Key facts
- India exported US$125 million of ginger in FY2024-25 (indianspices.com).
- Largest destinations by value: unavailable by country
- 1 production cluster mapped, in Kerala; Karnataka; Meghalaya; Assam; Sikkim; Maharashtra.
- Market guides for 19 countries, each with destination requirements and transit times.
- Certifications available from the supply base: FSSAI licence, Spices Board CRES, Phytosanitary certificate, HACCP, ISO 22000 and more.
- Typical minimum order: One 20' container or LCL from about 1-2 MT (typical).
Product overview
India is a major ginger producer: Spices Board production figures put Madhya Pradesh (624,138 t), Karnataka (379,151 t) and Odisha (269,513 t) at the top, with Kerala, Meghalaya, Assam and Sikkim known for quality. Ginger exports (dry and fresh) were US$ 124.78 million and 131,360 t in FY2024-25.
Dry ginger is made by peeling or scraping fresh rhizomes and sun-drying them. 'Cochin ginger' from Kerala is the classic unbleached, rough-scraped export type; north-eastern ginger is lower in fibre and often sliced. Ginger is sold whole, sliced, as flakes, or as powder for spice blends, teas, beverages and nutraceuticals.
Key quality markers are pungency (gingerols), volatile oil, fibre and the absence of sulphur bleaching unless the buyer specifies bleached ginger.
HS note: Whole/sliced dried ginger is 0910 11 and powder 0910 12; fresh ginger shipped as a vegetable also uses 0910 11.
Specifications
| Moisture | ≤ 10-12% (typical) |
|---|---|
| Volatile oil | ≥ 1.5-2.0 ml/100 g (typical) |
| Crude fibre | ≤ 6-8% (typical) |
| Total ash | ≤ 6-8% (typical) |
| Sulphur dioxide | Not added unless bleached grade specified |
| Aflatoxin | EU B1 5 µg/kg, total 10 µg/kg |
Typical commercial values. Final specifications are fixed per contract and verified by lab report or pre-shipment inspection.
Grades & variants
Cochin ginger (unbleached, rough-scraped)
Classic Kerala export grade.
Ginger slices / flakes
Dried slices for tea, beverages and grinding.
Ginger powder
Ground to mesh, steam-sterilised on request.
Bleached ginger
Only on buyer specification; declare SO2 use.
Packaging, MOQ & container loading
| Packing | Sizes | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bulk | 25-50 kg jute / PP bags | Whole and slices are bulky |
| Powder | 25 kg paper / PP bags with liner | Steam-sterilised lots in paper bags |
Container load (estimate): 20' GP about 10-14 MT whole/slices; about 15-18 MT powder · 40' HC about 20-24 MT whole. Whole ginger is partly volume-limited
Customisation: Whole, sliced, flakes or powder; unbleached/bleached; organic
Where we source in India
Producing regions and manufacturing clusters our supplier network draws from.
Kerala
Wayanad, Idukki, Ernakulam
Cochin dry ginger trade
Karnataka
Hassan, Shivamogga, Chikkamagaluru
Large fresh/dry ginger supply
Meghalaya
Ri-Bhoi, West Garo Hills
Low-fibre north-east ginger
Madhya Pradesh
Chhindwara, Betul
Largest producer by volume
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. Ginger is within EU aflatoxin limits for spices (Reg. 2023/915).
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) ginger powder.
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 and Middle East buyers take dry ginger for spice and tea blends.
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
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)
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: Ginger (dry/fresh) | 124.8 | verified | indianspices.com |
Top destinations: unavailable by country
Export markets
Frequently asked questions
What is Cochin ginger?
A traditional Kerala dry-ginger export grade: rhizomes are rough-scraped and sun-dried without bleaching.
Do you supply ginger powder?
Yes, ground to a specified mesh and, on request, steam-sterilised for low microbial counts.
Is your ginger bleached?
Standard export grades are unbleached; bleached ginger is supplied only when the buyer specifies it and SO2 use is declared.
Which Indian regions produce the best dry ginger?
Kerala (Cochin ginger) and the north-east (low-fibre ginger) are best known for quality; Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka supply the largest volumes.
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