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 34.9% from 5 years earlier in 2020 when turmeric exports totaled $355.5 million.
Year over year, the dollar value of turmeric exports accelerated by 41% compared to $340.2 million for 2023.
The 5 biggest turmeric exporters (India, Netherlands, Vietnam, Myanmar and Fiji) generated over four-fifths (80.9%) of globally exported turmeric sales during 2024.
Applying a continental lens, countries in Asia sold the greatest dollar worth of exported turmeric during 2024 with shipments valued at $396.4 million or 82.6% of the global total. In second place were exporters in Europe at 9.5%. Smaller percentages came from sellers located in Oceania (3.4%) mostly Fiji and Australia, Latin America (2%) including the Caribbean, Africa (1.5%), then North America (1.1%) largely the United States of America.
Turning our focus to turmeric imports, the 5 leading importers of turmeric in 2024 were the United States of America, Bangladesh, United Arab Emirates, India and Malaysia. Collectively, that quintet of top buyers generated 44.6% of global spending on imported turmeric.
Those percentages suggest a more concentrated cohort of 113 turmeric exporters in total (80.9% for top 5 suppliers) compared to nearly 190 importing countries, islands and territories and its top 5 importers (44.6% for the respective imports total).
From a continental perspective, 54.6% of globally imported turmeric was delivered to Asian countries trailed by importers in Europe (18.5%), North America (13.2%) then Africa (9.3%), Latin America (3.2%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, then Oceania (1.1%) mostly Australia.
In 2024, the worldwide average unit price paid by importers was $1,896 per ton of turmeric. That dollar amount reflects a 20.2% price inflation from the average tonnage rate of $1,577 for 2023.
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 2024.
- India: US$333.2 million (69.5% of turmeric exports)
- Netherlands: $14.6 million (3.1%)
- Vietnam: $14.4 million (3%)
- Myanmar: $14.2 million (3%)
- Fiji: $11.4 million (2.4%)
- Germany: $9.3 million (1.9%)
- Peru: $7.5 million (1.6%)
- mainland China: $6.7 million (1.4%)
- Indonesia: $6.6 million (1.4%)
- United States: $4.9 million (1%)
- Australia: $4.69 million (1%)
- France: $4.65 million (1%)
- Spain: $4.62 million (1%)
- Bangladesh: $4.56 million (1%)
- Austria: $3.2 million (0.7%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 92.7% of globally exported turmeric in 2024.
Among the top exporters, the fastest-growing turmeric exporters since 2023 were: Vietnam (up 178.8%), mainland China (up 152.7%), India (up 56.7%) and Peru (up 42.7%).
Those countries that posted declines in their exported turmeric sales were: Bangladesh (down -26.2% from 2023), Indonesia (down -21.7%), United States of America (down -5.4%) and Germany (down -1.9%).
Top Turmeric Imports by Country
The overall cost for imported turmeric expanded by 43.8% over the 5-year period starting in 2020 and spiked by 46.7% since 2023.
Below are the 15 best buying markets as measured by the highest dollar value worth of turmeric imported during 2024.
- United States: US$56.2 million (11.2% of turmeric imports)
- Bangladesh: $53 million (10.5%)
- United Arab Emirates: $52.1 million (10.4%)
- India: $42.7 million (8.5%)
- Malaysia: $20 million (4%)
- Germany: $17.4 million (3.5%)
- Saudi Arabia: $15.6 million (3.1%)
- Morocco: $15.3 million (3%)
- Iran: $15.1 million (3%)
- mainland China: $13.3 million (2.6%)
- Netherlands: $13.2 million (2.6%)
- United Kingdom: $11.8 million (2.3%)
- Japan: $11.6 million (2.3%)
- France: $10.5 million (2.1%)
- Spain: $9.2 million (1.8%)
By value, the listed 15 countries bought 71% of globally imported turmeric in 2024.
Among the top importers, the fastest-growing turmeric importers since 2023 were: United Arab Emirates (up 414.6%), India (up 177.3%), Spain (up 80.7%) and Malaysia (up 54.5%).
Those countries that posted the most modest increases in their imported turmeric purchases were led by: Iran (up 4.1% from 2023), United Kingdom (up 6.2%) and Germany (up 8.2%).
Lowest and Highest Unit Prices for Imported Turmeric
In 2024, the world’s average unit price for imported turmeric was US$1,896 per ton up by 20.2% from an average tonnage rate of $1,577 for 2023.
The average unit dollar price is also 34.9% higher than 5 years earlier in 2020.
The average tonnage charge paid by the number one turmeric importer, the United States of America, was much higher at $4,111 per ton for 2024–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 2024.
- Central African Republic: US$20 per ton (2023 data unavailable)
- Tanzania: $350 per ton (up 250% from 2023)
- Niger: $379 per ton (down -9.1%)
- Pakistan: $501 per ton (up 29.5%)
- Uzbekistan: $540 per ton (down -6.7%)
- Thailand: $696 per ton (up 1.8%)
- Tunisia: $942 per ton (up 13.4%)
- Cambodia: $1,000 per ton (down -14.3%)
- Kenya: $1,021 per ton (up 44.8%)
- mainland China: $1,096 per ton (up 34.8%)
- Somalia: $1,182 per ton (down -8.5%)
- Senegal: $1,188 per ton (down -30.2%)
- Bangladesh: $1,222 per ton (up 31.7%)
- Barbados: $1,318 per ton (up 64.8%)
- Jordan: $1,435 per ton (down -34.5%)
Posting double-digit reductions in average unit price per ton for turmeric were low-cost importers Jordan (down -34.5% from 2023), Senegal (down -30.2%) and Cambodia (down -14.3%).
The following countries paid for imported turmeric costing the highest average unit prices.
- French Polynesia: US$13,500 per ton (up 125% from 2023)
- Montenegro: $11,750 per ton (up 56.7%)
- Luxembourg: $10,889 per ton (down -7.3%)
- Malta: $9,611 per ton (up 19.3%)
- Iceland: $9,571 per ton (down -2.7%)
- New Zealand: $9,351 per ton (up 34%)
- Lesotho: $9,000 per ton (up 125%)
- Norway: $8,224 per ton (up 21.9%)
- Slovenia: $8,123 per ton (down -8.6%)
- Switzerland: $7,316 per ton (down -2.6%)
- Cook Islands: $7,000 per ton (2023 data unavailable)
- Mali: $6,000 per ton (up 500%)
- Vanuatu: $6,000 per ton (up 9.1%)
- Hungary: $5,914 per ton (up 0.8%)
- Bolivia: $5,889 per ton (down -15.9%)
The leaders in terms of inflated average unit prices paid in 2024 compared to 2023 were Mali (up 500%), French Polynesia (up 125%), Lesotho (also up 125%), Montenegro (up 56.7%) then New Zealand (up 34%).
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 August 5, 2025
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Field Listing: Exports – Commodities. Accessed on August 5, 2025
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on August 5, 2025
Wikipedia, Turmeric. Accessed on August 5, 2025