How to Export Indian Spices to South Korea (2026): MFDS Rules, Duty, Packaging & Shipping
Turmeric, chilli, cumin, cardamom and garam masala are in steady demand from Korean restaurants, Indian grocers and K-food brands. Here is exactly how to get spices from an Indian godown to a Seoul warehouse — compliantly, in 5–8 days.
Key takeaways
- Register with the Spices Board (CRES) and hold IEC + GST/LUT before your first commercial spice shipment.
- Every spice consignment is filed with Korea's MFDS by the Korean importer — first-time products may face lab testing for pesticide residues and aflatoxin.
- Under the India–Korea CEPA most spice HS lines (0904–0910) enter at 0–5% duty with a Certificate of Origin; 10% Korean VAT still applies.
- ShipKorea ships spices door-to-door DDP from ₹609/kg (21 kg+) in 5–8 days, with Korean labelling applied at our Delhi hub if needed.
Quick answer
Exporting spices from India to South Korea takes four things: a Spices Board CRES registration plus IEC/GST, a Korean importer who files the MFDS import declaration, a CEPA Certificate of Origin to cut duty to 0–5%, and food-grade export packaging. ShipKorea.in handles Indian export customs, air freight to Incheon, Korean clearance and DDP door delivery from ₹609/kg, typically in 5–8 days.
Why Korea is buying Indian spices
South Korea imports the bulk of its turmeric, black pepper, cumin, coriander and chilli — the country does not grow them at scale. Demand comes from three channels: Indian and Nepali restaurants (there are several hundred across Seoul, Busan, Daegu and Gyeonggi), the growing Indian expat and student community, and Korean food manufacturers using curry blends, turmeric and pepper in K-food products. Curry powder and pre-mixed masalas are the fastest-growing segment.
Registrations you need in India
Import Export Code (IEC) from DGFT; GST registration with a Letter of Undertaking (LUT) so exports ship zero-rated; an AD code registered at your export airport; and a Certificate of Registration as Exporter of Spices (CRES) from the Spices Board of India — mandatory for the 52 scheduled spices and their products. FSSAI licence for the packing premises is expected by Korean buyers. Optional but useful: Spices Board quality certification (e.g. Indian Spices Logo) for retail-ready packs.
Korean side — MFDS import declaration and testing
Spices are 'food' under Korea's Food Sanitation Act. The Korean importer (or our clearance partner acting for a B2C consignee) files an import declaration with the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) through UNI-PASS. First imports of a new product/manufacturer are usually sent for laboratory testing — pesticide residues under Korea's Positive List System (PLS), aflatoxin (chilli, nutmeg), Sudan dyes (chilli), heavy metals and microbiological counts. Testing adds 7–14 days; repeat shipments of the same product usually clear on documents in 1–3 days. Send us your CoA and ingredient list before dispatch and we pre-screen for PLS limits.
Duty, VAT and the CEPA saving
Korean MFN duty on most spices (HS 0904 pepper/chilli, 0906 cinnamon, 0908 cardamom, 0909 cumin/coriander, 0910 turmeric/ginger/curry) is around 8%, with some lines higher. With a CEPA Certificate of Origin (Form KIN via the DGFT e-CoO portal, issued by the Spices Board or EIA) most lines drop to 0–5%. 10% VAT applies on the duty-paid value. Under our DDP service the duty and VAT are pre-paid so your Korean buyer receives a landed price — the format Korean importers expect.
Packaging and labelling that passes Korean checks
Use food-grade inner packs (laminated pouches or PET jars) in 5-ply export cartons; whole spices in moisture-barrier liners, powders nitrogen-flushed or vacuum packed for shelf life. For retail sale in Korea the pack must carry a Korean-language label: product name, ingredients (%), net weight, manufacturer and importer details, best-before date, storage conditions and allergen statement. Bulk B2B lots (5–25 kg bags) can be labelled by the Korean importer; we can apply Korean stickers at our Delhi hub for retail packs.
Shipping options and real costs
Air express door-to-door (our core service): ₹749/kg for small lots down to ₹609/kg at 21 kg+, all-inclusive of pickup, export clearance, air freight, Korean duty + VAT and delivery in 5–8 days — ideal for 20–200 kg restaurant and retail orders. Consolidated air cargo for 200 kg+ lots is quoted per shipment (7–10 days). Sea LCL from Nhava Sheva or Chennai to Busan makes sense above ~500 kg of low-value whole spices (4–6 weeks). A 25 kg garam masala order to Seoul costs roughly ₹15,225 all-in by air.
Common mistakes that get spice shipments held
Chilli powder with Sudan dye or aflatoxin above Korean limits; pesticide residues above PLS (0.01 ppm default where no MRL exists); missing manufacturer name on the label; CoO HS code not matching the invoice; mixed masalas declared as a single spice; and spices packed with strong-smelling non-food items in the same carton. We check documents and labels before pickup — see also our guides to exporting from India to Korea and Indian restaurant supply in Korea.
