Tensions in the Middle East over the past two months has resulted in good business for cumin seed exporters from Gujarat.
According to data compiled by the Federation of Indian Spice Stakeholders (FISS), cumin seed exports in July, Aug and Sep stood at 52,022 metric tonnes (MT), up 128% year-on-year against 22,830MT in the same period last year.
Overall, from March to Sep, the export of jeera grew 73% during this period.
Traditionally, the Middle East, particularly Syria, Iran and Turkey, are large producers of cumin. “However, political situations in these countries have led to reduced production, and markets started relying more on Indian cumin,” said FISS vice-chairman Udayakumar Karthik. When tensions led to scarcity of cumin supply, Gujarat and Rajasthan — two
of India’s major cumin-producing states — stepped in to fill the gap. And Unjha, the hub of India’s cumin trade, reaped the benefits.
Spice brokers and traders also attribute the rise in cumin seed exports to rising demand and attractive prices. Karthik said, “The price of cumin has declined considerably, and this is a major factor working to India’s advantage when it comes to exports. Against the high of last year, cumin prices are hovering around Rs 25,000 per quintal. Last year, cumin prices touched lifetime high of Rs 60,000 per quintal.”
Domestic and international demand, particularly from Europe and other parts of the world, also jumped in the past couple of months due to upcoming festive seasons. “Bulk orders are coming in early this year, with many buyers locking in quantities at the current stable prices,” a spice trader said.
Besides Middle Eastern buyers, China also resumed procuring cumin from India after briefly relying on its domestic produce.
“China initially held off on imports, but after utilising much of their own stock, they began buying Indian cumin again due to its price competitiveness,” he added. While Bangladesh and China show limited demand, the US, Far East and Middle Eastern countries remain significant buyers. With India’s bumper cumin crop and stable prices, exporters are
optimistic about continued growth in the months to come.
