Cardamom HS code for export: small, large, seeds, powder and husk
Key takeaways
- Small cardamom has codes for each grade: Alleppey green, Coorg green, bleached and mixed [1].
- Large cardamom has its own code, 0908 31 10 [1].
- Seeds, powder and husk are "crushed or ground" under 0908 32 [1].
- The EU checks 30% of Indian cardamom consignments [2].
What are the HS codes for cardamom?
The ITC (HS) list of Spices Board gives these codes [1]:
| Product | ITC (HS) code |
|---|---|
| Large (Amomum) cardamom | 0908 31 10 |
| Small (Elettaria), Alleppey green | 0908 31 20 |
| Small, Coorg green | 0908 31 30 |
| Small, bleached, half-bleached or bleachable | 0908 31 40 |
| Small (mixed) | 0908 31 50 |
| Other, neither crushed nor ground | 0908 31 90 |
| Cardamom powder | 0908 32 10 |
| Small cardamom seeds | 0908 32 20 |
| Cardamom husk | 0908 32 30 |
| Other, crushed or ground | 0908 32 90 |
Nutmeg and mace are in the same heading, 0908. Do not use their codes for cardamom. Our nutmeg and mace guide gives their codes.
How do you choose the code?
Answer three questions:
- Is it small cardamom (Elettaria) or large cardamom (Amomum)?
- Is it whole, or is it crushed or ground?
- For whole small cardamom, which grade is it?
The FSSAI definitions help with question 1. Small cardamom is the capsule of Elettaria cardamomum. Large cardamom is the capsule of Amomum subulatum [4]. If a lot mixes grades, ask your CHA if 0908 31 50 applies.
What do the EU checks use?
The EU uses the 6-digit codes 0908 31 00 and 0908 32 00 [2]. After the June 2026 update, cardamoms from India are in Annex II for ethylene oxide. Each consignment needs a laboratory analysis and an official certificate. The EU checks 30% of consignments at the border. Our guide to EU rules for Indian spices lists the rate for each spice.
How much cardamom does India export?
In 2025-26, India exported 15,050 tonnes of small cardamom and 1,753 tonnes of large cardamom [3]:
| Product | Tonnes, 2025-26 | Value, $ million | Largest market |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small cardamom | 15,050 | 413.24 | Saudi Arabia, 3,994 tonnes |
| Large cardamom | 1,753 | 35.52 | UAE, 1,132 tonnes |
Our guides give the details: green cardamom specification, large cardamom specification and cardamom buyers in Saudi Arabia.
How do you put the code on your documents?
Use the same code on all documents for one shipment:
- the proforma invoice;
- the commercial invoice and the packing list;
- the shipping bill;
- the application for the certificate.
If one shipment contains two grades, give each grade its own line, with its own code.
What mistakes do you avoid?
- Do not use one code for small and large cardamom. The two products have different codes and different FSSAI limits [4].
- Do not use the code for whole cardamom for seeds. Small cardamom seeds are 0908 32 20, under "crushed or ground" [1].
- Do not ship to the EU without the certificate. The EU needs it for each consignment of Indian cardamom [2].
Next step. Before a buyer replies, the buyer usually checks your company online. Our free Buyer Check is a 1-page report on your Google listing, website and spec gaps. It gives the 3 most important fixes within 24 hours.
Sources
- Trade classification: ITC (HS) codes for spices, Spices Board India
- Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1206 of 9 June 2026, Official Journal of the European Union
- Major item and country wise export of spices from India, 2021-22 to 2025-26, Spices Board India, data from DGCI&S
- Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, Chapter 2.9, Version 4 (01.08.2025), FSSAI
Checked 10 November 2026. This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice.