Cardamom Exports Nearly Double (+99.5%): Strong Demand from India

In FY 2025/26, Nepal’s cardamom exports nearly doubled, rising by 99.5% year-on-year, largely fueled by surging demand from India. Shipments to India reached Rs. 321.8 million in just one month, compared to Rs. 161.3 million in the same period of the previous year. This marks one of the strongest rebounds among Nepal’s agricultural exports.

Cardamom has long been a traditional high-value crop in Nepal, and its strong recovery reflects both India’s growing spice consumption and the rising global recognition of Nepali cardamom for its quality. The sharp rise also highlights the importance of cross-border agricultural trade, with India absorbing the majority of Nepal’s spice exports.

However, despite the positive growth, Nepal’s cardamom sector still faces challenges such as price volatility, limited processing facilities, and dependency on Indian markets. For long-term sustainability, investment in value-added processing, branding, and market diversification will be essential.