Turmeric exports from Erode district see 5% rise thanks to sustained global demand

As global demand for turmeric continues to rise, exports from Erode district have registered a 5% increase this year compared to the previous year, largely driven by the medicinal value of the crop and rising consumption worldwide.

Erode turmeric, known for its high curcumin content ranging from 2.5% to 3.9%, has gained the Geographical Indication (GI) tag and remains one of the major crops grown in the region. The 10-month crop is planted in June-July and harvested in February-March. After processing, the produce is brought to regulated and agricultural producers’ cooperative markets in Erode, Perundurai and Gobichettipalayam.

Next to Nizamabad in Telangana, Erode turmeric market is the second largest market in the country. Turmeric from all over the region, neighboring districts and several other states is brought here for auction. Spices are exported to many countries, including Germany, Iran, Iraq, Morocco, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Netherlands and Bangladesh.

Between April and November 2024, exports stood at 1.21 lakh metric tonnes, rising to 1.27 lakh metric tonnes in the same period this year.

M. Sathyamurthy, secretary of Erode Turmeric Traders and Godown Owners Association, said: Hindu He said that the demand for turmeric has increased worldwide due to its medicinal properties and increased consumption after COVID-19. “For the last few years, annual export growth has been between 5 percent and 10 percent,” he said.

Turmeric is grown in around 1.60 lakh acres across the State and more than 30% of the area is in Erode district. Of the nearly seven lakh bags of turmeric produced in the state, more than two lakh bags are supplied by the district.

Officials of the Ministry of Horticulture said that the area under turmeric cultivation in Erode is showing an overall increasing trend. The planted area is 10,522 decares in 2020-21, 11,880 decares in 2021-22, 11,599 decares in 2022-23, 9,190 decares in 2023-24, 11,406 decares in 2024-25, 11,860 decares in 2024-25 happened. 2025-26.

In the last 12 years, the average price of turmeric has been hovering between ₹ 5,000 and ₹ 6,000 per quintal, rising to ₹ 24,000 per quintal by 2024. Prices later stabilized between ₹12,000 and ₹15,000 per quintal in recent years. Relatively stable pricing encouraged farmers to expand the area under cultivation.

On Monday, December 29, 2025, turmeric prices at Erode Regulated Market ranged from 8,586 to 15,629 Indian rupees per quintal for the finger variety and 7,569 to 14,333 Indian rupees per quintal for the onion variety.