Spices: EU spends less

Import value still high

While the EU spent a record EUR 1.53 billion (USD 1.81 billion) on spice imports in 2024, the import value fell again in 2025. Yet it should be noted that the EUR 1.51 billion (USD 1.78 billion) spent on importing different spices last year, still is the third highest value on record. In terms of volume imports reached a record 432,910 mt in 2021. In 2024, imports stood at the third highest volume of 415,380 mt and continued to recover the second highest volume on record of 419,851 mt in 2025. With similar market shares China (17%), Vietnam (15%) and Madagascar (15%) were the main trading partners in terms of value for the EU in 2025. Next in line were Indonesia (10%), India (8%) and Brazil (7%). The main EU importing member states were Germany (27%), the Netherlands (26%) and Spain (16%) along with France (15%). Pepper displayed the highest import value.

EU spending on pepper, in fact, rose to the third highest value on record of EUR 424 million (USD 501 million) in 2025. Ten years pervious to this, imports soared to an all-time high of EUR 513 million (USD 606 million) before declining to the second highest value on record of EUR 472 million (USD 558 million) in 2016. Developments are less spectacular regarding volume as imports dipped by 5% to 61,879 mt in 2025 as opposed to the 65,348 mt registered in 2024. Holding a market share of 50% Vietnam was the main trading partner for the EU in terms of value last year. Brazil (20%) and Indonesia (13%) ranked second and third. Germany (40%) was the main importing EU member state in 2025, followed by the Netherlands (22%) and France (12%).

After reaching a record 118,196 mt worth EUR 284 million (USD 335 million) in 2024, capsicum or pimenta imports declined again a bit to 113,618 mt worth EUR 244 million (USD 288 million) in 2025. China accounted for 61% of the EU’s total spending on capsicum or pimenta. Mexico was next in line with a much smaller market share of 9%, followed by India with 8%. Within the EU Spain was the leading importing member state as the country contributed as much as 51% to the EU’s total spend.

EU importers spent most on ginger in 2024, whereas imports fell to the third highest value on record of EUR 233 million (USD 275 million) in 2025. The import volume reached the second highest figure of 134,997 mt in 2025, which is 8% more than the 125,340 mt imported in 2024. In 2021, imports peaked at 147,948 mt. As much as 56% of the EU’s total import value was directed towards China in 2025 with Brazil (16%) and Peru (13%) holding much smaller market shares in second and third position. The Netherlands accounted for a stunning three quarters of the import value, followed by Germany with 10% and Spain with 7%.

Vanilla witnessed a sharp decline in 2025. At EUR 82 million (USD 97 million) imports, in fact, slumped to the lowest level since 2014 when EU importers spent EUR 65 million (USD 77 million). The import volume also slumped by 40% to 1,719 mt as compared with the record high 2,889 mt witnessed in 2024. With an impressive market share of 82% Madagascar was the main supplying country in terms of value for the EU in 2025. Uganda (7%) and French Polynesia (45) followed with much smaller shares. France (54%) was the main importer within the EU with Germany (21%) and the Netherlands (17%) next in line.

The total amount spent on saffron rose by 14% on the previous year to a record EUR 81 million (USD 96 million) in 2025. In terms of volume, shipments soared to the second highest on record of 117,776 mt, thereby marking a 52% upturn on the 77,405 mt imported in 2024. Imports peaked at 142,336 mt in 2012. Iran as the world’s leading producing country accounted for as much as 88% of the EU’s total import value in 2025. Afghanistan (8%) and the United Arab Emirates (2%) were next in line. Within the EU Spain accounted for a stunning 72%, followed by Italy (9%) and Germany (6%).

In 2025, EU cinnamon imports increased by 14% to the third highest value on record of EUR 68 million (USD 80 million). In terms of volume imports even reached a record 17,345 mt, which stood 15% higher than the 15,069 mt registered in 2024. Indonesia (33%), Vietnam (26%) and Sri Lanka (17%) were the three main trading partners for the EU in terms of value in 2025, whereas the Netherlands (30%), Germany (26%) and Spain (13%) were the leading EU importing member states.

EU spending on cumin seeds may have reached a record EUR 62 million (USD 73 million) in 2024 but declined again by 17% in 2025 to EUR 52 million (USD 61 million). Yet the import volume rose by 7% to a record 12,753 mt last year as opposed to the 11,953 mt noted in 2024. With a market share of 82% India was the main trading partner by far in terms of value for the EU in 2025. Syria (5%) and Turkey (4%) were next in line with much smaller shares. Main buyers were the Netherlands (30%), Germany (21%) and Spain (16%).

Turmeric imports hit a record 20,216 mt worth EUR 50 million (USD 59 million) in 2025. This is 18% higher than the 17,197 mt worth EUR 42,000 million imported in 2024. With a market share of 73% India was the main trading partner for the EU by far in terms of value in 2025. Peru (14%) and Japan (4%) stood in second and third position. The main EU importing countries were the Netherlands (35%) and Germany (31%), followed by Spain (10%).

Last year saw a 12% decline in the EU’s total import value for nutmeg. Yet, the import volume rose by 5% to 4,537 mt as opposed to the 4,327 mt imported in 2024. With a market share of 77% Indonesia accounted for more than three quarters of the EU’s total spend in 2025. Vietnam (10%) and Grenada (6%), which follow next, held much smaller shares. The Netherlands (41%), Germany (28%) and Italy (12%) dominated EU imports.

EU cardamom imports surged by 86% to a record EUR 47 million (USD 56 million). In terms of volume EU imports also surged by an impressive 12% to 2,199 mt in 2025 as compared with the 1,963 mt registered in 2024 but fell short of the record 2,738 mt imported in 2021 and the 2,600 mt in 2022. In receiving 74% of the total import value Guatemala was the main trading partner by far for the EU in 2025. India and Tanzania followed with much smaller shares of 9% and 6% respectively. The main EU importing member states were the Netherlands (38%), Germany (22%) and Sweden (12%).

In 2024, EU importers spent a record EUR 25 million (USD 30 million) on cloves. Although spending ranged a bit lower at EUR 24 million (USD 28 million) in 2025, this still is the second largest amount on record. In terms of volume EU imports rose to a record 3,518 mt in 2025, which is 14% higher than the 3,085 mt recorded in the previous year. In terms of value, Madagascar (41%), Indonesia (27%) and Comoros (12%) were the main suppliers for cloves in 2025. By contrast, the Netherlands (34%), Germany (24%) and France (12%) spent the most.

EU spending on spice mixtures has inched up steadily since 2017 and reached a record EUR 23 million (USD 27 million) in 2025, nearly 3% more than in 2024. The import volume also hit a record 3,731 mt, thereby exceeding the 3,678 mt imported in 2024 by a moderate 1%. A multitude of countries constitute the trading partner base for the EU with India (18%) and Pakistan (18%) holding the largest shares in terms of value in 2025 and Turkey (10%) next in line. Within the EU the Netherlands (27%) and Germany (25%) were the largest importing countries followed by Italy (10%).

EU mace imports climbed by 5% in terms of volume and by 8% in terms of value to 897 mt worth EUR 15 million (USD 18 million) in 2025 as compared with the 854 mt worth EUR 14 million (USD 17 million) witnessed in 2024. Indonesia received as much as 68% of the total EU import value in 2025. Vietnam held a market share of 23% and Sri Lanka 7%. With a share of 51% the Netherlands accounted for more than half of the amount spent, followed by Germany with 32% and Italy with 8%.

After climbing to a record EUR 15 million (USD 18 million) in 2024, EU curry imports decreased to EUR 12 million (USD 14 million) in 2025, which is the second highest value on record. The import volume climbed to 2,808 mt in 2024 but dipped again by 2% to 2,759 mt in 2025. India received 44% of the EU’s total import value in 2025, the UK 30% and Sir Lanka 11%. With a share of 32% the Netherlands were the top buyers within the EU along with Germany (31%) and France (11%).

In 2025 the EU imported 8,634 mt of coriander seeds worth EUR 12 million (USD 14 million). This is 33% down in terms of volume and 15% down in terms of value on the 12,897 mt worth EUR 14 million (USD 17 million) in 2024. Ukraine accounted for 24% of the EU’s total spend in 2025, followed by India with 17% and Morocco with 14%. With a share of 26% the Netherlands were the main EU importing state, followed by Germany with 21% and Poland with 19%.

EU fenugreek seed imports claimed a record 5,109 mt worth EUR 6 million (USD 7 million) in 2025. This is 20% up in terms of volume and 6% up in terms of value on the 4,244 mt worth nearly EUR 6 million in 2024 rexorded in 2024. India accounted for 57% of the EU’s total import value in 2025 with Egypt (22%) and Canada (6%) next in line. The main EU importing member states were Germayn (29%), Italy (20%) and France (19%).