Indian cumin (jeera) exports witnessed a 28% decline in value ($524 million down from $732.35 million) and a 14% drop in volume during FY26, heavily impacted by an 80% contraction in value from its top buyer, China. This downturn occurred because China harvested an exceptionally strong domestic crop of 85,000–90,000 tonnes, significantly minimizing its reliance on Indian spice imports. Geopolitical disruptions also played a role, as shipments to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region were crippled by the Iran-US-Israel conflicts. Conversely, exports to Turkey grew over five-fold to 7,529 tonnes due to soil fertility issues impacting Turkey’s domestic yield.