HS Code for Green Cardamom (HS 0908.31)
Green cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum) is the world's third most expensive spice by weight after saffron and vanilla. Guatemala produces ~70% by volume; India (Kerala/Idukki auctions) commands a premium on 8mm+ bold grades. GCC (Saudi kahwa) is the largest consumer market.
Sample 6-digit codes
| Code | Description |
|---|---|
| 0908.31 | Cardamoms, neither crushed nor ground |
| 0908.32 | Cardamoms, crushed or ground |
Typical import duty by market
| Market | Duty |
|---|---|
| Saudi Arabia | 5% GCC common external tariff; 15% VAT. |
| European Union | 0% |
| United States | 0% |
| India (BCD) | 70% Protects domestic auctions; no SAARC preference for cardamom. |
Numerical Example: 5 MT AGMARK 8mm bold, FOB Cochin USD 22/kg, CIF Jeddah
5 MT AGMARK 8mm bold, FOB Cochin USD 22/kg, CIF Jeddah. Run your own numbers in the Import Duty & Tax calculator.
- · EU Reg 2023/915 - ochratoxin A limit 15 μg/kg.
- · Indian Spices Board grading (AGMARK): 8+, 7+, 6+, 6- mm.
- · SASO SFDA 44/2007 for GCC food import registration.
- · Guatemala
- · India
- · Sri Lanka
- · Nepal
- · Tanzania
Frequently asked questions
Guatemalan cardamom trades USD 4-8/kg below Indian AGMARK 8mm - it is bulk-grade for extraction and mass-market blends. Indian bold grades hold pricing on GCC hospitality demand.
Import duty and tax by destination market
Typical MFN duty, consumption tax and the tax base applied to agriculture (HS 0908.31) in each market we cover. Rates are indicative at the 6-digit line | confirm the national 8/10-digit code with your broker.
| Market | Duty | Consumption tax | Tax base | Tax as % of CIF |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| India | 100% | IGST 18% | Assessable value + duty | 137.4% |
| United Arab Emirates | 0% | VAT 5% | CIF + duty | 5.0% |
| Saudi Arabia | 0% | VAT 15% | CIF + duty | 15.0% |
| Singapore | 0% | GST 9% | CIF + duty | 9.0% |
| China | 0% | VAT 13% | CIF + duty | 13.0% |
| United States | 0% | Federal VAT 0% | CIF | 0.3% |
| United Kingdom | 0% | VAT 20% | CIF + duty | 20.0% |
| Germany | 0% | USt 19% | CIF + duty | 19.0% |
| Netherlands | 0% | BTW 21% | CIF + duty | 21.0% |
| Vietnam | 0% | VAT 10% | CIF + duty | 10.0% |
| Türkiye | 0% | KDV 20% | CIF + duty | 20.0% |
| Japan | 0% | JCT 10% | CIF + duty | 10.0% |
| South Korea | 0% | VAT 10% | CIF + duty | 10.0% |
| Brazil | 0% | IPI+PIS/COFINS+ICMS 32% | CIF + duty | 32.0% |
| Indonesia | 0% | PPN 11% | CIF + duty | 13.5% |
| Mexico | 0% | IVA 16% | CIF + duty | 16.9% |
| Egypt | 0% | VAT 14% | CIF + duty | 14.0% |
| Nigeria | 0% | VAT 7.5% | CIF + duty | 9.1% |
| South Africa | 0% | VAT 15% | Assessable value + duty | 16.5% |
| Australia | 0% | GST 10% | CIF + duty | 10.0% |
Run your own numbers with the landed cost calculator or check documentation requirements in the LC document checklist.