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Top Turmeric Exports & Imports by Country

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Turmeric plant-based powder
Turmeric
In 2022, globally exported turmeric was worth a total US$333 million.

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 depreciated by an average -5% since 2018 when turmeric exports totaled $350.6 million.

Year over year, the dollar value of turmeric exports fell by -8.3% compared to $363.1 million for 2021.

The 5 biggest turmeric exporters (India, Myanmar, Netherlands, Fiji and Indonesia) generated about four-fifths (79.8%) of globally exported turmeric sales during 2022.

Applying a continental lens, countries in Asia sold the greatest dollar worth of exported turmeric during 2022 with shipments valued at $267.5 million or 80.3% of the global total. In second place were exporters in Europe at 10.8%. Smaller percentages came from Oceania (3.9%) mostly Fiji and Australia, Latin America (1.8%) including the Caribbean, Africa (1.6%), then North America (1.5%) mostly the United States of America.

Turning our focus to turmeric imports, the 5 leading importers of turmeric in 2022 were the United States of America, Bangladesh, India, United Arab Emirates and mainland China. Collectively, that quintet of top buyers generated 40% of global spending on imported turmeric.

Those percentages suggest a more concentrated cohort of 113 turmeric exporters in total (79.8% for top 5 suppliers) compared to 190 importing countries, islands and territories and its top 5 importers (40%).

From a continental perspective, 47.1% of globally imported turmeric was delivered to Asian countries closely trailed by importers in Europe (21.2%), North America (16.7%) then Africa (10.7%), Latin America (3%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, then Oceania (1.3%).

In 2022, the worldwide average unit price paid by importers was $2,147 per ton of turmeric. That dollar amount reflects a 26.5% price hike from the average tonnage rate of $1,697 for 2020.

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 2022.

  1. India: US$214.8 million (64.5% of turmeric exports)
  2. Myanmar: $17.3 million (5.2%)
  3. Netherlands: $14.3 million (4.3%)
  4. Fiji: $9.9 million (3%)
  5. Indonesia: $9.2 million (2.8%)
  6. Vietnam: $8.1 million (2.4%)
  7. Germany: $6.8 million (2%)
  8. United States: $4.7 million (1.4%)
  9. Peru: $3.8 million (1.1%)
  10. Japan: $3.7 million (1.1%)
  11. Spain: $3.4 million (1%)
  12. Cambodia: $3.2 million (1%)
  13. Australia: $3.1 million (0.9%)
  14. Ethiopia: $2.6 million (0.8%)
  15. Thailand: $2.4 million (0.7%)

By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 92.3% of globally exported turmeric in 2022.

Among the top exporters, the fastest-growing turmeric exporters since 2021 were: Cambodia (up 111.2%), Myanmar (up 71.2%), Australia (up 33%) and Japan (up 5.2%).

Those countries that posted declines in their exported turmeric sales were led by: Ethiopia (down -57.1% from 2021), Peru (down -36.4%), Vietnam (down -33.1%), Spain (down -19.9%) and Thailand (down -15.1%).

Top Turmeric Imports by Country

The overall cost for imported turmeric expanded by 16.6% over the 5-year period starting in 2018 but dropped by -3.6% since 2021.

Below are the 15 best buying markets as measured by the highest dollar value worth of turmeric imported during 2022.

  1. United States: US$49.8 million (14% of turmeric imports)
  2. Bangladesh: $28.7 million (8%)
  3. India: $27.4 million (7.7%)
  4. United Arab Emirates: $20.5 million (5.8%)
  5. China: $16.2 million (4.5%)
  6. Morocco: $15.5 million (4.4%)
  7. Germany: $14.7 million (4.1%)
  8. Netherlands: $13.8 million (3.9%)
  9. Malaysia: $12 million (3.4%)
  10. United Kingdom: $10.9 million (3.1%)
  11. Iran: $10.7 million (3%)
  12. Japan: $9.5 million (2.7%)
  13. Canada: $8.4 million (2.4%)
  14. Saudi Arabia: $7.2 million (2%)
  15. France: $6.4 million (1.8%)

By value, the listed 15 countries bought 70.7% of globally imported turmeric in 2022.

Among the top importers, the fastest-growing turmeric importers since 2021 were: mainland China (up 171.1%), United Arab Emirates (up 123.7%), Morocco (up 54.5%) and Japan (up 11.7%).

Those countries that posted declines in their imported turmeric purchases were led by: Iran (down -60.2% from 2021), Saudi Arabia (down -31.3%), United States of America (down -20.4%), United Kingdom (down -17.5%) and Germany (down -11.8%).

Lowest and Highest Unit Prices for Imported Turmeric

In 2022, the world’s average unit price for imported turmeric was US$2,147 per ton.

The average tonnage charge paid by the number one turmeric importer, the United States of America, was much higher at $4,632 per ton.

Ranked in ascending order, listed below are the countries paying the lowest average unit prices for imported turmeric in 2022.

  1. Tanzania: US$167 per ton (down -53.2% from 2021)
  2. Burkina Faso: $182 per ton (2021 data unavailable)
  3. Liberia: $385 per ton (down -61.5%)
  4. Uzbekistan: $388 per ton (up 2.1%)
  5. Myanmar: $497 per ton (up 0.8%)
  6. Niger: $500 per ton (down -66.7%)
  7. Pakistan: $700 per ton (down -7.4%)
  8. Thailand: $704 per ton (up 19.7%)
  9. Afghanistan: $744 per ton (up 2.1%)
  10. China: $769 per ton (up 14.4%)
  11. Tunisia: $784 per ton (up 1.7%)
  12. Yemen: $838 per ton (down -12.3%)
  13. Iraq: $965 per ton (up 3.2%)
  14. Namibia: $1,000 per ton (down -45.8%)
  15. Democratic Republic of the Congo: $1,000 per ton (down -72.7%)

Posting the strongest reductions in average unit price per ton for turmeric from 2021 to 2022 were low-cost importers the Democratic Republic of the Congo (down -72.7%), Niger (down -66.7%), Liberia (down -61.5%), Tanzania (down -53.2%) and Namibia (down -45.8%).

The following countries paid for imported turmeric costing the highest average unit prices.

  1. Finland: US$72,333 per ton (up 1,276% from 2021)
  2. French Polynesia: $12,000 per ton (up 14.3%)
  3. Ethiopia: $11,500 per ton (up 666.7%)
  4. Luxembourg: $9,286 per ton (down -10.7%)
  5. New Zealand: $8,934 per ton (up 17.4%)
  6. Iceland: $8,857 per ton (down -22.5%)
  7. Slovenia: $8,758 per ton (up 41.6%)
  8. Montenegro: $8,000 per ton (up 23.1%)
  9. New Caledonia: $8,000 per ton (up 14.3%)
  10. Malta: $7,692 per ton (down -13.5%)
  11. Switzerland: $7,488 per ton (up 5.2%)
  12. Eswatini: $7,133 per ton (up 188.0%)
  13. Bolivia: $7,000 per ton (up 34.6%)
  14. Serbia: $6,905 per ton (up 25.1%)
  15. Bahamas: $6,857 per ton (down -53.1%)

The leaders in terms of inflated average unit prices paid in 2022 compared to 2021 were Finland (up 1,276%), Ethiopia (up 666.7%), Eswatini (up 188%), Slovenia (up 41.6%) then Bolivia (up 34.6%).

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 September 13, 2023

Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Field Listing: Exports – Commodities. Accessed on September 13, 2023

International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on September 13, 2023

Wikipedia, Turmeric. Accessed on September 13, 2023