Spices and Herbs

Figure 3.4 Main non-EU suppliers of spices to The Netherlands, 1995-1997
Volume in tonnes
13.000
10.000
1995
1996
1997
5,000
4,000
3,000
2,000
1,000
0
11,042
12,361
10,699
2,265
2,957
3,850
1,117
1,814
3,518
2,357
2,479
2,870
1,107
1,903
2,542
1,681
1,114
1,572
443
293
1,374
220
669
1,200
1,185
690
1,112
406
851
1,081
Indonesia India Vietnam Brazil Singapore China Malaysia Costa Rica Thailand Grenada
Source: Eurostat
Indonesia is the single largest supplier of spices to The Netherlands. The country’s
dominant role in the world supply of pepper and the major share of this spice in total
Dutch imports are major reasons for Indonesia’s share of nearly 20 per cent of the total
volume of imports in 1997. However, the role of Indonesia as a major source has declined
in relative importance since then.
The majority of spices came from developing countries, which represented more than 60
per cent of the total Dutch import volume in 1997. The market share of other EU countries
in the supply of spices and herbs fell from 22 per cent in the early 1990s to 14 per cent in
1997. Germany, as a major (re-) exporter of spices from origin countries, is the largest
supplier. Spain and Italy were substantial producers and exporters of paprika and saffron.
Some individual supplying countries play a major role as the source of single spices,
though they do not feature as key suppliers in terms of total imports. This applies, for
instance, to cloves (key sources are Madagascar, Comoros), vanilla (Madagascar,
Mauritius), cardamoms (Guatemala), anise (Turkey, Syria) and bay leaves (Turkey).
3.3.3 The role of developing countries
Between 1995 and 1997 the proportion of imports from developing countries has declined
slightly from 63 to 62 per cent. This was due to increased imports mainly of paprika and
coriander seed from Eastern Europe (Lithuania, Bulgaria and Hungary). Another reason
was a rise in the imports of pepper, ginger and nutmeg from Singapore, which is the main
trading centre in South East Asia.
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