Table of Contents
Black pepper export from India: What's worth noticing in 2026?
- Bangladesh is the largest destination for black pepper export from India in 2026 at US$79.05 million, giving the South Asian corridor a value lead of roughly US$25 million over second-placed Indonesia.
- Whole black pepper under the 6-digit line 090421 leads the export basket across every top-ten destination, with crushed and ground grades under 090412 and 090422 filling the secondary positions.
- Q2 2026 set a series high of US$139.81 million, a 32.48% quarterly gain that lifted H1 2026 to US$245.34 million, well above the US$180.07 million recorded in H1 2025.
- For the 2025-26 fiscal year, Spices Board India recorded pepper shipments of 19,806 tonnes worth US$138 million, where volume fell 5% but value rose 11%, confirming that higher unit prices carried the category.
Which countries does India export pepper to the most?
Based on TradeInt's India export records for HS 0904 in 2026, India exports black pepper mainly to Bangladesh at US$79.05 million, Indonesia at US$53.40 million, and the United States at US$48.26 million. The top 10 India black pepper export destinations by country also include Sri Lanka, Mexico, Malaysia, Vietnam, Ghana, the Philippines, and the Maldives.
Top 5 pepper export destinations in India in 2026:
- Bangladesh - US$79.05 million: the largest single buyer, drawing whole and ground grades through M S J P EXPORT.
- Indonesia - US$53.40 million: a re-export and blending destination supplied mainly by BANKA SPICES INTERNATIONAL.
- United States - US$48.26 million: the leading premium-grade market, handled by OLAM FOOD INGREDIENTS INDIA PRIVATE.
- Sri Lanka - US$30.09 million: a two-way trading partner served by GREEN GRASS AGRI COMMODITIES.
- Mexico - US$15.33 million: the largest Latin American outlet, shipped through SRI VARU IMPEX LOGISTICS.
| Rank | Country | Value (US$) | Share % | Top 6-Digit HS Code | Top Buyers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bangladesh | $79,052,371 | 32.22% | 1. 090421 2. 090411 3. 090422 | 🔒 Unlock Buyer Data |
| 2 | Indonesia | $53,398,500 | 21.77% | 1. 090421 2. 090422 3. 090411 | |
| 3 | United States | $48,262,303 | 19.67% | 1. 090411 2. 090412 3. 090421 | |
| 4 | Sri Lanka | $30,092,248 | 12.27% | 1. 090421 2. 090422 3. 090411 | |
| 5 | Mexico | $15,325,331 | 6.25% | 1. 090421 2. 090422 3. 090412 | |
| 6 | Malaysia | $7,779,060 | 3.17% | 1. 090421 2. 090422 3. 090412 | |
| 7 | Vietnam | $4,495,233 | 1.83% | 1. 090421 2. 090422 3. 090411 | |
| 8 | Ghana | $1,479,298 | 0.60% | 1. 090412 2. 090422 3. 090411 | |
| 9 | Philippines | $1,229,649 | 0.50% | 1. 090422 2. 090421 3. 090412 | |
| 10 | Maldives | $580,762 | 0.24% | 1. 090421 2. 090422 3. 090411 |
Period: January-June 2026. HS Code Range: 0904
In May 2026, Tridge recorded an average Indian black pepper export unit price of US$7.95 per kg, up 7.82% month on month, but destination averages ranged from US$7.69 per kg into the United States down to US$4.18 per kg into the United Arab Emirates.
Regional demand explains why a producing country such as Indonesia still ranks second, since Indian material feeds blending and contract processing lines rather than displacing local harvest.
Among top countries, Asia Pacific accounted for 55.04% of the global black pepper market in 2025 on Fortune Business Insights data, placing most of India's top destinations inside a single regional processing network.
Factors shaping India’s pepper export destinations in 2026:
- Bangladesh remains a major market due to strong import demand: India supplied 76% of Bangladesh’s spice imports, valued at US$297 million, as local production could not meet domestic consumption.
- Strict standards limit access to premium markets: Exports to the US require FDA registration, Prior Notice, and testing for pesticide residues and aflatoxins. These requirements increase costs and favor larger shipments.
- Pepper grade determines the export market: Premium grades such as Tellicherry Extra Bold and Malabar Garbled can support the cost of long-distance shipping. Standard grades are mainly sold to nearby markets where delivered price is more important.
✔ Pepper Import Data ✔ Pepper Export Data
🧂 TradeInt's Historical India Pepper Export Records
Historical India pepper shipment records under HS 0904 as transaction-date records. TradeInt's trade data records preview is searchable by exporter name, importer name, country of destination, and 6-digit product line.
Preview here: India pepper export records search by HS 0904
Who are the largest producers of black pepper in India?
Among the verified Indian suppliers on TradeInt, the largest Indian black pepper exporters are BANKA SPICES INTERNATIONAL at a 6.51% share, NANDHINI CHILLIES at 4.08%, M S J P EXPORT at 3.35%, GINNY FOOD, and UMA UDYOG.
Top 5 black pepper exporters in India in 2026:
- BANKA SPICES INTERNATIONAL: a merchant exporter specialising in whole black pepper and regional spice processing.
- NANDHINI CHILLIES: a spice merchant shipping premium whole chillies, black pepper, and agro-commodities.
- M S J P EXPORT: a commercial exporter processing and distributing high-grade spices and agricultural commodities globally.
- GINNY FOOD: a Maharashtra-based agricultural exporter handling dry chillies, black pepper, and food grains.
- UMA UDYOG: a spice enterprise exporting processed black pepper, dry chillies, and soft agricultural products.
| Rank | Supplier | Share % | Export Value & Quantity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BANKA SPICES INTERNATIONAL | 6.51% | 🔒 Unlock Company Shipment Data |
| 2 | NANDHINI CHILLIES | 4.08% | |
| 3 | M S J P EXPORT | 3.35% | |
| 4 | GINNY FOOD | 2.73% | |
| 5 | UMA UDYOG | 2.22% |
Period: January-June 2026. HS Code Range: 0904
India's largest pepper exporters are not its largest growers, because Karnataka has overtaken Kerala as the leading producing state, with Chikkamagaluru, Shivamogga, Madikeri, and Kodagu together accounting for roughly half of national output, while Idukki and Wayanad remain Kerala's principal districts.
Onmanorama reported that official 2026 output projections were cut from 1.1 lakh tonnes to 85,000 tonnes and then to around 75,000 tonnes in line with farm-gate assessments, as farmers in Idukki and Wayanad moved toward coffee and cardamom.
Highlights of India’s pepper supply in 2026:
- Market arrivals remained low during peak harvest: Only 277 tonnes reached the Kochi terminal market in the week ending 21 February 2026, up just 34 tonnes from the previous week. Many spice companies bought directly from producing regions instead.
- Domestic pepper prices stayed high: Kerala mandi prices averaged Rs69,500 per quintal, about US$800, in mid-June 2026. Garbled Idukki pepper reached Rs80,000 per quintal, about US$921, raising procurement costs for exporters.
- More farmers are shifting to other crops: Pepper has become a secondary crop in Idukki and Wayanad as quick wilt disease and higher pesticide costs push growers toward coffee and cardamom. This is reducing the supply of export-grade pepper.
✔ UAE Spice Importers ✔ UAE Spice Exporters
🇦🇪 List of UAE Spice Importers by TradeInt Global Trade Database
UAE spice importers ranked for 2025, led by PURE FOOD LIMITED at 14.57%. These verified buyers on TradeInt trade on HS 090411 and 090412, the black pepper lines.
Read more: Who Are The Key Importers of Spices in UAE? UAE Spice Import
India pepper export market 2025-2026
TradeInt data shows that India’s quarterly pepper export value rose from US$99.46 million in Q1 2025 to a peak of US$139.81 million in Q2 2026, an increase of 40.57% over six quarters.
After falling 18.95% in Q2 2025 and fluctuating through the second half of the year, exports recovered strongly in 2026. Value increased 20.10% in Q1 and another 32.48% in Q2, reaching the highest level in the period.
| Timeline | Value (US$) | QoQ % | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 2025 | $99,457,139 | Baseline | Baseline period showing strong early-year transactional export valuations. |
| Q2 2025 | $80,609,349 | -18.95% | Moderate trade contraction driven by a sharp valuation drop in June. |
| Q3 2025 | $93,564,587 | 16.07% | Solid sequential recovery supported by steady shipment activity through late summer. |
| Q4 2025 | $87,863,957 | -6.09% | Slight year-end cooling despite an uptick in December shipment values. |
| Q1 2026 | $105,528,555 | 20.10% | Upward trade expansion propelled by high export valuations in January and February. |
| Q2 2026 | $139,806,940 | 32.48% | Peak performance quarter driven by exceptional value surges in April and May. |
Period: January-December 2025, January-June 2026. HS Code Range: 0904
The 2026 upswing came from price, with Spices Board India recording pepper shipments of 19,806 tonnes in FY26, down 5% on the year while value rose 11% to US$138 million, so exporters earned more from a smaller physical base.
Pepper outperformed the wider Indian spice basket, while total spice exports fell 6% in value to US$4.43 billion in FY26 and 4% in volume to 1.73 million tonnes, weighed down by chilli at 12% lower value and cumin at 28% lower value.
Furthermore, domestic wholesale prices moved against the export line, with Tridge recording an Indian black pepper wholesale average of US$7.00 per kg in May 2026, down 9.85% year on year, even as export unit prices rose 10.93% over the same span.
Key observations on India’s pepper export trend in 2026:
- Higher prices drove export growth: Export volume declined while value increased, showing that better grades and stronger prices supported growth.
- Pepper was among the few spices to record gains: Small cardamom export value rose 124% to US$413 million, while ginger increased 15% to US$143 million. Pepper was also among the limited number of spices that grew in FY26.
- Export margins improved: Export prices increased while domestic wholesale prices eased, creating better margins for exporters. However, limited harvest supply restricted further volume growth.
✔ India Export Data ✔ India Import Data
🇮🇳 Latest Insights on India Export Data 2026
India's full export basket is led by refined petroleum at US$12.08 billion in Q1 2026. TradeInt's article covers India's export destination ranking, HS-level products, top suppliers, and market trends from Q1 2025 to the present.
Read more: India export data: Top exports analysis in Q1/2026
Where to source India pepper suppliers?
Sourcing Indian pepper starts with matching the supplier type to the grade required, because merchant exporters, farmer-producer organisations, and integrated ingredient processors each serve different contract sizes and quality specifications.
- Spices Board India registry: the statutory body maintains the certified list of exporters holding CRES registration, and administers the SPICED scheme introduced in May 2025 to support export development and quality compliance.
- State industrial development corporations: Karnataka publishes a directory of registered spice and black pepper exporters, which matters because the state now leads national production ahead of Kerala.
- Producer organisations at origin: groups such as Thirunelly Agri Producer Company in Wayanad procure directly from growers and offer price transparency, suiting buyers who want traceability to district level.
- Shipment-level trade records: TradeInt's Bill of Lading database holds 10B+ shipment records, and 470M+ verified business profiles across 220+ countries, letting buyers trace pepper consignments by HS code, exporter name, and destination.
For counterparty verification beyond registry listings, request trial access to India export records and Indian pepper supplier profiles on TradeInt.
Conclusion
Black pepper export from India in 2026 concentrates on Bangladesh at US$79.05 million, Indonesia at US$53.40 million, and the United States at US$48.26 million, with whole black pepper leading the basket across nearly every destination.
Because FY26 volumes fell 5% while value rose 11%, the record Q2 2026 quarter came from price realisation on a thinning domestic harvest rather than expanded shipments, leaving the 2027 trajectory dependent on whether Karnataka output offsets continued crop switching in Kerala.
Review available data fields, time ranges, and country coverage across the Bill of Lading database on TradeInt.
Frequently asked questions
Does India export black pepper?
Yes. India exported 19,806 tonnes of pepper worth US$138 million in FY26, according to Spices Board India figures, with volume down 5% and value up 11% on the previous year. Bangladesh, Indonesia, and the United States are the three largest destinations in 2026.
Which city is famous for black pepper in India?
Kochi in Kerala is the historic centre of India's black pepper trade and hosts the terminal market where price benchmarks are set. Karnataka's Madikeri and Chikkamagaluru now lead on production volume, while Kochi retains its role as the trading and export hub.


