Nutmeg powder

In 2025, exports of nutmeg were worth a total US$246.3 million. Metrics for nutmeg specified in this article exclude mace, the seed covering from the nutmeg fruit.

Exports of nutmeg slowed in value by an average -0.1% since 5 years earlier in 2021 when export sales for nutmeg were $246.6 million.

Year over year, overall export sales of the fragrant spice rose by 4.2% starting from $236.4 million in 2024.

Nutmeg means the seed or ground spice of the fruit from a dark-leaved evergreen tree. Sweet-tasting nutmeg is used in spicy soups, meat stews and gravies, potato and spinach dishes, rice pudding, mulled cider and eggnog. Nutmeg is also a celebrated ingredient in pumpkin pie and baked squash. It is also used as a sprinkle on rum punch, and in jams, candy, essential oils and specialty butter.

By value, the 5 biggest exporters of nutmeg (Indonesia, India, Netherlands, Sri Lanka and Vietnam) sold well over four-fifths (84.8%) of all nutmeg exported during 2025.

Applying a continental perspective, countries in Asia supplied the highest dollar worth of exported nutmeg during 2025 with shipments valued at $195 million or 79.2% of the global total. In second place were exporters based in Europe (17.4%) trailed by those in Latin America (2%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean. Smaller percentages originated from suppliers in North America (1.2%), Africa (0.11%) then those in Oceania (0.06%) mostly Australia.

Shifting our focus to imports, the 5 leading importers of nutmeg in 2025 were mainland China, United Arab Emirates, Germany, Vietnam and the United States of America. Collectively, that quintet of top import countries bought just over half (51.2%) of globally imported nutmeg as measured by dollar value.

The above percentages reinforce that the total 66 exporters of nutmeg (84.8% for the corresponding top 5 exporters) is a more concentrated cohort compared to 176 buying countries, islands and territories. As specified above, the top 5 importers accounted for a smaller portion of its world total at 51.2%.

As for global imports of nutmeg by continent, 66.5% of spending on imported nutmeg bought on international markets was delivered to customers in Asia ahead of importers in Europe (19.4%), Latin America (5%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, Africa (4.9%), North America (3.9%), then Oceania (0.2%) led by Australia.

We calculated the average unit price paid by importers of non-crushed and unground nutmeg to be $5,280 per ton in 2025. That dollar amount reflects a -13.4% deflation rate from the average tonnage charge of $6,100 during 2024.

For crushed or ground nutmeg, the average unit price paid by importers was costlier at $9,195 per ton in 2025 deflating by -10.1% compared to the average tonnage rate of $8,541 for 2024. The higher average price is driven partially by labor and other processing expenses.

For research purposes, the 6-digit Harmonized Tariff System code prefix is 080911 for nutmeg that is neither crushed nor ground, and 080912 for crushed or ground nutmeg.

Applying those categories, 73.2% of world nutmeg exports by value were for non-crushed and unground nutmeg. The remaining 26.8% was collected for crushed or ground nutmeg versus 29% one year earlier.

By value, the listed 20 countries shipped 98.3% of globally exported nutmeg in 2025.

Among the top exporters, the fastest-growing nutmeg exporters since 2024 were: Indonesia (up 20%), mainland China (up 19.1%), Netherlands (up 12%) and France (up 8.3%).

Those countries that posted year-over-year declines in their exported nutmeg sales were led by: Canada (down -39.6%), United Kingdom (down -34.5%), Vietnam (down -31.4%), Malaysia (down -31%) and Singapore (down -30.1%).

The overall spending on imported nutmeg flatlined to a 0.9% increase over the 5-year period starting in 2021 and accelerated by 11% year over year since 2024.

Below are the 20 best buying markets as measured by the highest dollar value worth of nutmeg imported during 2025, for any nutmeg regardless of whether crushed or ground.

By value, the listed 20 countries bought 83.3% of globally imported nutmeg in 2025.

Among the top importers, the fastest-growing nutmeg importers since 2024 were: Nigeria (up 2,069%), United Arab Emirates (up 74.6%), Egypt (up 43.1%) and Vietnam (up 39.4%).

Those countries that posted year-over-year declines in their imported nutmeg purchases were: Canada (down -11%), Japan (down -8.2%), United States of America (down -7.9%), Dominican Republic (down -7.7%) and Germany (down -7.6%).

In 2025, the world’s average unit price for imports of non-crushed and unground nutmeg was US$5,280 per ton down by -13.4% from $6,300 one year earlier in 2024.

The average tonnage charge for the number one importer of non-crushed and unground nutmeg, mainland China, was lower at $5,110.

Ranked in ascending order, listed below are the countries paying the lowest average unit prices for imported raw nutmeg in 2025.

The greatest percentage reductions in average unit price paid per ton for non-crushed and unground nutmeg were low-cost importers Liberia (down -60.3%), Senegal (down -40.1%), Bolivia (down -33.3%), Angola (down -29.4%) and Kazakhstan (down -25.9%).

The following countries paid the highest average unit prices for imported unprocessed nutmeg.

In 2025, the world’s average unit price for imports of crushed or ground nutmeg was US$9,195 per ton. That average metric exceeds the $8,541 per ton for raw nutmeg in 2024 by 7.7%.

The average tonnage charge for the number one importer of crushed or ground nutmeg, United States of America, was below average at $8,417.

Ranked in ascending order, listed below are the countries paying the lowest average unit prices for imported crushed and ground nutmeg in 2025.

The severest percentage reductions in average unit price paid per ton for crushed or ground nutmeg from 2024 to 2025 belong to low-cost importers Guyana (down -67.9%), Fiji (down -61.1%), Benin (down -60%), Belize (down -50%) and Seychelles (down -25%).

The following countries paid the highest average unit prices for imported crushed or ground nutmeg.

The greatest accelerations in terms of higher average unit prices were paid by importers of crushed or ground nutmeg in Moldova (up 166.7% from 2024), Venezuela (up 157.6%), Mexico (up 148%), Luxembourg (up 74%) then Bosnia and Herzegovina (up 58.8%).

See also Top Exported Spices by Sales, Weight and Unit Value, Cinnamon Exports by Country, Top Garlic Exports by Country, Top Cloves Exports & Imports by Country Plus Average Prices and Top Vinegar Exports & Imports by Country Plus Average Prices

Research Sources:
Alibaba, Nutmeg Showroom. Accessed on August 17, 2026

Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Field Listing: Exports – Commodities. Accessed on August 17, 2026

International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on August 17, 2026

Wikipedia, Nutmeg. Accessed on August 17, 2026