Cardamom Export from India | HSN Code & Import Leads

India is the birthplace of the “Queen of Spices,” and cardamom export from India still carries that heritage into markets from Dubai to New York. The trade sits on a curious tension: India lost the global production crown to Guatemala two decades ago, yet Indian cardamom still commands a premium price wherever aroma and oil content matter more than volume. If you sell spices, source them, or just want to understand where this fragrant spice travels, this guide walks through the numbers, the HSN codes, the top buyers, and how to turn all of it into verified cardamom import leads.

Here’s the thing most exporters miss. It is one of the most expensive spices on earth by weight — beaten only by saffron and vanilla. That means margins are real, but so is the competition. Getting the trade data right is the difference between chasing ghosts and closing deals.

Cardamom Export from India: The Current Picture

Let’s start with the money. India exported cardamom worth roughly $155.1 million in 2023, a meaningful slice of the country’s total spice shipments. According to trade records, India shipped around 79,500 consignments to 11,220 buyers, sourced from 3,433 Indian exporters. That’s a wide, active market — not a niche.

Why does India still matter when Guatemala produces more? Quality. Kerala’s crop, grown high in the Western Ghats (the range is literally nicknamed the “Cardamom Hills”), carries higher essential oil content and a deeper aroma that European perfumers, specialty coffee roasters, and Middle Eastern buyers pay extra for. Guatemala wins on price and tonnage. India wins on prestige.

The demand curve backs this up. Global demand was estimated at around USD 65,990 million in 2023-24, projected to climb toward USD 74,330 million by 2031. That’s steady, dependable growth — the kind you can build an export business around.

Green Cardamom HSN Code and Classification

Before any shipment moves, you need the right code. Get this wrong and your consignment stalls at customs. The HSN code family sits under Chapter 09 (coffee, tea, spices), and the main ones you’ll use are 0908, 090832, 09083220, and 09083230.

Here’s a practical breakdown of the cardamom HSN code structure exporters actually deal with:

Cardamom HSN Code Reference

The green cardamom HSN code most exporters rely on is 09083190 for whole capsules, while ground and powder grades shift to the 090832 range. Large cardamom — the smoky black variety from Sikkim and the Northeast — lives under 09083110. Match your product form to the code exactly, because a green cardamom HSN code applied to a powder shipment is an invitation for a customs query.

Cardamom Export Data: What the Shipments Reveal

Raw shipment data tells a sharper story than any brochure. Break it down by HSN code and clear patterns emerge about who’s buying what.

For the green variety (HSN 09083190), India shipped roughly 250 green cardamom consignments over a recent twelve-month window, sent by 76 exporters to 115 buyers. The top three destinations — the United States, the United Arab Emirates, and Canada — together soaked up about 61% of that volume. The US alone took a quarter of all green cardamom shipments.

The large type (HSN 09083110) moves differently. Around 102 shipments went out from just 18 exporters, and the buyer concentration is intense — the UAE, United States, and Canada accounted for a striking 83% of the total. The UAE alone pulled 64% of large cardamom shipments, which tells you exactly where black cardamom demand lives.

The black variety under HSN 09083290 has been on a tear. India exported about 99 black cardamom shipments in a recent year, growing 68% over the prior period, with the United States, Singapore, and Canada taking 60% of the flow. That’s the kind of growth rate that makes cardamom export data worth watching monthly, not annually.

Anyone serious about this trade tracks cardamom export data from India by both HSN code and destination — because the buyer profile for whole green pods looks nothing like the one for ground black pods.

Cardamom Producing Countries and World Production

Let’s zoom out. Production in the world runs to roughly 35,000 metric tons per year, and it’s remarkably concentrated. Guatemala tops the table, producing around 25,000 MT annually — nearly 66% of global supply. India holds second place.

It wasn’t always this way. India held the top production spot until around 2000, when Guatemala’s lower costs and hand-picking labor advantage pushed it into the lead. Today the major producing nations are Guatemala, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Indonesia, with Tanzania and Costa Rica also contributing.

Within India, the geography is tight. Kerala is the largest producer of cardamom in India, accounting for roughly 58.6% of national output — its climate and altitude in the Western Ghats are close to perfect for the crop. Karnataka and Tamil Nadu follow for small cardamom, while Sikkim and the Northeastern states dominate large (black) cardamom.

Cardamom Producing Countries vs Indian States

So while India isn’t the largest producer of cardamom in the world anymore, it stays the quality benchmark — and that reputation keeps its export order book full.

Cardamom Exporters in India: Who Ships the Spice

The exporter landscape spans big diversified spice houses and specialist cardamom traders. Leading exporters include Adani Spices, Royal Spices, PR Exports, Patel Export Industries, and Zoff Spices. On the green side, Emperor Akbar Cardamom is often cited among the top green cardamom names, while Royal Spices is a heavyweight in large cardamom.

Geography shapes the supplier map. Cardamom export from Kerala dominates the green trade thanks to proximity to the growing belt and the Spices Board’s grading infrastructure, and cardamom exporters in Kerala remain the first stop for premium green pods. Cardamom exporters in Tamilnadu handle both small cardamom from the Cardamom Hills district and processed spice blends. If you’re sourcing, cardamom suppliers in India cluster heavily around the auction centers in Bodinayakanur and Kumily.

A quick note from experience: verified sourcing matters more here than in almost any other spice. It’s graded by size, color, and oil content, and the gap between top-grade Kerala pods and average lots is enormous in both price and buyer trust. Always check a supplier’s Spices Board certification and shipment history before committing.

Cardamom Importing Countries: Where the Pods Land

Who buys Indian cardamom? The map skews toward the Gulf and diaspora-heavy Western markets. Saudi Arabia is historically the single largest importer worldwide — Arabic coffee (gahwa) simply isn’t made without it. The UAE is another giant; globally it has imported the spice worth around $130.4 million in a single year, making it the world’s top cardamom importer by value in recent estimates.

For India specifically, the top trading partners include Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Iran, Qatar, Canada, Japan, and the United Kingdom. And cardamom export from India to USA has climbed steadily — the US is now a leading destination for green and black cardamom alike, driven by South Asian and Middle Eastern communities plus a growing specialty-spice scene.

Top Cardamom Importing Countries by Variety

The pattern is clear. Green pods flow to the US and UAE. Black and large types concentrate even harder on the UAE. And the deep, steady demand — the Saudi and Gulf coffee culture — props up the whole trade year after year.

How to Turn Cardamom Export Data into Import Leads

Data is only useful if it becomes deals. This is where cardamom import leads and cardamom export leads come in. Instead of cold-emailing random buyers, you work backward from actual shipment records: which company in the UAE imported green cardamom last quarter, at what volume, from which port.

That’s the whole logic behind a platform like VyaaparOne — turning raw customs records into contactable, verified cardamom export leads. You filter by HSN code (say 09083190 for green cardamom), pick a destination market, and surface the buyers actually moving product. No guesswork.

For a new exporter, the practical sequence looks like this. First, register your firm and get an Import Export Code (IEC) from the DGFT. Second, secure Spices Board registration and grade your cardamom properly. Third, use cardamom export data to identify live cardamom import leads in your target market. Fourth, reach out with your grade, oil content, and FOB terms front and center. Buyers in this space respond to specifics, not sales fluff.

The exporters who win aren’t always the biggest. They’re the ones who read the data, match the right green cardamom HSN code to the right buyer, and move fast on cardamom export leads while competitors are still guessing.

Conclusion

Cardamom export from India is a story of quality outrunning volume. India may sit second to Guatemala in production, but its green cardamom still sets the global standard — and the export data proves buyers keep coming back. Get the green cardamom HSN code right, understand where the top cardamom importing countries actually are, and treat cardamom export data as your prospecting engine rather than a report you file away. Whether you’re chasing cardamom export from India to USA or building a Gulf buyer book, verified cardamom export leads are how you move from potential to shipped. Ready to find your next buyer? Explore live cardamom import leads on VyaaparOne and put the data to work.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the green cardamom HSN code for export from India? 

The green cardamom HSN code is 09083190 for whole green capsules. Ground and powder grades fall under the 090832 range (such as 09083220), and large/black cardamom uses 09083110. Always match the code to your exact product form.

Which country is the largest producer of cardamom in the world? 

Guatemala is the world’s largest producer, making about 25,000 MT a year — nearly 66% of global supply. India is second and is widely regarded as the quality leader, especially for green cardamom from Kerala.

Who is the largest producer of cardamom in India? 

Kerala is the largest producer of cardamom in India, accounting for roughly 58.6% of national output. Karnataka and Tamil Nadu follow for small cardamom, while Sikkim leads large (black) cardamom.

What are the top cardamom importing countries? 

Saudi Arabia and the UAE lead global cardamom imports, driven by Arabic coffee culture. For Indian exports, top buyers include Saudi Arabia, the UAE, the USA, Canada, Iran, Qatar, Japan, and the UK.

Where can I find cardamom exporters in Kerala and Tamil Nadu? 

Cardamom exporters in Kerala cluster around auction centers like Bodinayakanur and Kumily, while cardamom exporters in Tamilnadu handle small cardamom and blends. Cardamom export from Kerala remains the largest share of India’s green cardamom shipments. Verified trade platforms let you find Spices Board-certified cardamom suppliers in India with shipment histories.

How do I get cardamom export leads and import leads? 

Use trade-data platforms that convert customs shipment records into contactable cardamom import leads. Filter by cardamom HSN code and destination country to find verified buyers actively importing, then reach out with your grade and pricing.