chinese, Nepalese, Tibetan, and Kashmiri cuisines.
1. India
Production (tonnes) in 2021: 7,771,730
India is the largest spice producing country in the world, with an estimated output volume of close to 8 million tonnes in 2021. More than 70% of the world’s total spices are grown in India. The country’s cuisine is popular all over the world due to the unique and scrumptious blend of flavorful spices in Indian dishes.
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