Spices

Latest exports (value/volume):

• FY 2024–25: US$ 4.72 bn; 1.799 million tonnes—an all-time high, up 6% YoY in USD.
  
• Item/country breakouts are in Spices Board’s official “Major Item/Country-wise” tables.
  

Quality & compliance (what buyers check):

• Spices Board Quality Evaluation Laboratories (QEL) test for aflatoxins, pesticide residues, microbiology, capsaicin/SHU, etc. (ISO/IEC 17025 accredited).
  
• FSSAI standards (Chapter 2.9) set identity & purity (e.g., limits on extraneous matter).
  
• Global reference specs often used in trade: ASTA Cleanliness Specifications and ISO methods (e.g., ISO 6571 for volatile oil).
  

India/region strengths (examples):

• Pepper (Kerala/Karnataka/TN) – Malabar Pepper has a GI tag (Spices Board is the applicant).
  
• Chilli (AP/Telangana) – Guntur Sannam is GI-tagged and a major export variety for whole/oleoresin.
  
• Turmeric (TN/MH/KA) – Erode Turmeric GI; India dominates curcumin-rich grades.
  

So what? India’s GI-linked terroir (Malabar, Guntur, Erode), dense lab network, and large processing base make it a one-stop origin for a full spice basket—whole, ground, and extracts—meeting FSSAI + ASTA/ISO expectations.

Organic Honey

Production & export footprint:

• Production (2023): 142,000 MT; top states UP (17%), WB (16%), Punjab (14%), Bihar (12%), Rajasthan (9%).
  
• Exports (FY 2023–24): 107,963 MT; US$ 177.52 mn. Top buyers: USA, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Libya.
  

Quality & purity (what the regs require):

• FSSAI honey standard (2.8) covers identity/purity (free of extraneous matter; sugar profile, etc.) and provides methods for moisture, ash, acidity, HMF, diastase in the official manual.
  
• Typical trade thresholds referenced: HMF ≤ 80 mg/kg in tropical honeys; diastase activity monitored—over-heating/storage raise HMF and lower enzymes.
  
• Residues/antibiotics: Export consignments are governed by the Export Inspection Council (EIC) Residue Monitoring Plan (RMP) for honey.
  

“Organic” claim & market access (EU/US):

• India’s NPOP is recognized by the EU & Switzerland for unprocessed plant products—honey itself isn’t covered by that equivalence; exporters must meet destination-market organic rules.
  
• For the USA, USDA ended APEDA recognition in 2021; Indian exporters need direct USDA-NOP certification via a USDA-accredited certifier
  

India/region strengths: Diverse monoflorals (lychee, mustard, eucalyptus, himalayan multiflora) and a large, organized beekeeping belt in the Indo-Gangetic plains enable consistent volumes plus distinctive flavor profiles backed by APEDA/EIC oversight.

Bananas & Papayas

Bananas – exports & markets:

• 2023 (UN Comtrade/WITS, HS 080300): US$ 251.5 mn; 499,561 t. Top destinations: Iraq, Iran, UAE, Uzbekistan, Oman.
  
• India is actively expanding sea-protocol shipments and diversification (e.g., to Russia/EU in pilot lots).
  

Papayas – exports & markets:

• 2023 (WITS, HS 080720): US$ 3.59 mn; 9,484 t. Top destinations: Nepal, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Netherlands.
  

Quality & ripening compliance:

• FSSAI bans calcium carbide for ripening; only ethylene (e.g., via ethephon/ethereal) is allowed under SOPs—enforced via repeated advisories (2023–2025).
  
• For premium markets (EU), marketing standards for bananas apply (classification, sizing, defects) alongside Codex CXS 205-1997; updates to EU fruit/banana marketing standards took effect 1 Jan 2025.
  

India/region strengths:

• Bananas: Large tissue-culture Cavendish (G-9) clusters (e.g., Jalgaon in Maharashtra; Tamil Nadu), plus Nendran and regional types for Middle East/ethnic retail. Government/APEDA support (packhouses, sea protocols) has improved shelf-life and consistency.
  
• Papayas: Year-round supply from western & southern belts (e.g., Maharashtra/Gujarat/Andhra), enabling steady GCC and near-market shipments—often consolidated with mixed fresh-produce loads.
  

Quick takeaways for buyers

• Spices: India is the scale + terroir leader; expect GI-backed origins and full-panel testing (aflatoxin, residues, microbiology) from Spices Board QELs.
  
• Organic Honey: Strong volumes and monofloral diversity; ensure destination-market organic certification (EU/US rules) and EIC RMP compliance.
  
• Bananas/Papayas: GCC-centric trade with growing sea-freight capability; verify ethylene-ripening SOP compliance and EU/Codex grade specs where relevant.