Spices · importers
Saudi Arabia ranks eleventh of 96 at $1.6B in the chapter that contains spices, in a cuisine where seasoning, rice dishes and spiced beverages are central.
| Market | HS 09 imports |
|---|---|
| United States | $11.7B |
| Germany | $6.5B |
| France | $4.0B |
| Italy | $3.4B |
| Canada | $2.4B |
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.
China is above at $2.1B and Poland just below at $1.6B. Saudi Arabia’s 2.4% share of reported world imports is a step ahead of the market behind it. The chapter is 0.7% of its $232.8B imports and ranks 31st among import chapters, higher than in most large economies.
Rice dishes with whole and ground spices, spiced meats, and beverages flavoured with cardamom or saffron make spices a household necessity, and hospitality demand adds to it. Households buy them in modest packs, while caterers and restaurants buy in bulk. Because the population includes many expatriate communities, demand also extends to spices associated with South Asian and other cuisines.
Ask a prospect which spice lines drive its business, because volume is concentrated in a handful of items. Given the weight of hospitality, gift and seasonal purchases can matter, so ask when the busiest periods fall and how far in advance stock must arrive.
China, the USA, the United Arab Emirates and India lead the overall source list. The UAE’s presence points to Gulf trading hubs, so some spices may arrive through them; ask whether the buyer imports direct. Import, food-safety and conformity requirements are set by the authorities and can change, so confirm them before shipping.
The $1.6B counts coffee, tea, mate and spices together, so spices are a fraction, and re-exports can move a ranking.
Consignees and weights are listed in the spice-heading shipment records. Agree Incoterm, currency, payment terms and port, then use this site’s free marketplace to open a conversation. Ask each buyer to name the two or three spices that drive its sales, and price those lines first.
Eleventh of 96 at $1.6B in 2024, a 2.4% share of reported world imports.
They are essential to local cooking and beverages, and hospitality adds to demand.
No. Coffee, tea and mate are part of it.
Read spice-heading shipment records and compare consignees by weight.
Keep exploring