Sourcing Sri Lankan Spices in Bulk: Pepper, Cloves, Cardamom & Nutmeg

Giugno 2, 2026

By the SriLankaExport.com Trade Desk · researched & fact-checked against primary sources

Whole spices — pepper, cardamom and cloves

Sri Lanka is one of the world’s oldest spice islands, and for good reason: its climate, soils and centuries of cultivation produce black pepper, cloves, cardamom, nutmeg and mace of consistently high oil content. For importers, Sri Lankan spices offer a combination of quality, traceability and preferential EU/UK duty access that few origins match, but only if you source on the right specifications.

This guide covers the main bulk spices Sri Lanka exports, the grades and quality parameters buyers should specify, HS codes, indicative pricing, minimum order quantities, and how to verify a supplier before you commit.

The Spices Sri Lanka Exports at Scale

Beyond Ceylon cinnamon (covered in its own guide), Sri Lanka is a significant exporter of:

Black & white pepper (Piper nigrum): prized for high piperine and volatile-oil content.
Cloves (Syzygium aromaticum): whole, hand-picked, with high eugenol oil.
Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum): green pods, both whole and ground.
Nutmeg & mace (Myristica fragrans): whole nutmeg, ground, and the aril (mace).
Turmeric: high-curcumin Ceylon turmeric, whole finger and ground.
Goraka (Garcinia cambogia): dried fruit used in South/Southeast Asian cuisine and nutraceuticals.

Quality Parameters Buyers Should Specify

Spice quality is defined by measurable parameters, not just appearance. When you request a quote, specify the targets you require so the exporter quotes against a real spec rather than a generic grade:

Spice	Key quality parameters	Premium target
Black pepper	Bulk density (g/L), piperine %, volatile oil %, moisture	550 to 600 g/L, piperine ≥4%
Cloves	Volatile (eugenol) oil %, headless %, moisture	Oil ≥16%, ≤5% headless
Cardamom	Pod color, size (mm), moisture, bold count	Green, 7 to 8 mm bold
Nutmeg	Count per kg (sound), aflatoxin, moisture	Shell-less, low count, aflatoxin within EU limits
Turmeric	Curcumin %, color (Lovibond), moisture	Curcumin 3 to 5%

Aflatoxin & pesticide limits: Spices entering the EU are subject to maximum residue levels (MRLs) for pesticides and limits on aflatoxins and ochratoxin A. Always request a recent Certificate of Analysis (COA) covering the specific contaminants your destination regulates, and confirm whether the exporter can supply steam-sterilized (non-irradiated) product if your market requires it.

HS Codes for Sri Lankan Spices

HS Code	Product
0904.11 / 0904.12	Pepper, neither crushed/ground · crushed or ground
0907.10 / 0907.20	Cloves (whole fruit, cloves and stems)
0908.31 / 0908.32	Cardamom, neither crushed/ground · crushed or ground
0908.11 / 0908.12	Nutmeg · 0908.21/22 Mace
0910.30	Turmeric (curcuma)

Indicative Pricing & MOQ

Spice prices move with global supply, harvest and currency, so treat the figures below as a 2025 to 2026 reference range, not a quote. Request a current quote against your spec and volume.

Spice	Indicative FOB Colombo (USD)	Typical MOQ
Black pepper (bulk)	$4,800 to 7,000 / MT	500 kg to 1 MT
Cloves (whole)	$9 to 13 / kg	500 kg
Cardamom (green)	$18 to 30 / kg	100 to 250 kg
Nutmeg (whole)	$8 to 14 / kg	250 to 500 kg
Turmeric (bulk)	$3,500 to 5,000 / MT	500 kg

Packaging & Certifications

Bulk spices typically ship in 25 kg multi-wall paper sacks with an inner PE/food-grade liner, palletised. For premium or organic lots, foil-lined or vacuum packing is common. Certifications buyers commonly require, available on request from many Sri Lankan exporters, include USDA/EU Organic, ISO 22000, HACCP, BRC, Fairtrade, Kosher and Halal. Don’t assume a certification applies; ask for the current certificate covering the specific facility and product.

How to Source & Verify

Define your spec (the parameters in the table above), target volume, and required certifications.
Post a sourcing request or send an enquiry on the listing. You’ll receive quotes from matching exporters.
Request a COA (contaminants + the quality parameters you specified) and a recent Certificate of Origin for EU/UK duty claims.
Order a sample against the agreed spec before placing the bulk order.
Prefer marketplace-reviewed exporters whose business documents have been reviewed during onboarding.

Browse Sri Lankan Spices

Source pepper, cloves, cardamom, nutmeg and turmeric in bulk from Sri Lankan exporters reviewed by our marketplace team.

Browse Spices →

SLE

SriLankaExport.com Trade Desk

Export specialists at Harker International (Pvt) Ltd, Kandy, Sri Lanka. Every guide is researched and verified against customs tariffs, EDB data and the relevant international standards. Our editorial standards & team →