Key facts
- India exported US$1,343 million of chilli in FY2024-25 (indianspices.com).
- Largest destinations by value: unavailable by country
- 1 production cluster mapped, in Andhra Pradesh; Telangana; Karnataka; MP.
- Market guides for 20 countries, each with destination requirements and transit times.
- Certifications available from the supply base: FSSAI licence, Spices Board CRES, Phytosanitary certificate, HACCP, ISO 22000 and more.
- Typical minimum order: One 40' HC (whole) or one 20' container (powder) (typical).
Product overview
Chilli is India's largest spice export by value: Spices Board reports US$ 1,342.52 million and 715,506 t in FY2024-25 (US$ 1,177.0 million in FY2025-26). Production is concentrated in Andhra Pradesh (1.15 million t), Telangana (0.60 million t) and Madhya Pradesh, with Guntur in Andhra Pradesh the largest chilli market yard in Asia.
Varieties are traded by heat and colour: Teja (S17) is very pungent and bright red, Guntur Sannam (S4/334) is the medium-hot workhorse, Byadgi and Kashmiri types are low-heat, high-colour chillies used for colour extraction and Indian cooking, and Wonder Hot / 341 sit in between. Chilli is exported whole (stem-on or stemless), crushed and as powder.
Key markets include China, Bangladesh, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, the USA and the Gulf. Aflatoxin, pesticide residues and Sudan dyes are the main compliance risks; EU buyers require lab certificates for every lot.
HS note: Crushed or ground chilli (powder, flakes) is 0904 22. Paprika-type colour grades are also under 0904 21/22.
Specifications
| Pungency | Teja 75,000-100,000 SHU; Sannam 334 about 25,000-35,000 SHU; Byadgi 8,000-15,000 SHU (typical) |
|---|---|
| Colour | Byadgi / Kashmiri 120-160+ ASTA; Teja 60-80 ASTA (typical) |
| Moisture | ≤ 10-12% (typical) |
| Broken / damaged pods | ≤ 2-5% (typical) |
| Aflatoxin | EU limits B1 5 µg/kg, total 10 µg/kg (Reg. 2023/915) |
| Sudan dyes | Not detected (zero tolerance) |
Typical commercial values. Final specifications are fixed per contract and verified by lab report or pre-shipment inspection.
Grades & variants
Teja S17 (stem / stemless)
High pungency, bright red - China, Thailand, SE Asia, sauce makers.
Guntur Sannam S4 / 334
Medium heat - the main general-purpose export chilli.
Byadgi / Kashmiri type
Low heat, deep colour - colour extraction, tandoori and curry use.
Wonder Hot / 341 / 273
Medium-high heat, good colour.
Crushed chilli flakes
With or without seeds, mesh-graded for pizza and seasoning.
Chilli powder
Specified heat and ASTA colour, steam-sterilised on request.
Packaging, MOQ & container loading
| Packing | Sizes | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bulk whole | 10-50 kg compressed jute or PP bags | Low density - volume-limited |
| Powder / flakes | 25 kg multiwall paper or PP bags with liner | Steam-sterilised lots in paper bags |
| Retail | 50 g-1 kg pouches | Private label |
Container load (estimate): 20' GP about 15-18 MT powder/flakes; whole pods not usually shipped in 20' · 40' HC about 8-12 MT whole stem-on; up to about 14-16 MT pressed bales. Whole chilli is volume-limited (research/06 E.4, ASSUMPTION)
Customisation: Specified SHU/ASTA blends, stemless, flakes mesh size, steam-sterilised powder, retail packs
Where we source in India
Producing regions and manufacturing clusters our supplier network draws from.
Andhra Pradesh
Guntur, Prakasam, Krishna, Kurnool
Guntur chilli yard; Guntur Sannam GI
Telangana
Khammam, Warangal
Teja and Wonder Hot
Karnataka
Haveri (Byadgi), Dharwad, Ballari
Byadgi chilli GI - low heat, high colour
Madhya Pradesh
Khargone, Dhar
Third-largest producer
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. Capsicum from India has been under EU increased official controls for aflatoxin since May 2019 (Reg. 2019/1793, latest amended by 2026/1206) - every consignment needs an official certificate and lab results.
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 Salmonella-free (steam-treated) chilli and ASTA cleanliness; FDA uses import alerts for Salmonella and Sudan dyes in spices.
Southeast Asia
Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam buy high-pungency Teja and Sannam for sauces and pastes; Malaysian halal-retail packs need JAKIM-recognised certification.
South Asia
Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are large buyers of whole dried chilli; Sri Lankan demand is price-driven and seasonal.
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 on request
- • Sudan dye and aflatoxin test per lot
- • SHU (HPLC) and ASTA colour analysis
Certifications available
- • FSSAI licence
- • Spices Board CRES
- • Phytosanitary certificate
- • HACCP
- • ISO 22000
- • BRCGS Food Safety
- • Halal certificate
- • Kosher certificate
- • India Organic (NPOP)
- • 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
- • Certificate of analysis (EtO, pesticides, aflatoxin, Sudan dyes where relevant)
- • Spices Board quality certificate where required
- • Fumigation certificate (if specified)
Trade data
| Period | Flow | Value (USD mn) | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2024-25 | India exportsLine: Chilli (dried/powder) | 1,342.5 | verified | indianspices.com |
Top destinations: unavailable by country
Export markets
Frequently asked questions
Which chilli variety is the hottest?
Teja (S17) is the most pungent of the major Indian export varieties, typically about 75,000-100,000 SHU.
Which chilli gives the best colour?
Byadgi and Kashmiri-type chillies are low in heat and high in colour, typically 120 ASTA units or more.
What does stemless mean?
Stems (calyx) are removed by hand or machine before packing; stemless chilli costs more but is preferred for grinding and retail.
Does Indian chilli face extra EU checks?
Yes. Capsicum from India has been under EU increased official controls for aflatoxin since May 2019, so each lot needs an official certificate and lab results.
How much whole chilli fits in a container?
Whole chilli is bulky; about 8-12 MT fits in a 40-foot high cube, or more when bales are pressed.
Request a quote for Dried Red Chilli (Teja, Guntur Sannam 334, Byadgi, Wonder Hot) and Chilli Powder
Tell us grade, quantity and destination. We reply with options, packaging and pricing on your Incoterm.
