To achieve Spices Board of India’s export target of $10 billion by 2030, the country’s share in value-added spices should rise up to 70%. 

• India’s share in the global seasoning market, pegged at $14 billion in 2024, is only a paltry 0.7%, against China’s 12% and U.S.’s 11%. 

India’s Status in Spices

• Production: India is the world's largest spice producer. It is also the largest consumer. 
  • India produces 75 of 109 varieties listed by International Organization for Standardization. 
• Major Spices-producing States: Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Maharashtra etc.
• Export: India is largest exporter of spices. Chilli was the most exported spice from India (2021-22).
• Major Export Destinations: China, USA, Bangladesh, Thailand, UAE, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, UK etc. 

Key challenges

• Low Value Addition: only 48% of India’s spice exports are value-added products, while the rest are sold as raw whole spices.
• Socio-economic Challenges: 98% of spice production is done by small-scale farmers with landholdings of less than 2 hectares.
• Weak Regulation: India lacks a national standard covering all Sanitary & Phytosanitary (SPS) measures.
• Stiff Global Competition: from Vietnam, Indonesia, Brazil, China etc.