How Nigeria is buying into spice business

Spices are an important part of cooking across the world. They add flavour, colour and aroma to food. But beyond cooking, spices are a big business globally.  Spices come from parts of plants such as seeds, roots, bark and dried fruits. They can be used whole or ground. Some of the most common ones include […]

Spices are an important part of cooking across the world. They add flavour, colour and aroma to food. But beyond cooking, spices are a big business globally. 

Spices come from parts of plants such as seeds, roots, bark and dried fruits. They can be used whole or ground. Some of the most common ones include ginger, turmeric, cloves and black pepper.

In addition to taste, many spices also have health benefits, such as fighting inflammation and acting as antioxidants.

The global spice industry is worth billions of dollars. India is the world’s largest producer, consumer, and exporter of spices, accounting for over 70 percent of global production.

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Other major players include Vietnam, China, Indonesia and Turkey. Countries like the United States, Germany, and the United Kingdom are among the top importers, with a growing interest in organic and ethically sourced spices.

According to TinkerandBell, an online company that specializes in the spice business, the global spices and seasonings market is expected to grow from USD 23.5 billion in 2023 to USD 42.9 billion by 2033. This shows a steady growth rate of 6.2 percent each year.

Spices such as black pepper, cardamom, cumin, turmeric and cloves are among the most traded globally. The demand for clean and organic spices has also led to stricter regulations and better packaging.

In Africa, the spice trade is picking up, especially in East and North Africa. Ethiopia and Tanzania are known producers of ginger, turmeric and cardamom. Nigeria mainly grows for local consumption, but it has strong potential in producing spices like ginger, garlic and pepper.

A report by Report Linker shows that Nigeria’s spice production is projected to reach 1.25 million metric tons by 2028, up from 1.04 million metric tons in 2023. That means a growth rate of 2.8 percent each year. Since 2019, Nigeria’s spice supply has grown by 6 percent every year.

Other African countries like Morocco, South Africa and Egypt are already exporting herbs and spices to Europe and the Middle East. However, most African countries still import expensive spices like saffron, cardamom and cloves from Asia.

To understand how the global spice movement trickles down to everyday trade, a visit to Wuse Market in Nigeria’s capital city, Abuja, shows an active and colourful spice section where traders offer both local and imported varieties.

Hafizu Binyaminu Dan Yauta has been in the spice business for seven years. He said cloves, cinnamon, black pepper, fennel and cumin are the most popular among his customers. He gets his supplies from Saudi Arabia, Morocco and Algeria, but he buys them in bulk through Kano State.

“Sometimes, the challenge is when the goods don’t sell quickly, or if they get spoiled,” he said. “But when business is good, I sell out fast and my customers keep coming back.”

Hafizu also sells Nigerian spices like lemongrass and mint leaves. He offers both bulk and small quantities, with prices starting from ₦1,000 per small cup of cloves.

Another trader, Muftahu Idris, has spent ten years in the spice trade. He says cardamom, cinnamon, pumpkin seeds, and almonds are his top sellers. He sources them from India, Pakistan, China, and Dubai, also through Kano. He also buys Nigerian-grown ginger, black pepper, and pumpkin seeds.

“I sometimes buy up to N3m worth of spices in a month, depending on market demand,” he said.

Muftahu noted that not being able to buy directly from foreign suppliers is a challenge. “Middlemen add too much profit. If I could buy it directly, it would be better,” he explained. Still, he sees the spice trade as a good business. “I’ve built houses and taken care of my family through this business. I encourage others to go into it, but they must learn about the spices first.”

With global demand rising, the spice industry offers Nigeria a good opportunity for growth. From farms to local markets like Wuse, the value of spices continues to rise. With the right support, Nigeria can boost production, improve processing, and start exporting its rich variety of spices to the world.