Key facts
- India exported US$125 million of black pepper in FY2024-25 (indianspices.com).
- Largest destinations by value: unavailable by country
- 1 production cluster mapped, in Kerala; Karnataka.
- Market guides for 19 countries, each with destination requirements and transit times.
- Certifications available from the supply base: FSSAI licence, Spices Board CRES, Phytosanitary certificate, HACCP, ISO 22000 and more.
- Typical minimum order: One 20' container (about 13-16 MT whole); LCL from about 1-2 MT (typical).
Product overview
India grows black pepper mainly in Karnataka (66,028 t in 2024-25), Kerala (29,503 t) and Tamil Nadu, per Spices Board. Exports were US$ 124.54 million in FY2024-25 (20,830 t) and US$ 137.8 million in FY2025-26. India is a premium origin rather than a volume leader (Vietnam and Brazil dominate world volume), and also imports pepper for re-export and domestic use.
Indian pepper is known by the Malabar Garbled (MG1) grade and Tellicherry Garbled Extra Bold (TGEB, ≥ 4.75 mm) and Special Extra Bold grades, valued for high piperine and essential-oil content. Kochi (Mattancherry) is the historic trading and grading hub.
Buyers in the EU, UK and USA usually ask for steam-sterilised, cleaned pepper with ASTA cleanliness specifications and full pesticide and EtO testing.
HS note: Crushed or ground pepper is 0904 12. Light berry and pinheads are under 0904 11 with separate Indian 8-digit lines.
Specifications
| Bulk density | 500-570 g/L for MG1/bold; ≥ 550-600 g/L for TGEB (typical) |
|---|---|
| Moisture | ≤ 12% (typical) |
| Light berries | ≤ 2-5% (typical) |
| Piperine | ≥ 4-5% (typical for Malabar/Tellicherry) |
| Volatile oil | ≥ 2.5-3.0 ml/100 g (typical) |
| Microbiology | Steam-sterilised: TPC < 10^4-10^5 cfu/g, Salmonella absent in 25 g (typical) |
Typical commercial values. Final specifications are fixed per contract and verified by lab report or pre-shipment inspection.
Grades & variants
MG1 (Malabar Garbled grade 1)
Standard Indian export grade, ≥ 4.0 mm typical.
TGEB (Tellicherry Garbled Extra Bold)
≥ 4.75 mm berries; premium gourmet grade.
TGSEB (Special Extra Bold)
≥ 5.0 mm berries; top gourmet grade.
ASTA / EU cleaned
Machine-cleaned to ASTA or ESA cleanliness spec, often steam-sterilised.
Ground / cracked
Mesh sizes 16-30, 30-60 or fine powder for food manufacturers.
Packaging, MOQ & container loading
| Packing | Sizes | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bulk | 25 kg and 50 kg PP / jute bags with liner | Steam-sterilised lots in multiwall paper bags |
| Retail | 50 g-1 kg pouches, grinder bottles | Private label via partner packers |
Container load (estimate): 20' GP about 13-16 MT whole in bags · 40' HC about 25-26 MT whole (weight-limited). Spice payload examples in research/06 E.4 (ASSUMPTION)
Customisation: Steam-sterilised, cracked/ground mesh sizes, retail and grinder packs, organic lots
Where we source in India
Producing regions and manufacturing clusters our supplier network draws from.
Karnataka
Kodagu, Chikkamagaluru, Hassan, Uttara Kannada
Largest producing state (66,028 t, 2024-25, Spices Board)
Kerala
Idukki, Wayanad, Kozhikode, Kannur
Malabar Pepper GI; Kochi trading hub
Tamil Nadu
Nilgiris, Dindigul
Smaller volumes
Market requirements by region
European Union
EU: ethylene oxide is effectively not permitted (MRL 0.1 mg/kg sum for spices) and Spices Board runs mandatory EtO testing for EU/UK-bound spice consignments; pesticide MRLs under Reg. 396/2005 are the main rejection cause - test against the EU Pesticides Database before shipping. Pepper is covered by EU aflatoxin limits (B1 5 µg/kg / total 10 µg/kg, Reg. 2023/915) and Salmonella checks.
United States & Canada
USA: the packing facility needs FDA Food Facility Registration, every shipment needs FDA Prior Notice, and the US importer must run FSVP supplier verification. US tariff treatment of Indian goods changed several times in 2025-26 (reciprocal tariffs, product exemptions, a Feb-2026 India-US framework and later court rulings) - verify the current duty for the HTS line before quoting landed cost. US buyers specify ASTA cleanliness and Salmonella-free (steam-sterilised) pepper; FDA has used import alerts for Salmonella in spices.
United Kingdom
UK: extra control measures have applied to Indian spice imports since May 2024 after the EtO episode; the India-UK CETA (in force 15 July 2026, reported) gives tariff preference with proof of origin.
Gulf (GCC)
UAE: Dubai Municipality FIRS requires the importer to register the company and each food item (label assessment) before arrival; Arabic/English labelling per GSO 9; India-UAE CEPA preference with a CEPA certificate of origin. Gulf buyers take bold Malabar grades for retail and food service.
General guidance, not legal advice. Confirm current requirements with your customs broker or the regulator.
Quality control
- • Pre-shipment inspection by SGS / Bureau Veritas / Intertek on request
- • Accredited (NABL) lab report for moisture, aflatoxin, pesticide residues and microbials
- • Pre-shipment and loading photographs, container seal record
- • Ethylene oxide (EtO) test certificate for EU/UK lots
- • Steam sterilisation certificate where specified
- • ASTA cleanliness analysis
Certifications available
- • FSSAI licence
- • Spices Board CRES
- • Phytosanitary certificate
- • HACCP
- • ISO 22000
- • BRCGS Food Safety
- • Halal certificate
- • Kosher certificate
- • India Organic (NPOP)
- • USDA Organic (NOP)
- • Geographical Indication (GI)
Held by the producing supplier for the specific lot; copies shared with the quote.
Shipping documents
- • Commercial invoice
- • Packing list
- • Bill of lading
- • Certificate of origin (preferential where an FTA applies)
- • Phytosanitary certificate
- • Spices Board quality/health certificate where required
- • Certificate of analysis (incl. EtO, pesticides, aflatoxin)
- • Fumigation certificate (if specified)
Trade data
| Period | Flow | Value (USD mn) | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2024-25 | India exportsLine: Black pepper | 124.5 | verified | indianspices.com |
Top destinations: unavailable by country
Export markets
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between MG1 and TGEB pepper?
Both are Malabar-origin black pepper; TGEB (Tellicherry Garbled Extra Bold) is the larger, ≥ 4.75 mm berry grade and is sold at a premium, while MG1 is the standard export grade.
Can you supply steam-sterilised pepper?
Yes, steam-sterilised pepper with low microbial counts can be supplied through partner sterilisation plants for EU, UK and US buyers.
Is EtO testing done?
Spices Board requires ethylene oxide testing for EU/UK-bound spice consignments, and test certificates accompany the shipment.
What bulk density should I specify?
Typical specifications are 500-570 g/L for MG1 and bold grades and higher for TGEB; higher density usually indicates fewer light berries.
How much pepper does India export?
Spices Board data show 20,830 t worth US$ 124.54 million in FY2024-25.
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