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 39.4% from 5 years earlier in 2021 when turmeric exports totaled $361.3 million.
Year over year, the dollar value of turmeric exports rose by 2.2% compared to $493 million for 2024.
The 5 biggest turmeric exporters (India, Myanmar, Netherlands, Fiji and Germany) generated over four-fifths (80.9%) of globally exported turmeric sales during 2025.
Applying a continental lens, countries in Asia sold the greatest dollar worth of exported turmeric during 2025 with shipments valued at $408.6 million or 81.1% of the global total. In second place were exporters in Europe at 10.2%. Smaller percentages came from sellers located in Oceania (3.7%) mostly Fiji and Australia, Latin America (2.5%) including the Caribbean, Africa (1.5%), then North America (1%) largely the United States of America.
Turning our focus to turmeric imports, the 5 leading importers of turmeric in 2025 were the United States of America, Bangladesh, United Arab Emirates, India and Morocco. Collectively, that quintet of top buyers generated 35.9% 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 (35.9% for the respective imports total).
From a continental perspective, 46.9% of globally imported turmeric was delivered to Asian countries trailed by importers in Europe (22.5%), North America (14.2%) then Africa (11.1%), Latin America (4.1%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, then Oceania (1.3%) mostly Australia and New Zealand.
In 2025, the worldwide average unit price paid by importers was $2,171 per ton of turmeric. That dollar amount reflects 12.7% price inflation from the average tonnage rate of $1,926 for 2024.
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 2025.
- India: US$333.7 million (66.3% of turmeric exports)
- Myanmar: $31.5 million (6.3%)
- Netherlands: $16 million (3.2%)
- Fiji: $14.2 million (2.8%)
- Germany: $12.2 million (2.4%)
- Peru: $10.4 million (2.1%)
- Vietnam: $9.3 million (1.8%)
- Indonesia: $7.9 million (1.6%)
- Bangladesh: $5.2 million (1%)
- United States: $4.77 million (0.9%)
- Spain: $4.77 million (0.9%)
- Australia: $4.2 million (0.8%)
- France: $4.1 million (0.8%)
- Nigeria: $3.6 million (0.7%)
- Austria: $3.4 million (0.7%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 92.4% of globally exported turmeric in 2025.
Among the top exporters, the fastest-growing turmeric exporters since 2024 were: Nigeria (up 238.4%), Myanmar (up 121.8%), Peru (up 39.3%) and Germany (up 27.2%).
Those countries that posted year-over-year declines in their exported turmeric sales were: Vietnam (down -40.8% from 2024), France (down -11.5%), Australia (down -9.8%) and the United States (down -2.8%).
Top Turmeric Imports by Country
The overall cost for imported turmeric expanded by 41.2% over the 5-year period starting in 2021 and grew by 8.3% since 2024 to $519.2 million for 2025.
Below are the 15 best buying markets as measured by the highest dollar value worth of turmeric imported during 2025.
- United States: US$59.9 million (11.5% of turmeric imports)
- Bangladesh: $36.5 million (7%)
- United Arab Emirates: $33.7 million (6.5%)
- India: $28.7 million (5.5%)
- Morocco: $27.3 million (5.3%)
- Germany: $25.1 million (4.8%)
- mainland China: $19.9 million (3.8%)
- Netherlands: $19.7 million (3.8%)
- Malaysia: $19 million (3.7%)
- Saudi Arabia: $17.4 million (3.4%)
- United Kingdom: $16.6 million (3.2%)
- Iran: $15.8 million (3%)
- Indonesia: $12.7 million (2.4%)
- France: $12.1 million (2.3%)
- Canada: $11.3 million (2.2%)
By value, the listed 15 countries bought 68.5% of globally imported turmeric in 2025.
Among the top importers, the fastest-growing turmeric importers since 2024 were: Morocco (up 84.7%), Indonesia (up 82.6%), mainland China (up 50.2%) and the Netherlands (up 44%).
Those countries that posted year-over-year declines in their imported turmeric purchases were: India (down -33.2% from 2024), Bangladesh (down -31.1%), Iran (down -6.8%) and Malaysia (down -5%).
Lowest and Highest Unit Prices for Imported Turmeric
In 2025, the world’s average unit price for imported turmeric was US$2,171 per ton up by 12.7% from an average tonnage rate of $1,926 for 2024.
The average unit dollar price is also 29.2% higher than 5 years earlier in 2021.
The average tonnage charge paid by the number one turmeric importer, the United States of America, was much higher at $4,434 per ton for 2025.
Ranked in ascending order, listed below are the countries paying the lowest average unit prices for imported turmeric in 2025.
- Tanzania: US$304 per ton (down -13.1% from 2024)
- Niger: $308 per ton (down -30%)
- Pakistan: $529 per ton (up 5.6%)
- Democratic Republic Congo: $625 per ton (down -37.5%)
- Tunisia: $856 per ton (down -60.8%)
- Afghanistan: $1,000 per ton (down -45.3%)
- Benin: $1,000 per ton (down -41.7%)
- Mozambique: $1,263 per ton (down -36.9%)
- Bangladesh: $1,292 per ton (up 5.7%)
- Somalia: $1,294 per ton (down -14.2%)
- Rwanda: $1,308 per ton (up 20.8%)
- Philippines: $1,347 per ton (down -13.1%)
- Türkiye: $1,378 per ton (down -13.7%)
- Jordan: $1,389 per ton (down -15.1%)
- Thailand: $1,408 per ton (up 102.3%)
Posting the severest percentage reductions in average unit price per ton for turmeric were low-cost importers Tunisia (down -60.8% from 2024), Afghanistan (down -45.3%), Benin (down 41.7%), Democratic Republic of Congo (down -37.5%) and Mozambique (down -36.9%).
The following countries paid for imported turmeric costing the highest average unit prices.
- Montenegro: US$17,250 per ton (up 46.8% from 2024)
- New Zealand: $16,306 per ton (up 74.4%)
- Greenland: $12,000 per ton (2024 data unavailable)
- Iceland: $11,500 per ton (up 20.2%)
- Luxembourg: $10,600 per ton (down -2.7%)
- Norway: $10,400 per ton (up 26.5%)
- Slovenia: $10,111 per ton (up 24.5%)
- North Macedonia: $9,667 per ton (up 116.4%)
- Malta: $9,632 per ton (up 0.2%)
- Switzerland: $8,191 per ton (up 12%)
- Faroe Islands: $8,000 per ton (2024 data unavailable)
- Tonga: $7,000 per ton (up 250%)
- Equatorial Guinea: $7,000 per ton (2024 data unavailable)
- Finland: $6,200 per ton (up 12.7%)
- Eswatini: $6,048 per ton (up 68.6%)
The leaders in terms of inflated average unit prices paid in 2025 compared to 2024 were Tonga (up 250%), North Macedonia (up 116.4%), New Zealand (up 74.4%), Eswatini (up 68.6%) then Montenegro (up 46.8%).
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 6, 2026
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Field Listing: Exports – Commodities. Accessed on August 6, 2026
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on August 6, 2026
Wikipedia, Turmeric. Accessed on August 6, 2026