Key facts
- India exported US$248 million of curry powder / paste in FY2024-25 (indianspices.com).
- Largest destinations by value: unavailable by country
- 1 production cluster mapped, in Kerala; Karnataka; Maharashtra.
- Market guides for 19 countries, each with destination requirements and transit times.
- Certifications available from the supply base: FSSAI licence, Spices Board CRES, Phytosanitary certificate, HACCP, ISO 22000 and more.
- Typical minimum order: Mixed 20' container or LCL; private label typically from about 1-2 MT per SKU (typical).
Product overview
Curry powders and pastes are one of the fastest-growing value-added spice exports: Spices Board reports US$ 247.59 million in FY2024-25 and US$ 260.0 million in FY2025-26. Products range from classic curry powder and garam masala to regional masalas (biryani, tandoori, chaat, sambar, rasam) and wet pastes.
Manufacturers are clustered around Kochi, Mumbai, Delhi-NCR, Bengaluru and Gujarat. Many offer contract (white-label) blending to buyer recipes, with options for low-salt, no-added-colour, allergen-free and organic formulations.
Because blends combine several raw spices, the compliance burden is cumulative: each ingredient must meet pesticide, aflatoxin, EtO and microbial limits. Sudan dyes and undeclared allergens (mustard, celery, peanut) are key risks for EU and UK buyers.
HS note: Dry spice mixtures are 0910 91; wet curry pastes and cooking sauces are 2103 90.
Specifications
| Moisture | ≤ 10% (typical) |
|---|---|
| Mesh | 40-60 mesh (typical) |
| Salt content | As per recipe; declared (typical) |
| Microbiology | TPC ≤ 10^5 cfu/g, Salmonella absent (steam-treated blends) (typical) |
| Colours | No synthetic colours unless declared and permitted; Sudan dyes not detected |
| Allergens | Declared per destination rules (EU 14 / US 9 allergens) |
Typical commercial values. Final specifications are fixed per contract and verified by lab report or pre-shipment inspection.
Grades & variants
Curry powder (mild, medium, hot)
Classic export blends for retail and food service.
Garam masala
Whole-spice blend, ground.
Regional masalas
Biryani, tandoori, chaat, sambar, rasam, chana, pav bhaji.
Wet curry pastes
Oil-based pastes, ambient shelf-stable.
Custom / white-label blends
Formulated to buyer recipe and specification.
Packaging, MOQ & container loading
| Packing | Sizes | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Retail | 50 g-1 kg cartons, pouches and jars | Private label with destination labelling |
| Food service / industrial | 1-25 kg bags and cartons |
Container load (estimate): 20' GP about 10-14 MT in retail cartons; about 15-17 MT bulk · 40' HC about 20-24 MT. Palletised retail is volume-limited
Customisation: Buyer recipes, heat levels, salt-free / no-colour / organic, retail artwork
Where we source in India
Producing regions and manufacturing clusters our supplier network draws from.
Kerala
Ernakulam (Kochi), Aluva
Spice processing and oleoresin cluster
Maharashtra
Mumbai, Thane, Pune
Masala brands and contract blenders
Delhi
North West Delhi, Ghaziabad (UP)
Large masala manufacturers
Gujarat
Ahmedabad, Rajkot
Blenders near seed-spice belt
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. Sudan dyes are zero tolerance in chilli-containing blends.
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. Labels must follow 21 CFR 101 with the US Big-9 allergens (including sesame).
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. UK is a key market for curry powders and pastes; allergen labelling under retained Reg. 1169/2011.
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. Large diaspora retail demand in UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and Oman.
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 allergen testing
- • Label review against destination rules
Certifications available
- • FSSAI licence
- • Spices Board CRES
- • Phytosanitary certificate
- • HACCP
- • ISO 22000
- • FSSC 22000
- • BRCGS Food Safety
- • Halal certificate
- • Kosher certificate
- • India Organic (NPOP)
- • US FDA registration / approval
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)
- • Ingredient specification and allergen statement
Trade data
| Period | Flow | Value (USD mn) | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2024-25 | India exportsLine: Curry powder / paste | 247.6 | verified | indianspices.com |
Top destinations: unavailable by country
Export markets
Frequently asked questions
Can you produce blends to our own recipe?
Yes, partner manufacturers produce custom and white-label blends to buyer recipes and specifications.
Are your blends tested for EtO and Sudan dyes?
Each blend and its ingredients are tested as required by the destination - EtO for EU/UK and Sudan dyes for chilli-containing blends.
What is the minimum private-label order?
Typically about 1-2 MT per SKU, depending on the pack format and manufacturer.
How large is India's curry powder export?
Spices Board reports US$ 247.59 million in FY2024-25 and US$ 260.0 million in FY2025-26.
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