What is Turmeric? Why Buy It?

Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is a golden-yellow spice derived from the rhizome of a perennial plant belonging to the ginger family, Zingiberaceae. Indigenous to South Asia, particularly India, turmeric has been used for centuries in traditional medicine, culinary practices, and religious rituals. Its distinctive color, earthy aroma, and slightly bitter, peppery flavor have made it a staple in cuisines across Asia, the Middle East, and, increasingly, the West.

The primary active compound in turmeric is curcumin, a powerful bioactive with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anticancer properties. This has led to a surge in global demand across the health, wellness, and nutraceutical industries. Turmeric is available in multiple forms, including fresh rhizomes, dried roots, powders, capsules, essential oils, and extracts.

Consumers are drawn to turmeric for both its culinary and therapeutic benefits. It is commonly used as a natural food colorant, spice, and preservative, while its health-promoting properties make it a highly sought-after ingredient in dietary supplements and traditional medicine systems like Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). The global wellness trend, combined with increasing scientific validation of turmeric’s health benefits, has propelled its status from a regional spice to a global superfood.

From an economic perspective, turmeric is a profitable crop with a wide range of commercial applications. Its adaptability to various agro-climatic zones and long shelf life further enhance its viability for farmers and exporters alike. Given the growing interest in natural, plant-based remedies and functional foods, turmeric continues to attract investment and innovation, making it a valuable commodity in global trade.

 

Applications/Uses of Turmeric

Turmeric’s versatility extends across several industries, from food and beverages to pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and agriculture. Its unique chemical profile, especially the presence of curcumin, underpins its broad range of applications.

Food and Beverage Industry

Spice and Culinary Ingredient:

Turmeric is a fundamental spice in Indian, Thai, Persian, and Middle Eastern cuisines. It is used in curry powders, spice blends, soups, stews, and marinades to impart color and flavor.

Natural Food Colorant:

Due to its vibrant yellow pigment, turmeric serves as a natural alternative to synthetic dyes in processed foods, beverages, and confectionery.

Functional Beverages and Foods:

Turmeric is increasingly added to health drinks such as turmeric lattes (“golden milk”), smoothies, herbal teas, and fortified beverages for its anti-inflammatory and digestive benefits.

Preservative and Antimicrobial Agent:

Turmeric’s antimicrobial properties make it useful in extending shelf life and enhancing food safety, particularly in meat and dairy products.

Pharmaceutical and Nutraceutical Industry

Curcumin Supplements:

Extracted curcumin is sold in capsule, tablet, and powder forms as a dietary supplement. It is marketed for joint health, immunity, cardiovascular support, and chronic inflammation management.

Anti-Inflammatory Drugs:

Curcumin is used in the formulation of natural anti-inflammatory products and is being researched as an adjunct therapy for conditions such as arthritis, Alzheimer’s, and cancer.

Digestive Aids:

Turmeric is traditionally used to stimulate bile production and support digestion, making it a common ingredient in herbal gastrointestinal formulations.

Immunity Boosters:

With growing awareness of immune health, turmeric-based supplements are widely marketed for their immune-modulating effects.

Cosmetics and Personal Care

Skincare Products:

Turmeric is incorporated into face masks, cleansers, creams, and serums for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and brightening effects. It is believed to reduce acne, scars, and pigmentation.

Hair Care:

Some formulations include turmeric to combat dandruff and improve scalp health due to its antimicrobial properties.

Ayurvedic and Natural Cosmetics:

Turmeric plays a significant role in traditional beauty regimens in India and other South Asian cultures, often used in pre-wedding rituals and herbal cosmetic products.

Traditional Medicine and Herbal Therapies

Ayurveda and Siddha Medicine:

Turmeric is a cornerstone of Ayurveda, used to balance the three doshas and treat a wide range of ailments including respiratory infections, liver disorders, and skin conditions.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM):

In TCM, turmeric is used to move Qi and blood, treat pain, and resolve swelling.

Unani and Folk Medicine:

Various traditional systems use turmeric in poultices, teas, and tinctures for wound healing, detoxification, and menstrual health.

Agricultural and Industrial Uses

Natural Dye:

Turmeric’s vivid color is used as a natural textile dye, especially in eco-friendly and artisanal clothing lines.

Biopesticide:

Research shows turmeric extracts can act as organic pesticides and fungicides, reducing reliance on chemical inputs.

Livestock Feed Additive:

Turmeric is also used as a natural additive in animal feed to promote gut health and prevent infections.

Bioplastics and Packaging:

There is emerging research on using turmeric as an antimicrobial agent in biodegradable food packaging materials.

 

Top Producing/Exporting Countries of Turmeric

Turmeric is predominantly cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions, with Asia leading in both production and export. The following countries are the key players in the global turmeric supply chain:

India

India is by far the world’s largest producer and exporter of turmeric, accounting for over 75% of global output. Major turmeric-producing states include Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, and Maharashtra. Indian varieties such as Alleppey Finger and Erode Turmeric are globally recognized for their high curcumin content and vibrant color. India exports turmeric in whole, ground, and processed forms to over 150 countries.

Myanmar

Myanmar has emerged as a significant producer and exporter, particularly to neighboring countries like China and India. Turmeric is cultivated in the Shan and Sagaing regions, and the government is promoting its value-added processing for higher export revenue.

Bangladesh

Bangladesh is a notable producer in South Asia, with increasing exports to the Middle East and Southeast Asia. The country’s turmeric is known for its natural farming practices and traditional drying methods.

Indonesia

Indonesia, particularly the islands of Java and Sumatra, grows turmeric for both domestic consumption and export. The country is investing in expanding organic turmeric cultivation and processing capacity.

Sri Lanka

Known for its Ceylon turmeric, Sri Lanka produces a high-quality, aromatic variety used in both culinary and medicinal applications. The country exports turmeric mainly to European and Middle Eastern markets.

China

While not traditionally a major turmeric cultivator, China has increased production in provinces like Yunnan and Sichuan. It primarily focuses on exporting turmeric extracts and curcumin for pharmaceutical applications.

Peru

An emerging producer in Latin America, Peru is capitalizing on the global demand for organic turmeric. The country exports to the U.S., Europe, and Japan, often under the label of sustainable or fair-trade turmeric.

Top Importing Countries of Turmeric

As turmeric gains traction across health-conscious and culinary markets, several countries have become major importers to meet domestic and industrial demand.

United States

The U.S. is one of the largest importers of turmeric, sourcing mainly from India, Peru, and Indonesia. The demand is driven by the health food, dietary supplement, and organic markets.

United Arab Emirates (UAE)

Serving as a regional trade hub, the UAE imports large quantities of turmeric for local consumption and re-export to other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and North Africa.

Iran

A major consumer of turmeric in traditional Persian cuisine, Iran imports turmeric for both culinary and medicinal uses.

Germany

Germany is a significant importer within the EU, especially of organic and high-curcumin turmeric. The country uses turmeric in food processing, herbal medicine, and cosmetics.

United Kingdom

With a rising interest in Indian cuisine and natural health products, the UK has seen a steady increase in turmeric imports for culinary, supplement, and personal care industries.

Japan

Japan imports turmeric for both culinary purposes and for use in traditional Kampo medicine. Curcumin-based functional foods are increasingly popular.

South Korea

Driven by wellness trends, South Korea imports turmeric for use in health foods, drinks, and beauty products.

Netherlands

A key distribution center for the European market, the Netherlands imports turmeric in bulk and processes it for re-export across the EU.

Canada

Canada has seen a growing demand for turmeric supplements and organic products, with imports primarily from India and Peru.

 

International Price of Turmeric Per MT

The unit price ($ per MT) of Turmeric in the international market depends on a host of different factors including:

• The grade of the produce (usually the more the processing, the higher the price)
• The price of the raw material
• Age of the seeds (this can affect the price)
• Production levels in producing countries
• Economic conditions and the exchange rates between the currencies of the producing and importing countries.
• The quantity ordered (the greater the quantity, the cheaper you can get it per ton)
• Harvest season (it is more costly when it is out of harvest season).
• Weather conditions (some commodities are sensitive to weather conditions).
• Freight & haulage cost
• Percentage of markup
• Import duties, trade tariffs and trade agreements between countries
• Distance from the country of origin
• Technology/Infrastructure available in country of origin
• Relationship between the buyer and seller

 

That said, as at March 2025, Turmeric costs between $1800 and $3,800 Per MT in the international market.

 

How To Safely Source for Your Turmeric Produce

If you find the right export company, buying directly from them can make the purchase process easy and stress-free, when compared with doing the sourcing on your own. That said, there are few things to note when dealing with an export company in Nigeria or Africa. The specific requirements for Nigeria are listed below, but they mostly apply to other African countries:

• The exporting company must be registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) to make sure the company is registered and permitted to carry out business
• The export company must also be registered with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC).
• The company must possess a domiciliary account to accept international

 

The company should get all necessary export-related documentation done before the shipment leaves the port of origin. Some of the documents are:

• Certificate of origin
• Bill of lading
• Inspection Certificate (SGS, Cotecna, Bureau Veritas, Intertek, etc)
• Phytosanitary certificate
• Fumigation certificate

 

Where To Find Reliable Exporters

An important question that still needs to be answered is how to find Turmeric exporters in Nigeria. You can use any of the methods listed below:

• Attend trade fairs
• Use search engines like Google, Yahoo,
• Search for agents on Linkedln
• Sign up on trade platforms (e.g. Alibaba, Tradeford, Go4WorldBusiness)
• Neogric – Neogric is one of the reliable Turmeric exporters in Neogric is rated among the best in the exporting business in Nigeria. The company is not limited to the exportation of Turmeric alone but can export other agricultural produce ranging from perishables to dry seeds.

 

How To Pay For Your Turmeric Produce

You can pay for Turmeric using different methods, but three of the popular ways of paying for your agric produce are:

• Bank (T/T) Payment
• Advance Payment
• Letter of Credit (LC)

 

Bank Payment (T/T)

Bank payment is also known as T/T, “Telegraphic Transfer” or “Telex Transfer” In other words, it is an international wire of funds from the buyer’s bank to the seller’s bank.

A T/T is technically not the same as a wire transfer, which is often done through the SWIFT network. However, when a seller or supplier asks for a T/T payment, a wire transfer is what they are really asking for.

The wire transfer based on the SWIFT system is the most common payment method in international trade. Typically, it takes 1-5 working days to clear, and generally costs between 25 and 50 USD, depending on your agreement with the commercial department in your bank.

Advance Payment

There are sellers that will demand anywhere from 30% to 50% advance payment, and for good reason. If both parties have done deals in the past, sellers can ask for a percentage of the sales (about 30%) before they ship the produce and they can request for the remaining amount after a scanned copy of the Bill of Lading has been sent to the buyer.

It is the safest option for exporters and it also guarantees that they will have some funds to help with sourcing. It is popular among manufacturers on B2B marketplaces like Alibaba and also with commodity traders.

However, advance payment carries considerable risk for the importer (buyer) because the exporter (seller) might not be under as much pressure to ensure quality checks compared with a stricter form of payment. Some might even disappear entirely.

Having said that, advance payment is very useful and is widely used. For instance, the seller might need to secure the commodity in the face of increased competition. It can also be used when the exporter needs some money for sourcing the produce or for processing raw materials.

The most important thing is for both importer and exporter to build mutual trust by having a track record of successful deals with each other or other known companies.

 

Letter of Credit

Letter of Credit is an agreement generated by the bank of the buyer, guaranteeing payment once certain conditions are met. It is one of the safest types of payment available to both buyer and seller.

Some of the types of Letter of credit are:

 

• Commercial Letter of Credit,
• Sight Letter of Credit
• Transferrable or Non-Transferable Letter of Credit
• Standby Letter of Credit (SBLC)
• Usance or Deferred Payment Letter of Credit
• Revocable or Irrevocable Letter of Credit
• Confirmed or Unconfirmed Letter of Credit
• Revolving Letter of Credit
• Green Clause Letter of Credit
• Red Clause Letter of Credit

 

L/Cs are not totally safe (for either buyer or seller) too. For instance, sellers can ship substandard products or those that are different from the ones agreed upon. In this case, the seller gets paid and the buyer receives goods he cannot use.

And speaking of the dangers of L/Cs for the exporter, the conditions in the Letter of credit might be practically impossible to fulfil; if an exporter agrees to such, he might be unable to receive payment. A report stated that of the letters of credit received in the UK, 50% are unworkable while 70% are rejected by the banks for payment.

 

Shipping & Delivery Terms

When shipping your products, it is important to take note of a few factors:

Order Quantity

For smaller shipments, airfreight is often the preferred option but as the order volume increases, sea freight could become significantly cheaper. Usually when the order is close to a full container load (20 ft), sea freight is used. Although the Covid-19 pandemic caused an increase in cost of delivery of products, prices have stabilised.

 

Cost of Delivery

When the order is of a large volume, sea freight often turns out cheaper than air freight. In fact, air freight could be up to 6 times more costly than sea freight if the volume is large enough.

 

Time of Delivery

Sometimes, time will be more important to the buyer than the cost of delivering the product. In this case, air freight will be the logical option (as stated above, the cost will be more). But if you have more time as a buyer, you should strongly consider using sea freight.

 

Incoterms

Incoterms refer to generally accepted shipping and payments terms. For example, buyers that have representatives in the source country or that can negotiate with the freight company can use the Free of Board (FOB) terms, since it gives them more control and can save them some money.

However, if the shipment is small or the buyer doesn’t have an extensive network to effectively handle payment for freight, insurance and port charges, he will be better off choosing the Cost-Insurance-Freight (CIF) payment option.

 

Neogric: Top Exporters and Suppliers of Turmeric

We invite you to place your order for high-quality Turmeric with us at Neogric. We are a trusted global commodity sourcing and trade solution provider with deep expertise in the Turmeric industry. Whether you’re a small business or a large corporation, our wide range of products and technology powered, end-to-end supply chain make the export of quality Turmeric easy, quick and safe. Whichever region of the world you are, be it Europe, Asia, USA, Canada, Other North/Central American countries, Africa, South America or Oceania, you can reliably order your agricultural produce and we will ensure it is successfully delivered to you, on time.

Why Buy Turmeric From Neogric?

Choosing Neogric as your Turmeric supplier offers several advantages:

 

• Quality Assurance: We maintain strict quality control standards, ensuring our Turmeric and other products are of the highest quality.
• Wide Product Range: We offer a diverse selection of products, catering to various
• Reliable Supply Chain: Our efficient technology-powered end-to-end supply chain ensures timely delivery of your orders.
• Expertise and Support: Our team of experts provides valuable insights and support, making your purchasing process smooth and hassle-free.

 

Our Turmeric Trade Specifications

• Origin: Nigeria
• Product Name: Turmeric
• Physical Specification: Based On Buyer’s Specification
• Quantity: Based On Buyer’s Specification
• MOQ: 10 Metric Tonnes
• Trade Process: Ex Works/FOB/CIF
• Admixture/Impurities: Based On Buyer’s Specification
• Inspection: SGS/Cotecna/Intertek/Bureau Veritas
• Packaging: Based On Buyer’s Specification
• Payment Method: TT (Bank Transfer) or L/C
• Shipping Time: 15 to 25 Days After Confirmation of TT or L/C
• Loading Port: Lagos (Nigeria), Abidjan (Cote D’ivoire) or Tema (Ghana)

 

Expected Shipping Documents

• Bill of Lading
• Certificate of Origin
• SGS Inspection Certificate
• Phytosanitary Certificate
• Fumigation Certificate
• Commercial Invoice
• Packing List

 

Place Your Turmeric Order With Neogric

Contact us today to place your order for high-quality Turmeric. Our team is ready to assist you with all your procurement needs.

• Tel: +2348147860157
• Email: neo@neogric.com
• WhatsApp:
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