Spices · importers
The United States holds the top place in the chapter that contains spices, at $11.7B, but spices share that figure with coffee, tea and mate.
| Market | HS 09 imports |
|---|---|
| Germany | $6.5B |
| France | $4.0B |
| 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.
With 17.3% of reported world imports of the chapter, the United States is the largest single destination and far ahead of Germany at $6.5B. Spice buyers there include seasoning blenders, meat and snack processors, restaurant suppliers and retail packers. Many of them treat spices as a food-safety ingredient first and a flavour second.
That is why microbial reduction treatment, low moisture and clean, insect-free lots often come up in the first conversation.
Ask for the buyer’s written specification. It normally covers moisture, extraneous matter, volatile oil content or pungency where relevant, colour value for products like paprika or chilli, and limits on pesticide residues and natural toxins. Sterilisation methods and any treatment records are also commonly requested, and the rules on which methods are allowed are set by the authorities and can change.
Whole spices and ground spices are handled quite differently; ground lots lose aroma faster and are more exposed to adulteration, so buyers often ask for authenticity tests.
Chapter 09 covers coffee, tea, mate and spices together, so the $11.7B is not a spice figure. Coffee usually accounts for a large part of the chapter in importing countries, which means the spice share may be considerably smaller. The chapter is 0.3% of the country’s $3.36T imports and ranks 39th among its import chapters.
Spice-specific heading searches in customs shipment records are the way to size the real opportunity.
Mexico, China, Canada and Germany lead the overall source list, which covers all goods and tells you nothing about where spices come from. Confirm the current food-safety and import conditions with the authorities, then fix Incoterm, currency, payment terms and port with the buyer.
Consignees are named in shipment records under the individual spice headings. This site’s free marketplace helps you approach the importers you shortlist.
It ranks first of 96 at $11.7B in 2024, a 17.3% share of reported world imports. Germany follows at $6.5B.
No. The chapter also holds coffee, tea and mate, and coffee is likely a large part.
Food safety: cleanliness, moisture, residue limits and treatment records, before flavour.
Search shipment records under the individual spice headings and note consignees with repeat arrivals.
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