Cardamom Exporter from India
Small green cardamom from Kerala's Idukki hills — size-graded, high-value, and overwhelmingly Gulf-bound. India's highest-unit-value spice export.
Quick answer: Green Plus EXIM exports Indian small green cardamom, sourced from Kerala (Idukki), Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Cardamom is India's highest-value-per-kg spice export, and the market is heavily concentrated in the Gulf — the UAE and Saudi Arabia alone account for roughly 61% of India's export value, with Kuwait, Iraq and Oman adding further Gulf volume (WITS/UN Comtrade, 2024). Graded by size and colour, from bold 8mm+ export grades down to smaller commercial grades.
Indian cardamom for export
Small green cardamom from Kerala's Idukki hills is India's highest-value spice export per kilogram, and the trade is overwhelmingly Gulf-facing. We supply size-graded cardamom — from bold 8mm+ export grade down through AGEB, AGS and smaller commercial grades — sourced from Kerala, Karnataka's Kodagu and Chikmagalur belts, and Tamil Nadu.
Cardamom harvest doesn't follow a single window the way most spices do. Pods on the same plant mature at different times, so pickers work the plantations in repeated staggered rounds from roughly August through February, which spreads fresh supply over a longer season than most of our other products.
How should I specify cardamom?
- Size grade. Bold 8mm+ pods command the top price and are typically what premium retail and Gulf food-service buyers specify. AGEB, AGS and smaller grades cost less and suit bulk or industrial use.
- Colour. Deep green is generally preferred and commands a premium over paler, less-vivid pods of the same size grade.
- Storage sensitivity. Cardamom loses aroma faster than most spices — confirm your packaging and transit plan protects against heat and light exposure, especially for long sea-freight routes.
Which markets buy Indian cardamom?
The Gulf dominates this trade to a degree unmatched by any other spice we handle — the UAE and Saudi Arabia alone are roughly 61% of India's export value, with Kuwait, Iraq and Oman extending that further. See the full cited breakdown below.
Cardamom export pricing
Cardamom is priced per kilogram at a level well above other commodity spices, and size/colour grade moves price materially. Send your target grade, quantity and destination port and we'll quote current FOB/CIF terms.
Key facts
- HS code: 0908.31 (small cardamom, whole) — export policy: Free, no DGFT restriction
- India's highest per-kg value spice export; main sourcing: Kerala (Idukki), Karnataka, Tamil Nadu
- Size grades from bold 8mm+ down to AGEB/AGS and smaller
- Leading markets: UAE, Saudi Arabia, USA, Kuwait, Iraq — Gulf is ~61%+ of value
- ~8-10 MT per 20ft container (volume-limited, not weight-limited)
- Stores 12-18 months in cool, dry, airtight, dark conditions
Shipping to the UAE, part of the Gulf cluster that takes ~61% of India's cardamom exports? See the dedicated cardamom to UAE route page for the grading and re-export detail specific to that lane.
Step 1 of 2 — takes 60 seconds
Cardamom specifications
| Parameter | Typical specification |
|---|---|
| Type | Small green cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum) |
| Size grading | Bold (8mm+), AGEB, AGS and smaller commercial grades — machine sorted |
| Moisture | ≤ 10% |
| Colour | Green to greenish-yellow; deep green preferred by premium buyers |
| Volatile oil content | Confirmed per lot; a key aroma/quality indicator |
| Admixture / foreign matter | Minimal, machine and hand sorted |
Typical specs — final specifications as per contract. Tell us your required grade when you request a quote and we'll confirm availability.
Packaging & container loading
| Detail | Options |
|---|---|
| Packaging | 25 kg and 50 kg multi-ply paper or PP bags; smaller cartons/pouches for retail-bound and premium orders |
| Minimum order quantity | 1 × 20ft container; trial orders discussed |
| Loading capacity (20ft) | Approx. 8-10 MT in a 20ft container (cardamom is light and high-value; loading is volume-limited) |
| Loading capacity (40ft) | Approx. 16-18 MT in a 40ft container |
| Shelf life & storage | 12-18 months in cool, dry, airtight storage away from light — cardamom loses aroma faster than most spices if poorly stored |
Loading figures are typical estimates — use the cardamom container load estimator for a planning figure, and confirm exact figures with us before booking.
Availability calendar
Typical availability for cardamom from India, by month:
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● |
Availability shifts year to year with weather and growing conditions — ask for current availability before planning a shipment window.
Where India exports cardamom
India's top destination markets for cardamom (HS 0908.31 (cardamoms, neither crushed nor ground); WITS legacy 0908.30), 2024 (calendar year). India exported $203,579,730 of cardamom worldwide that year:
| Destination country | Export value (USD) | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| United Arab Emirates | $80,489,520 | 3,488,360 Kg |
| Saudi Arabia | $43,097,270 | 1,815,910 Kg |
| United States | $13,622,130 | 557,445 Kg |
| Kuwait | $11,483,940 | 468,901 Kg |
| Iraq | $7,953,690 | 331,103 Kg |
| Canada | $7,309,430 | 301,656 Kg |
| Australia | $5,312,250 | 208,489 Kg |
| Malaysia | $4,386,480 | 193,999 Kg |
| Bangladesh | $4,275,370 | 473,905 Kg |
| Oman | $2,206,470 | 100,212 Kg |
Source: WITS (World Bank) / UN Comtrade — India exports by partner, calendar year 2024 — view source. Data year: 2024 (calendar year). Retrieved: 2026-09-17.
Notes on this data
HIGH CONFIDENCE — primary-tier (WITS/UN Comtrade). India world total 2024: USD 203.58M across only ~9,033 MT — by far the highest unit value of any spice in this dataset (~USD 22.5/kg average), so this is a high-value/low-volume line. GCC dominance is striking: UAE + Saudi Arabia alone are ~61% of export value; adding Kuwait, Iraq and Oman puts the Gulf well above 70%. Strongest candidate on the whole list for an Arabic-language blog cluster.
Indian sourcing regions
Kerala's Idukki district is the heart of Indian cardamom production, with Karnataka (Kodagu/Chikmagalur) and Tamil Nadu adding volume. Picking runs in staggered rounds from around August through February as pods mature at different times on the same plant, so harvest is spread over several months rather than a single window.
Export documentation
Export documentation prepared to match destination-country and buyer requirements — phytosanitary certificate, certificate of origin, fumigation certificate, lab test reports and more, as applicable.
- Phytosanitary certificate
- Certificate of origin
- Fumigation certificate (where required by destination)
- Certificate of analysis — size grade, moisture, colour, volatile oil
- Spices Board registration documentation, where applicable to the shipment
- Commercial invoice, packing list and bill of lading
Share your compliance checklist and we will confirm the documentation for your shipment. Third-party inspection (SGS, Bureau Veritas, Intertek or your nominated agency) can be arranged on request.
Get a quote for Cardamom
Tell us your specs — get a quote within 24 business hours.
Cardamom export FAQs
Yes — cardamom carries no DGFT export restriction and is classified Free under the current ITC-HS Schedule 2 export policy.
The UAE and Saudi Arabia together account for roughly 61% of India's cardamom export value, with Kuwait, Iraq and Oman adding more — Gulf cuisine and coffee/tea culture use cardamom heavily, and the UAE also functions as a regional re-export and trading hub.
Bold, 8mm-and-above pods command the highest price and are typically what premium retail and Gulf food-service buyers want. AGEB, AGS and smaller grades are more cost-effective for bulk or processing use — tell us your target price point and we'll match a grade.
Cardamom has by far the highest per-kilogram value of any spice we export — labour-intensive hand-picking across a long, staggered harvest season, combined with limited growing geography concentrated in South India's high-altitude hill tracts, keeps volumes low relative to demand.
Unlike most spices with a single harvest window, cardamom pods mature at different times on the same plant, so pickers make repeated passes through the plantation over several months, roughly August through February. That's why cardamom supply, while seasonal, spans a longer window than most of our other spice lines.
Cool, dry, airtight conditions away from light. Cardamom loses its volatile aromatic oils — and with them, most of its value — faster than other spices if exposed to heat, light or air, so packaging and storage discipline matter more here than almost any product we handle.
One 20ft container is our standard minimum, though given cardamom's high value per kilogram, smaller trial orders can be discussed — ask when you send your requirement.
Request a quote for Cardamom
Tell us your quantity, destination port and required specification — we'll come back within 24 business hours.
- Response within 24 business hours
- No obligation
- Samples available on request
Step 1 of 2 — takes 60 seconds