Key facts
- India exported US$342 million of turmeric in FY2024-25 (indianspices.com).
- Largest destinations by value: unavailable by country
- 1 production cluster mapped, in Telangana; Maharashtra; Tamil Nadu; AP; Meghalaya.
- Market guides for 21 countries, each with destination requirements and transit times.
- Certifications available from the supply base: FSSAI licence, Spices Board CRES, Phytosanitary certificate, HACCP, ISO 22000 and more.
- Typical minimum order: One 20' container (fingers or powder); LCL from about 1-2 MT (typical).
Product overview
India produces most of the world's turmeric and is its largest exporter. Spices Board reports FY2024-25 exports of US$ 341.54 million (176,325 t) and US$ 327.2 million in FY2025-26. The main producing states are Maharashtra (307,136 t), Tamil Nadu (167,082 t) and Telangana (97,519 t); Erode in Tamil Nadu is the largest market and processing centre, and Erode Manjal holds a GI tag.
Turmeric is boiled, dried and polished before sale as fingers or bulbs, then ground into powder. Varieties are known by region - Erode/Salem, Rajapuri (Sangli), Nizamabad, Alleppey (high curcumin) and Lakadong from Meghalaya (very high curcumin). Curcumin content (2-7%+) drives value for nutraceutical buyers.
Compliance focus is on lead (lead chromate adulteration has triggered FDA alerts), pesticide residues, aflatoxin and EtO. Reputable sourcing uses lab-tested, unadulterated fingers with no added colour.
HS note: India's ITC(HS) splits 0910 30 into fresh, dried (fingers/bulbs) and powder lines; curcumin extract is classified elsewhere (3203 / 2932 / 1302 depending on form).
Specifications
| Curcumin | 2-3% standard; 3-5% Alleppey/Salem type; 6-7%+ Lakadong (typical) |
|---|---|
| Moisture | ≤ 10% fingers; ≤ 10% powder (typical) |
| Lead (Pb) | Not detected / below destination limit; no lead chromate |
| Total ash / acid-insoluble ash | ≤ 7% / ≤ 1.5% (typical) |
| Powder mesh | 60-80 mesh (typical) |
| 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
Fingers - double polished
Main export form for grinders; sized and polished.
Bulbs
Mother rhizomes; lower priced, used for grinding.
Turmeric powder
Specified curcumin, mesh and colour; steam-sterilised on request.
High-curcumin (Alleppey / Lakadong)
For nutraceutical and premium retail.
Organic turmeric
NPOP / NOP certified lots.
Packaging, MOQ & container loading
| Packing | Sizes | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bulk fingers | 25-50 kg PP or jute bags | Fumigated if required |
| Powder | 25 kg multiwall paper / PP bags with liner | Steam-sterilised lots in paper bags |
| Retail | 50 g-1 kg pouches and jars | Private label |
Container load (estimate): 20' GP about 15-18 MT fingers; about 17-20 MT powder · 40' HC about 25-26 MT (weight-limited). Spice payload examples, research/06 E.4 (ASSUMPTION)
Customisation: Curcumin-specified powder, steam-sterilised, organic, retail packs
Where we source in India
Producing regions and manufacturing clusters our supplier network draws from.
Tamil Nadu
Erode, Salem, Coimbatore
Erode - largest turmeric market; Erode Manjal GI (2019)
Maharashtra
Sangli, Hingoli, Nanded
Largest producing state; Rajapuri turmeric
Telangana
Nizamabad, Jagtial
Nizamabad turmeric market
Meghalaya
West Jaintia Hills
Lakadong - high-curcumin niche
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. Turmeric 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. FDA has issued import alerts on turmeric for lead (lead chromate) and Salmonella - supply lab-tested, unadulterated lots.
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. UAE and Saudi Arabia buy fingers and powder for diaspora retail and re-export.
South Asia
Bangladesh is a large buyer of turmeric fingers for its own grinding industry.
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
- • Lead and lead-chromate test per lot
- • Curcumin (HPLC/spectrophotometric) 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
- • 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: Turmeric | 341.5 | verified | indianspices.com |
Top destinations: unavailable by country
Export markets
Frequently asked questions
What curcumin content does Indian turmeric have?
Standard Erode/Salem turmeric is about 2-3%, Alleppey-type 3-5% and Lakadong from Meghalaya 6-7% or more (typical values; each lot is tested).
Is your turmeric tested for lead?
Yes - every lot is tested for lead to rule out lead-chromate adulteration, a known issue that has triggered US FDA alerts.
What is the difference between fingers and bulbs?
Fingers are the secondary rhizomes and are the main export form; bulbs are the central mother rhizomes and are usually ground.
Can you supply turmeric powder with a specified curcumin level?
Yes, powder can be blended to a specified curcumin, mesh and colour, with steam sterilisation on request.
Where does Indian turmeric come from?
Mainly Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Telangana; Erode is the largest market and holds the Erode Manjal GI.
Request a quote for Turmeric (Fingers, Bulbs and Powder)
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