Spices · importers
France ranks third of 96 at $4.0B in the chapter that contains spices, with a food culture that uses them in blends, sauces and charcuterie.
| Market | HS 09 imports |
|---|---|
| United States | $11.7B |
| Germany | $6.5B |
| Italy | $3.4B |
| Canada | $2.4B |
| Spain | $2.2B |
Figures are for the whole of HS chapter 09 (coffee, tea, mate and spices). Source: UN Comtrade, as reported by national authorities; latest available year per market.
Germany is above at $6.5B and Italy below at $3.4B, which leaves France in a stable third place with 5.9% of reported world imports. Its rank has clear gaps on both sides, so it is unlikely to change from small revisions.
French demand for spices comes from industrial food makers, from herb and spice packers for retail, and from wholesalers who supply restaurants and caterers. Professional buyers ask for consistent colour and aroma, and often for smaller pack sizes suited to a kitchen than the bulk sacks that industrial customers use.
Blends of several ingredients are common, so an importer may want a range of items from one supplier or from a few, and may be open to a partner who can cover several lines.
Ask the importer for its specification on moisture, cleanliness and aroma, and about microbiological treatment and residue testing. European food-safety rules are set by the authorities and change, so confirm the present conditions with them and with the buyer. Origin claims and organic status require documents that can be checked.
Germany, China, Belgium and the USA lead France’s overall source list, which covers all goods and gives no clue about where spices originate.
The $4.0B includes coffee, tea and mate, so spices are a fraction of it. Reporter declarations and re-exports can shift a market’s place.
Named importers appear in shipment records for each spice heading. Fix Incoterm, currency, payment terms and port with the buyer, then reach out through this site’s free marketplace.
Third of 96 at $4.0B in 2024, a 5.9% share of reported world imports, behind Germany at $6.5B.
Industrial food makers, retail packers and wholesalers that supply restaurants and caterers.
No. It includes coffee, tea and mate, so spices are only part.
Check the spice headings in shipment records and rank consignees by cargo weight.
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