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Export Spices to USA from India
Spice exporters register with the Spices Board and receive the CRES, which the Board's notice treats as the RCMC. There is no India-USA trade agreement in force in DGFT's list, so the certificate of origin is non-preferential if the buyer asks for one.
Official sources checked: 2 Oct 2026
Spice exporters register with the Spices Board and receive the CRES, which the Board's notice treats as the RCMC. There is no India-USA trade agreement in force in DGFT's list, so the certificate of origin is non-preferential if the buyer asks for one.
In FY 2025-26, India's exports to USA of spices (HS 0904, 0909 and 0910) were US$ 301.9 million, which is 11.6% of India's total exports of the same products (US$ 2,607.7 million), according to TradeStat.
How much does India export? FY 2025-26
| Product | 2024-25 (US$ million) | 2025-26 (US$ million) | Change | All countries, 2025-26 (US$ million) | Share to USA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HS 0904 | 182.4 | 160.0 | -12.3% | 1,233.7 | 13.0% |
| HS 0909 | 82.5 | 63.7 | -22.8% | 651.6 | 9.8% |
| HS 0910 | 69.7 | 78.3 | +12.3% | 722.5 | 10.8% |
Trade values are in US$ million for the financial year 2025-26 (April 2025 to March 2026), as published by TradeStat, Department of Commerce (data from DGCI&S) and fetched on 2026-10-02. They can be revised later. Shares and changes are calculated from those figures. Year-on-year change compares 2025-26 with 2024-25.
India-side licences and registrations for spices
| Licence | Issued by | Main official fee |
|---|---|---|
| IEC code (Importer Exporter Code) | DGFT, Ministry of Commerce | ₹500Checked on official page Source |
| Spices Board CRES | Spices Board India (Ministry of Commerce) | Amount set by the BoardTo confirm Source |
| AD code (Authorised Dealer code) | Your bank gives the code; Customs registers it on ICEGATE | No amount shownTo confirm Source |
| GST LUT (Form GST RFD-11) | GST Department (filed on the GST portal) | No amount shownTo confirm Source |
| Phytosanitary certificate and import permit | Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine and Storage (DPPQS) | See DPPQSTo confirm Source |
| Certificate of origin (e-CoO) | Agencies authorised by DGFT (chambers, EPCs and others) | ₹200Checked on official page Source |
Fees and rules change and can differ between offices. Confirm the fee on the official portal before you pay. Amounts marked To confirm could not be checked on an official page.
Policy check
No restriction on exporting spices appears in the lines of DGFT's 2021 export schedule that we read. Imports of pepper into India are a different matter and carry a minimum import price condition in DGFT's 2019 list.
DGFT's lists we read: restricted imports (2019), prohibited imports (2019), export schedule (2021). Current policy: DGFT policy search. HS chapter details: Chapter 9: Coffee, tea and spices.
Trade agreement and certificate of origin
India-US interim trade framework (no FTA in force). A framework for an interim agreement was announced in February 2026. Talks on a bilateral trade agreement continued in April 2026.
India has no preferential agreement in force with the USA that is listed in DGFT's Appendix 2A, so shipments to the USA use the non-preferential certificate of origin (₹200) when the buyer asks for one.
Department of Commerce: United States-India Joint Statement (7 Feb 2026)
Steps for this route
- Get your IEC from DGFT (IEC guide). Fee ₹500.
- Register your bank's AD code on ICEGATE (AD code guide).
- Register with the Spices Board and get the CRES before you quote.
- Ask your buyer for the US-side requirements for spice shipments, including testing, and arrange lab reports in India.
- Get a phytosanitary certificate if the buyer asks for it.
- File the shipping bill on ICEGATE and keep the e-BRC after you are paid (export guide).