Market research

Nutmeg, mace and cardamoms market in Kenya

Release date: Mar 28, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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Earlier Report Observations

Between 2018 and 2023, the Kenyan market volume for nutmeg, mace and cardamoms expanded by nearly 59%, rising from approximately 58 700 kg to over 93 300 kg. This growth was uneven, featuring a sharp increase in 2020, a moderate contraction the following year, and a return to stronger growth thereafter.

Domestic production remained relatively stable throughout these years, while imports grew from negligible levels to over 36 000 kg by 2023, significantly contributing to the overall market supply.

In 2024, import volumes jumped to around 64 000 kg. This surge aligned with a global increase in demand for cardamom, driven by its expanded use in food, medicine, and cosmetics, as well as growing organic farming trends in Kenya. The concurrent rise of e-commerce in the country also improved distribution channels, likely enhancing consumer access to these spices.

Table of content

1. Disclaimer
2. Terms of use of the report
3. Product codes in the statistical classifications used in the report
4. Key Market Indicators and Trends
1. 4.1. Key Market Indicators
  1. 4.1.1. In kind
    1. 4.1.1.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.1.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in Kenya
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Kenya in kind, 2018-2023, kg
  2. 5.1.2. Annual dynamics of production in Kenya in value, 2018-2023, $ US
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, kg
  2. 5.2.2. Dynamics of production structure by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023
  3. 5.2.3. Annual dynamics of production by country in kind, 2018-2023, kg
  4. 5.2.4. Structure of production by countries in kind, 2018-2023
  5. 5.2.5. Dynamics of peoduction structure by countries in kind, 2018-2023
6. Exports
1. 6.1. Exports (Direct Data)
  1. 6.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Exports in kind, kg
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Kenya in kind, 2018-2024, kg
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Kenya by countries, 2018-2024, kg
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Kenya in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Kenya by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/kg
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Kenya, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Kenya by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
2. 6.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Exports in kind, kg
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Kenya in kind, 2018-2024, kg
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Kenya by countries, 2018-2024, kg
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Kenya in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Kenya by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/kg
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Kenya, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Kenya by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
7. Imports
1. 7.1. Imports (Direct Data)
  1. 7.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Imports in kind, kg
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Kenya in kind, 2018-2024, kg
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Kenya by countries, 2018-2024, kg
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Kenya in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Kenya by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/kg
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Kenya, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Kenya by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
2. 7.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Imports in kind, kg
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Kenya in kind, 2018-2024, kg
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Kenya by countries, 2018-2024, kg
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Kenya in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Kenya by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/kg
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Kenya, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Kenya by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, kg
  2. 8.1.2. In value, K $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, kg
  2. 8.2.2. In value, K $ US
9. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2024
1. 9.1. Direct Data
  1. 9.1.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.1.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers
2. 9.2. Mirror Data
  1. 9.2.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.2.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers

Production nutmeg, mace and cardamoms in Kenya

In kind, 2017-2020, kg

Between 2017 and 2020, Kenya ranked as the 17th largest global producer of nutmeg, mace, and cardamoms.

Top producers of nutmeg, mace and cardamoms, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of nutmeg, mace and cardamoms, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

In 2020, Kenya produced 59 780 kg of nutmeg, mace, and cardamoms, marking a 2.7% increase from 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production grew by 2.8%, averaging an annualized rate of 0.9%. The highest production volume was recorded in 2018 at 60 620 kg. Production saw its largest decline in 2019, dropping by 4.0%, while the largest increase occurred in 2018 with a 4.2% rise.

Annual dynamics of production in Kenya in kind, 2017-2020, kg

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	4.2%	(4.0%)	2.7%	0.9%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports nutmeg, mace and cardamoms from Kenya

Exports in kind, kg

Kenya's exports of nutmeg, mace, and cardamoms grew for the third year in a row in 2020, reaching 4 544 kg. This represented a 66.9% increase compared to 2019. From 2017 to 2020, exports surged by 590.4%, translating to an average annual growth rate of 90.4%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Kenya in kind, 2017-2020, kg

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	189.6%	42.8%	66.9%	90.4%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Uganda was the dominant destination for Kenya's exports of nutmeg, mace, and cardamoms in volume terms, accounting for 85.0% of total shipments. Other countries each held much smaller shares.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Kenya in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, $ US

Export values for nutmeg, mace, and cardamoms from Kenya showed notable fluctuations during this period. They reached their lowest point in 2017 and peaked in 2019, with a 7.1-fold difference between these years. In 2020, export value totaled 50 682 US dollars, a significant decrease of 19.9% from the previous year. The highest value was recorded in 2019 at 63 311 US dollars, while the largest increase occurred in 2018 with a 313.9% rise.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Kenya in value, 2017-2020, $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	313.9%	70.6%	(19.9%)	78.1%

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, Uganda was overwhelmingly the main destination for Kenya's exports of nutmeg, mace, and cardamoms in value terms, making up 98.8% of total flows.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Kenya in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports nutmeg, mace and cardamoms to Kenya

Imports in kind, kg

In 2020, Kenya imported 18 180 kg of nutmeg, mace, and cardamoms, a sharp increase of 1,378.0% compared to 2019.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Kenya in kind, 2017-2020, kg

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	n/a	1 378.0%	-

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, India was the primary source for Kenya's imports of nutmeg, mace, and cardamoms in volume, representing 83.8% of total imports. Other markets contributed smaller shares.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Kenya in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, $ US

Kenya imported approximately 96 918 US dollars worth of nutmeg, mace, and cardamoms in 2020, equivalent to a dramatic increase of 3,465.4% from 2019.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Kenya in value, 2017-2020, $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	n/a	3 465.4%	-

Source: SHEV.io

Throughout 2017–2020, India led Kenya's imports of nutmeg, mace, and cardamoms in value terms, holding an 86.4% share of total flows, while other markets accounted for the remainder.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Kenya in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io