The trade in spices information

Some of the main spice-producing areas are listed in the major spice producing areas page. The current annual global trade in spices is 6-7 lakh tonnes valued at US$3-3.5 billion. The value of the spice trade is particularly dependent on pepper prices as pepper remains the main spice in international trade.

The global spice trade is expected to increase with the growing consumer demand in importing countries for more exotic, ethnic tastes in food. In the UK, for example, spice imports have increased by 27% in the last five years, mainly through the growth in cinnamon, cloves, garlic and seed spices. About 85% of spices are traded internationally in whole form, with importing countries processing and packaging the final product for the food industry and the retail market. The trade in processed and value-added spice ingredients is, however, growing rapidly as importers look for cheaper global sourcing of spice products and exporting businesses develop the appropriate technologies and quality systems. There is limited competition from synthetic products, with the exception of vanilla, particularly given consumer preferences for “natural” ingredients in food products.

The USA is the biggest importer of spice products, followed by Germany and Japan. The European Union has the largest imports of spices in value terms, worth US$2.2 billion and consisting of:

• 44% retail sales to consumers
• 41% sales to the food manufacturing sector
• 15% to the catering sector

A snapshot of the nature of the European spices market is provided by France. The total consumption of spices in 1993 was 16,545 tonnes (with a per capita consumption of 290 grams), of which more than 50% was black pepper. The main market is the retail sector with over 100 million consumer packs of spices sold in 1993, valued at US$150 million. The catering market in 1993 was worth US$20-25 million. Other major importing regions are the Middle East and North Africa, whilst there are growing markets in other countries. In South Africa, for example, the annual spice trade is worth US$94 million, but is set to grow as consumers demand more exotic tastes in food.