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Top Nutmeg Exports & Imports by Country Plus Average Prices

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Nutmeg nuts plus powder
Nutmeg powder
In 2021, exports of nutmeg were worth a total US$276.9 million. Note that metrics for nutmeg in this article exclude mace, the seed covering from the nutmeg fruit.

Exports of nutmeg expanded in value by an overall average 93.2% since 2017 when export sales for nutmeg were $183.4 million.

Year over year, overall export sales of the fragrant spice accelerated by 38.9% compared to $199.3 million for 2020.

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.

Key Geographic Insights for Nutmeg Exports & Imports

By value, the 5 biggest exporters of nutmeg are Indonesia, India, Turkey, Netherlands and Sri Lanka. Combined, that subgroup of leading suppliers sold over three-quarters (76%) of all nutmeg exported during 2021.

Applying a continental perspective, countries in Asia supplied the highest dollar worth of exported nutmeg during 2021 with shipments valued at $177.8 million or 79.7% of the global total. In second place were exporters in Europe (18%) trailed by those in North America (1.7%), Latin America (0.36%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, Africa (0.16%), then Oceania (0.08%) led by Australia.

Shifting our focus to imports, the 5 leading importers of nutmeg in 2021 are mainland China, Vietnam, United Arab Emirates, Germany and the United States of America. Collectively, that quintet of major import countries bought more than half (54.9%) of globally imported nutmeg as measured by dollar value.

The above percentages suggest the total 70 exporters of nutmeg (76% for the corresponding top 5 exporters) is a more concentrated cohort compared to the leaders of the 150 buying countries, islands and territories. The top 5 importers accounted for a smaller portion of its world total at 54.9%.

As for global imports of nutmeg by continent, 65.2% of nutmeg purchased on international markets was delivered to customers in Asia ahead of importers in Europe (20.5%), Latin America (4.7%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, Africa (5.3%), North America (4%) and Oceania (0.2%) led by Australia.

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, 72% of world nutmeg export sales was for the spice in its raw form. The remaining 28% was paid 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 2021, regardless of whether the shipped nutmeg was crushed or ground.

  1. Indonesia: US$118.6 million (42.8% of total exported nutmeg)
  2. India: $31.4 million (11.3%)
  3. Turkey: $23.6 million (8.5%)
  4. Netherlands: $20 million (7.2%)
  5. Sri Lanka: $16.9 million (6.1%)
  6. Germany: $13.7 million (4.9%)
  7. Italy: $9.4 million (3.4%)
  8. United States: $6.4 million (2.3%)
  9. Austria: $6.4 million (2.3%)
  10. Poland: $3.8 million (1.4%)
  11. China: $3.8 million (1.4%)
  12. Grenada: $3.7 million (1.3%)
  13. Spain: $2.7 million (1%)
  14. Hong Kong: $2.4 million (0.9%)
  15. Malaysia: $1.6 million (0.6%)
  16. Vietnam: $1.5 million (0.5%)
  17. Thailand: $1.4 million (0.5%)
  18. France: $1.3 million (0.5%)
  19. Estonia: $1.2 million (0.4%)
  20. Belgium: $1.2 million (0.4%)

By value, the listed 20 countries shipped 97.9% of globally exported nutmeg in 2021 encompassing both raw and processed versions.

Among the top exporters, the fastest-growing nutmeg exporters since 2020 were: Estonia (up 371.8%), Austria (up 308.7%), United States of America (up 285%) and mainland China (up 224.4%).

A trio of major suppliers posted year-over-year declines in their exported nutmeg sales namely Vietnam (down -91.3%), Belgium (down -58.2%) and France (down -38.5%).

Top Nutmeg Imports by Country

The overall cost for imported nutmeg was $122.6 million, expanding by 29.6% over the 5-year period starting in 2017 but declined by -35.6% year over year compared to 2020.

Below are the 20 best buying markets as measured by the highest dollar value worth of nutmeg imported during 2021, for any nutmeg regardless of whether crushed or ground.

  1. China: US$33.2 million (27.1% of total imported nutmeg)
  2. Vietnam: $10.7 million (8.7%)
  3. United Arab Emirates: $10.2 million (8.3%)
  4. Germany: $7.9 million (6.5%)
  5. United States: $5.3 million (4.3%)
  6. India: $3.9 million (3.2%)
  7. Egypt: $3.69 million (3%)
  8. Spain: $3.66 million (3%)
  9. Netherlands: $3.5 million (2.9%)
  10. Japan: $3.3 million (2.7%)
  11. Italy: $2.90 million (2.4%)
  12. Pakistan: $2.87 million (2.3%)
  13. Dominican Republic: $2 million (1.6%)
  14. Brazil: $1.74 million (1.4%)
  15. Canada: $1.70 million (1.4%)
  16. Poland: $1.67 million (1.4%)
  17. Argentina: $1.5 million (1.3%)
  18. Nigeria: $1.4 million (1.2%)
  19. Singapore: $1.27 million (1%)
  20. Iran: $1.26 million (1%)

By value, the listed 20 countries bought 84.6% of globally imported nutmeg in 2021.

Among the top importers, the fastest-growing nutmeg importers since 2020 were: Nigeria (up 1,006%), Pakistan (up 65.2%), Poland (up 45%) and Brazil (up 44.3%).

Those countries that posted declines in their imported nutmeg purchases were led by: Netherlands (down -68.1%), United States of America (down -64.6%), Germany (down -46.6%), Italy (down -44.6%) and Japan (down -42.1%).

Imported Raw Nutmeg: Lowest and Highest Unit Prices

In 2021, the world’s average unit price for imports of non-crushed and unground nutmeg was US$6,419 per ton. That dollar metric reflects a 12.6% increase from 2020.

The average tonnage charge for the number one importer of non-crushed and unground nutmeg, mainland China, was lower at $5,608–benefiting in part from economies of scale.

Ranked in ascending order, listed below are the countries paying the lowest average unit prices for imported raw nutmeg in 2021.

  1. Saint Kitts & Nevis: US$5 per ton (down -13.8% from 2020)
  2. Trinidad & Tobago: $8 per ton (up 15.7%)
  3. Tanzania: $214 per ton (2020 data unavailable)
  4. Senegal: $236 per ton (down -2.9%)
  5. Congo: $333 per ton (down -28.7%)
  6. Nigeria: $775 per ton (up 7%)
  7. Angola: $1,083 per ton (down -10.8%)
  8. Guyana: $1,414 per ton (up 6.1%)
  9. Ethiopia: $1,488 per ton (down -5.9%)
  10. Bolivia: $1,500 per ton (down -25%)
  11. Zambia: $1,500 per ton (2020 data unavailable)
  12. Turkey: $1,876 per ton (down -36.3%)
  13. Uzbekistan: $2,111 per ton (up 111.1%)
  14. Yemen: $2,667 per ton (down -24%)
  15. Spain: $2,734 per ton (down -3.2%)

There were 6 double-digit percentage reductions in average unit price paid per ton for non-crushed and unground nutmeg from 2020 to 2021. Those low-cost importers were Turkey (down -36.3%), Congo (down -28.7%), Bolivia (down -25%), Yemen (down -24%), Saint Kitts & Nevis (down -13.8%) then Angola (down -10.8%).

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

  1. Denmark: US$38,500 per ton (down -30% from 2020)
  2. Slovenia: $37,000 per ton (down -7.5%)
  3. Sweden: $31,000 per ton (down -8.8%)
  4. Portugal: $23,750 per ton (up 14.7%)
  5. Cuba: $23,000 per ton (2020 data unavailable)
  6. Norway: $21,750 per ton (down -13.9%)
  7. Luxembourg: $19,000 per ton (down -2.6%)
  8. Estonia: $17,778 per ton (down -1.7%)
  9. Serbia: $17,500 per ton (up 64.1%)
  10. Austria: $17,108 per ton (up 27%)
  11. Ireland: $17,000 per ton (down -5.6%)
  12. Switzerland: $16,290 per ton (up 12.9%)
  13. Slovakia: $16,000 per ton (up 28%)
  14. Central African Republic: $16,000 per ton (2020 data unavailable)
  15. South Korea: $14,298 per ton (down -3.1%)

There were 5 increases in terms of higher average unit prices paid in 2021 compared to 2020 among these major importers. These were experienced by importers in Serbia (up 64.1%), Slovakia (up 28%), Austria (up 27%), Portugal (up 14.7%) and Switzerland (up 12.9%).

Imported Crushed or Ground Nutmeg: Lowest and Highest Unit Prices

In 2021, the world’s average unit price for imports of crushed and ground nutmeg was calculated to be US$7,006 down by -4.6% from $7,341 per ton during 2020. That average metric exceeds the $6,419 per ton for raw nutmeg, and is due in part to labor and other processing expenses.

The average tonnage charge for the number one importer of crushed or ground nutmeg, United States of America, was an above-average $7,593.

Ranked in ascending order, listed below are the countries paying the lowest average unit prices for imported crushed and ground nutmeg in 2021.

  1. Saint Kitts & Nevis: US$5 per ton (down -6.7% from 2020)
  2. Trinidad & Tobago: $10 per ton (up 152.6%)
  3. Senegal: $250 per ton (down -28.2%)
  4. Nigeria: $524 per ton (down -3.5%)
  5. Congo: $600 per ton (down -45.2%)
  6. Benin: $667 per ton (down -66.7%)
  7. Turkmenistan: $1,000 per ton (down -50%)
  8. Belize: $1,000 per ton (no change)
  9. Mozambique: $1,667 per ton (no change)
  10. Ethiopia: $1,800 per ton (up 29.4%)
  11. Angola: $2,000 per ton (up 150%)
  12. Kenya: $2,000 per ton (down -50%)
  13. Guyana: $2,000 per ton (2020 data unavailable)
  14. Zambia: $2,000 per ton (down -50%)
  15. Bahamas: $3,000 per ton (down -64.7%)

The severest reductions in average unit price paid per ton for crushed or ground nutmeg from 2020 to 2021 were low-cost importers Benin (down -66.7%), Bahamas (down -64.7%), Turkmenistan (down -50%), Kenya (down -50%), Zambia (also down -50%) and Congo (down -45.2%).

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

  1. Finland: US$150,000 per ton (up 35.1% from 2020)
  2. Oman: $29,000 per ton (up 151%)
  3. Luxembourg: $25,000 per ton (up 8.7%)
  4. Cabo Verde: $23,000 per ton (up 84%)
  5. Bosnia & Herzegovina: $22,000 per ton (down -12%)
  6. Morocco: $19,000 per ton (up 5.6%)
  7. Thailand: $17,375 per ton (down -10.1%)
  8. Slovenia: $17,250 per ton (down -16.5%)
  9. Mauritius: $17,000 per ton (up 30.8%)
  10. Serbia: $16,778 per ton (up 17.1%)
  11. Peru: $16,333 per ton (up 5.4%)
  12. Hong Kong: $16,000 per ton (down -44.8%)
  13. Portugal: $15,808 per ton (up 9.8%)
  14. Ireland: $15,800 per ton (up 7.9%)
  15. Dominican Republic: $15,667 per ton (up 5.6%)

The greatest increases in terms of higher average unit prices paid in 2021 compared to 2020 were experienced by importers of crushed or ground nutmeg in Oman (up 151%), Cabo Verde (up 84%), Finland (up 35.1%), Mauritius (up 30.8%) and Serbia (up 17.1%).

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 November 24, 2022

Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Field Listing: Exports – Commodities. Accessed on November 24, 2022

International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on November 24, 2022

Wikipedia, Nutmeg. Accessed on November 24, 2022