National Herbs And Spices Day: List Of 10 Largest Spice Producing Countries In The World In 2025

10 Largest Spice Producing Countries: Many countries celebrate National Herbs and Spices Day to celebrate the importance of spices, which are beloved and indispensable kitchen ingredients. Growing turmeric, ginger, chilli, cumin, coriander, black pepper and other spices, India remains the world's largest producer of spices, with about 12 million metric tons produced in 2024, according to PIB. China, known for its star anise, chilli peppers, ginger and garlic, comes in second with about 1.18 million tons. Third-largest producer of ginger, chilli, turmeric, and garlic is Nigeria (~1.04 million tons). Indonesia is still renowned for its cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, and black pepper (about 0.47 million tons). Other top producers in 2025 include Bangladesh, Pakistan, Vietnam, Mexico, Sri Lanka, and Turkey, all contributing between 110,000 to 378,000 metric tons with spices like turmeric, cardamom, vanilla, chilli, and cumin.

Comparing today’s data to 2011 FAO reports, we can see big shifts. In 2011, world spice production was about 2.06 million tons overall, with India at 1.53 million and Bangladesh at only 0.14 million. But by 2025, India's output will have surged to 12 million tons, and Nigeria and Indonesia have also grown significantly. This growth shows how spice production has expanded dramatically over the last decade due to better farming, global demand and more countries joining the market. 

List Of 2011 and Recent Reports of the Largest Producers Of Spices In The World

National Herbs and Spices Day is the perfect time to appreciate this evolution—and the countries making it possible. Here we have listed both the 2011 spice production data and the recent production data.

List Of the Largest Spice Producers In the World in 2025

1. India – 12 Million Metric Tons

India is the largest producer of spices in the world. It grows a wide variety of spices like turmeric, black pepper, cardamom, cumin, coriander, chilli, fennel, fenugreek and ginger. Indian spices are used both in home cooking and exported to many countries. States like Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, and Tamil Nadu are key spice-growing regions.

2. China – 1.18 Million Metric Tons

China is known for producing spices such as Sichuan pepper, star anise, ginger, garlic, and chilli peppers. These spices are commonly used in Chinese cooking to add heat and flavour. China also exports large amounts of garlic and anise to other parts of the world.

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3. Nigeria – 1.04 Million Metric Tons (2023)

Nigeria produces popular spices like ginger, chilli pepper, turmeric, and garlic. Nigerian spices are known for their bold flavours and are widely used in African cuisine. The country is also working on increasing spice exports.

4. Turkey

In 2023, Turkey's spice exports reached $294.72 million, accounting for 2.82% of the global market. The country's diverse spices, such as cumin, red pepper and thyme, contributed to its strong export performance, solidifying Turkey's position in the global spice trade.

5. Indonesia – 471 Thousand Metric Tons (2023)

Indonesia is famous for spices like cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, and black pepper. The Maluku Islands in Indonesia are known as the original "Spice Islands." Indonesian spices are a key part of both traditional and global recipes.

6. Bangladesh

Bangladesh grows spices such as turmeric, ginger, garlic, chilli and coriander. These spices are widely used in Bengali cooking to add flavour and colour. The country is increasing spice farming with the help of local farmers and government support.

7. Nepal – 378,000 Metric Tons

Nepal produces cardamom (especially large cardamom), ginger, turmeric, chilli, and coriander. The country's hilly regions provide the perfect climate for cardamom cultivation, making it one of the top producers of this spice in the world.

8. Sri Lanka – 110,000 Metric Tons

Sri Lanka is famous for producing high-quality cinnamon. Other spices grown here include black pepper, cloves, cardamom, and nutmeg. Sri Lankan spices are known for their fragrance and are exported to many countries.

9. Mexico – 239,000 Metric Tons

Mexico produces spices like chilli peppers (especially jalapeño, habanero), cumin, oregano, and vanilla. Mexican cuisine is rich in spices, and the country is also a major exporter of vanilla and dried chillies

10. Pakistan – 233,000 Metric Tons

Pakistan grows spices like red chilli, turmeric, coriander, cumin, and fennel. These spices are used in daily Pakistani dishes and are also exported to Middle Eastern and Western countries.