Cardamom Export Market from India: Grades and Data
Small cardamom is 9% of India spice export value, sold by bold-size grades and priced at auction, not by fixed list.
Cardamom grades and market position (verified)
Green (small) cardamom is graded by bold size in millimetres. It is auction-priced, so there is no fixed export price; the grade sets relative value.
| Grade / metric | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Small cardamom share of export value FY2025-26 | 9% | Auction-priced category |
| Green cardamom sizes | 6mm / 7mm / 8mm / AGEB | AGEB = bold; larger bolder = premium |
Auction pricing and the Kochi benchmark
Cardamom has no fixed price; it clears at auction, and Kochi in Kerala is the historic pepper and cardamom auction benchmark. The Alleppey GI is green cardamom (not turmeric), a point buyers should not confuse.
Logistics note
Cardamom is high value and low weight, so it can move by air freight from around 100 kg, unlike dense seed spices that ship by sea. That widens the options for smaller premium orders.
Frequently asked
How is green cardamom graded?
By bold size: 6mm, 7mm, 8mm and AGEB (bold). Larger, bolder capsules command a premium. Cardamom is auction-priced, with no fixed export price.
Is Alleppey a turmeric or cardamom GI?
The Alleppey GI is green cardamom. "Alleppey finger" turmeric is a separate traded grade, not a GI.
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Start a sourcing enquiry →What this page does not tell you
- Cardamom auction price series
- Auction clearing prices move daily and are not in our sourced dataset, so we state grades and share only.
- Small vs large cardamom split
- The 9% share is small cardamom; the export split against large cardamom is not broken out in this release.
Reviewed 16 July 2026.
Sources
- Spices Board of India — Export statistics· Tier 1, retrieved 2026-07-16
- CBI — Entering the European market for spices and herbs· Tier 2, retrieved 2026-07-16