Cumin Seeds Exporter from India
Indian cumin seed (jeera) from Gujarat and Rajasthan — machine-clean and sortex-clean grades, India's second-largest spice export by value.
Quick answer: Green Plus EXIM exports Indian cumin seed (jeera), sourced from Gujarat and Rajasthan, the two states that dominate Indian cumin production. Cumin is India's second-largest spice export by value — China is the top market, followed by Bangladesh, the UAE, the United States and the UK (WITS/UN Comtrade, 2024). Supplied machine-clean or sortex-clean, singles or splits, graded on purity and volatile oil content.
Indian cumin seed for export
India's second-largest spice export by value moves through Gujarat and Rajasthan, with Unjha — Asia's largest cumin trading market — as the central hub for grading, cleaning and export processing. We supply machine-clean and sortex-clean cumin, singles or splits, matched to your purity requirement.
Harvest runs February-April. Well-dried cumin stores for many months without significant quality loss when kept cool and out of direct light, which supports year-round supply from stock rather than a narrow seasonal window.
How should I specify cumin?
- Cleaning grade. Machine-clean (98%+ purity) suits most bulk food-manufacturing orders. Sortex-clean (99.5%+) uses optical sorting for buyers who need tighter quality control or are packing for retail.
- Singles vs. splits. Whole (single) seeds are the standard commercial form; splits can be relevant for certain processing uses — tell us which you need.
- Volatile oil content. The source of cumin's aroma and flavour strength, typically 2.5-4.0% and season-dependent — confirmed on the certificate of analysis for your specific lot.
Which markets buy Indian cumin?
China is the largest single destination by value, with Bangladesh, the UAE, the United States and the UK following — see the cited country breakdown below.
Shipping specifically to China, Bangladesh or the UAE? Each has a dedicated route page with the registration, grade and logistics detail for that market.
Cumin export pricing
Cumin pricing is sensitive to Gujarat/Rajasthan crop conditions and moves more than most commodity spices year to year. Send your required cleaning grade, quantity and destination port and we'll quote current terms.
Key facts
- HS code: 0909.31 (cumin seed, whole) — export policy: Free, no DGFT restriction
- India's second-largest spice export by value; main sourcing: Gujarat (Unjha), Rajasthan
- Machine-clean (98%+) and sortex-clean (99.5%+) grades available
- Leading markets: China, Bangladesh, UAE, USA, UK
- ~13-15 MT per 20ft container (bagged)
- Stores 12-18 months in cool, dry, dark conditions
Step 1 of 2 — takes 60 seconds
Cumin Seeds specifications
| Parameter | Typical specification |
|---|---|
| Purity | 98% min (machine-clean) to 99.5%+ min (sortex-clean) |
| Moisture | ≤ 8-9% |
| Volatile oil content | 2.5-4.0% typical, variety and season dependent |
| Admixture / foreign matter | ≤ 1-2% for machine-clean; near-nil for sortex-clean |
| Colour | Greenish-brown, characteristic of well-dried cumin |
| Purity screening | Singles (whole seed) or splits — buyer specified |
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 PP/HDPE bags; jute bags on request; smaller retail-ready pouches for branded orders |
| Minimum order quantity | 1 × 20ft container; trial orders discussed |
| Loading capacity (20ft) | Approx. 13-15 MT in a 20ft container (bagged) |
| Loading capacity (40ft) | Approx. 23-25 MT in a 40ft container |
| Shelf life & storage | 12-18 months in cool, dry, well-ventilated storage away from direct sunlight to preserve volatile oil content and aroma |
Loading figures are typical estimates — use the cumin seeds container load estimator for a planning figure, and confirm exact figures with us before booking.
Availability calendar
Typical availability for cumin seeds 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 cumin seeds
India's top destination markets for cumin seeds (HS 0909.31 (cumin seeds, neither crushed nor ground); WITS legacy 0909.30), 2024 (calendar year). India exported $784,894,450 of cumin seeds worldwide that year:
| Destination country | Export value (USD) | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| China | $140,652,850 | 45,803,300 Kg |
| Bangladesh | $91,713,010 | 29,749,100 Kg |
| United Arab Emirates | $90,489,620 | 28,919,100 Kg |
| United States | $66,901,300 | 16,699,800 Kg |
| United Kingdom | $26,697,150 | 5,310,010 Kg |
| Morocco | $26,300,200 | 7,941,930 Kg |
| Nepal | $22,812,010 | 7,674,030 Kg |
| Saudi Arabia | $21,471,960 | 7,011,060 Kg |
| Malaysia | $18,400,030 | 5,548,370 Kg |
| Mexico | $17,296,660 | 7,245,510 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's second-largest spice export by value: USD 784.89M in 2024 across ~237,241 MT. WITS reports under legacy code 0909.30; current HS2017+ uses 0909.31 (whole) / 0909.32 (crushed or ground). China is the top single market.
Indian sourcing regions
Gujarat (Unjha is Asia's largest cumin trading market) and Rajasthan together account for the great majority of Indian cumin production, with Unjha functioning as the primary price-discovery and processing hub. Harvest runs February-April; well-dried cumin stores for many months, supporting year-round supply.
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 — purity, moisture, volatile oil content, admixture
- 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 Cumin Seeds
Tell us your specs — get a quote within 24 business hours.
Cumin Seeds export FAQs
Yes — cumin seed carries no DGFT export restriction and is classified Free under the current ITC-HS Schedule 2 export policy.
Machine-clean cumin is mechanically cleaned to a standard commercial purity (typically 98%+). Sortex-clean uses optical sorting to remove discoloured seeds and foreign matter to a much higher purity (99.5%+), suited to buyers with strict quality-control requirements or premium retail programmes.
98% min machine-clean covers most bulk food-manufacturing needs. If your programme requires tighter quality control or you're packing for retail, specify sortex-clean at 99.5%+.
China is India's largest cumin buyer by value, followed by Bangladesh, the UAE, the United States and the UK — see the cited breakdown below. Demand is driven by China's food-processing and re-export trade.
Gujarat and Rajasthan together supply the great majority of India's cumin. Unjha, in Gujarat, is Asia's largest cumin trading market and the main hub for grading and export processing.
12-18 months in cool, dry, well-ventilated conditions away from direct light — volatile oil content (the source of cumin's aroma and much of its value) degrades faster in heat and light exposure.
One 20ft container is our standard minimum. Send your required purity grade, quantity and destination port for a quote.
Related products
Related guides
Request a quote for Cumin Seeds
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