The Oman market for Indian green cardamom
Saudi Arabia: the importer registers the establishment and each product on SFDA's Ghad platform; FASAH clearance needs certificate of origin, invoice showing batch and expiry, health/phytosanitary certificate as applicable; Arabic labelling per SFDA.FD/GSO 9. Saudi Arabia, UAE and Kuwait are the core cardamom markets for Arabic coffee; buyers favour 7-8 mm+ deep-green pods and check pesticide residues.
Indian community in Oman (Ministry of External Affairs estimate): 678,837 (NRI 676,781 + PIO 2,056).
Green Cardamom specification for Oman orders
| Parameter | Typical export value |
|---|---|
| Pod size | 6-7 mm, 7-8 mm, 8 mm+ (typical grades) |
| Litre weight | ≥ 415-450 g/L depending on grade (typical) |
| Moisture | ≤ 10-12% (typical) |
| Colour | Uniform deep green, no artificial colour |
| Volatile oil | ≥ 6-8 ml/100 g (typical) |
| Splits / empty pods | ≤ 2-5% (typical) |
Final values are agreed per contract, then confirmed by lab report or pre-shipment inspection.
Shipping green cardamom to Oman
Typical sea transit from India: 3–5 d Mundra/Nhava Sheva → Sohar/Muscat; 4–6 d Salalah (ASSUMPTION — this file's analyst estimate, not in 06 §F.2) days.
Supply window: Indian green cardamom is mainly produced or harvested Harvest Aug-Jan, peak Oct-Dec (ASSUMPTION). Allow 3–5 d Mundra/Nhava Sheva → Sohar/Muscat; 4–6 d Salalah (ASSUMPTION — this file's analyst estimate, not in 06 §F.2) days at sea plus 5–10 days for inspection, export clearance and Oman customs when you set delivery dates.
Container loading (estimate): 20' about 6-9 MT (volume-limited), 40' HC about 12-16 MT (volume-limited).
Quoted on FOB, CFR, CIF, FCA, CPT (air); CIF Oman is the common choice for first orders.
Where buyers are in Oman
| City | Port / airport | Buyer sectors |
|---|---|---|
| Muscat | Port Sultan Qaboos (Muttrah; now mainly cruise/tourism, cargo shifted to Sohar) / Port of | Indian diaspora grocery & restaurants (Indians largest expat group), HORECA, LuLu/Nesto-type hypermarket chains HQ |
| Salalah | Port of Salalah (APM Terminals; major transshipment hub, Arabian Sea) · Salalah Internatio | Indian grocery, transshipment-linked logistics & re-exporters to East Africa/Yemen, free-zone manufacturers (inputs) |
| Sohar | Port of Sohar (Sohar Industrial Port; container terminal operated by Hutchison Ports) · So | industrial catering, steel/aluminium/petrochemical plants (refractories, chemicals |
Frequently asked questions
How long does shipping from India to Oman take?
Typically 3–5 d Mundra/Nhava Sheva → Sohar/Muscat; 4–6 d Salalah (ASSUMPTION — this file's analyst estimate, not in 06 §F.2) days at sea (estimate).
Does Oman have a trade agreement with India?
India–Oman CEPA signed 18 Dec 2025, in force 1 Jun 2026 (zero duty on ~99% of Indian export lines per S10) [S7][S9][S10] A preferential certificate of origin is needed to claim any reduced duty.
Which HS code applies to green cardamom from India?
Usually HS 090831. Oman applies its own national tariff extension to the 6-digit code; confirm the full line with your broker.
What does AGEB mean?
Alleppey Green Extra Bold - a premium Indian green cardamom grade with large, well-filled pods, typically 7 mm and above.
How is cardamom priced?
By pod size, colour and litre weight; larger, greener and heavier pods command higher prices.
Is Indian cardamom competitive with Guatemala?
Indian cardamom is generally priced higher for its aroma and oil content; India's exports rose sharply in FY2025-26 (US$ 413.2 million per Spices Board).
Related guides
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