Indian Ginger Guide

The below chart shows Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats for Indian ginger in the global market. 

The import tariffs for the top 6 trading partners range from 0% to 10%.

Source: Tridge

Farm -> factory -> export company/trading company

There are several cultivars of ginger harvested in India but the prominent ones are Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Karnataka. There are middlemen involved in the supply chain, mostly from the Madi area. However, they do not play a big role when it comes to exports. Some exporters have their own processing and packing facilities. 

Main producing regions are Southern India (Karnataka state) and North-East India (Mizoram state). Major ginger-producing regions in India are concentrated in the northeastern, eastern, and western regions. 

The leading states producing around 90% of the ginger in the country are Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, West Bengal, Assam, Maharashtra, Orissa, Gujarat, Sikkim, Kerala, and Meghalaya.

 Indian Ginger Production in 2021-2022 by state 

Source: National Horticulture Board (NHB)

In 2022, the top 10 importing countries of Indian ginger are Bangladesh, Morocco, United Arab Emirates, United States, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Nepal, Yemen, Indonesia and China.

Source : Tridge

The main varieties of Indian Ginger are Ing Makhir, Rio-de-Janeiro, Thingpui, Wayanad, Maran, and Nadia.

1. Ing Makhir: This variety is grown in Meghalaya and is one of the most potent, with a high ingerol content. Sleek, slender and highly fibrous in nature, it is typically utilized to manufacture dry ginger powder.

2. Rio-de-Janeiro: Rio-de-Janeiro is one of the popular varieties of ginger. This variety can be identified by certain characteristics. The size of the rhizome is bold while the colour of the skin is buff. Also, Rio-de-Janeiro is pungent, known for high flavour and is less fibrous. Introduced from Brazil, it is one of the two exotic ginger varieties in the country and is known to produce higher yields compared to local varieties available. Rio-de-Janeiro is not commonly used as dry ginger.

3. Thingpui: Thingpui is one of the varieties of ginger grown in India. This variety of ginger is pungent. The size of the rhizome of the Thingpui is said to be medium. The colour of the skin can be identified as a buff. Thingpui is less fibrous and has a high amount of flavour. It is one of the two ginger varieties that are indigenous to Mizoram state. Thingpui has a unique taste and aroma.

4. Wynad: Wynad is a variety of ginger, one of the earliest known oriental spices. The size of the rhizome of Wynad is bold. The colour of the skin is buff like many other varieties of ginger. It is pungent and less fibrous. It is commonly found in Kerala. Wynad is offen used as dry or green ginger. 

5. Maran: Maran is a variety of ginger which is pungent and has a high flavour. The size of the rhizome of the Maran is said to be medium. The colour of the skin of Maran is buff and this variety of ginger is less fibrous. It is popular variety known to produce high yields. Maran is used as dry or green ginger and known to be highly suitable for oil and oleoresin extraction as well. 

6. Nadia: Nadia is a type of ginger which is yellowish in colour. The size of the rhizome is said to be medium to bold for the Nadia variety of Ginger. Nadia is moderately pungent and mild flavoured. It is also less fibrous compared to other varieties of Ginger. It is also known as ‘Ing Bah’ and grown in Meghalaya. The skin is smooth and light brownish with a pale-yellow flesh. Nadia is known to give a higher yield and can be used as dry and fresh ginger.

The supply chain for exporting ginger from India goes through these steps:

1. Producer → Village Merchant → Wholesale Merchants → Retailers/Exporters

In this traditional and most common channel of exporting, village merchants purchase the crops from farmers at an agreed price and sell the crops to regional or local wholesalers. Final retailers from each region or the state purchase the products as per the requirements from wholesalers and can sell to exporters too. Many times exporters purchase directly from wholesalers or even merchants if the requirement is big for a season or order.

2. Producer → Village Merchant → Auctioneers (via Agents)/Mandi → Exporters/Retailers

Village merchants after purchasing from farmers auction the product at a trading point. The auctions are conducted by trading agents or auction agents who have the authority to manage the auctions at specific locations. Exporters and retailers purchase the product from these auctions at a fixed price, which is decided according to the demand and available supply for the day.

 For fresh ginger, moisture content, impurities, pesticide report, and phytosanitary certificates are usually needed. 

A phytosanitary certificate by the P&Q department is required and depending on the destination of export, some other certificates may be required as well. 

Other than phytosanitary certificates -> Taiwan / European Union, America go by USDA FDA standards.

The most common quality-related issues are moisture content, color, size, and sprouting. Desired quality characteristics include skin color; plumpness of tuber pieces; sheen on skin; and absence of vegetative sprouts, blemishes, soil, and insect injury.

Measures of Ginger 

• It shall be dried rhizomes of Zingiber officinale Rose, in pieces, irregular in shape, pale brown in colour.

• Its fibrous content shall be characteristic of the variety with peel not entirely removed.

• It shall be lime bleached.

• It shall have characteristic taste and flavour and shall not have a musty odour or a rancid or bitter taste.

• It shall be free from added colouring matter. It shall be free from mould growth and living insects and practically free from dead insects, insect fragments and rodent contamination.

• It shall comply with restrictions in regard to Aflatoxins, Metallic Contaminants, Insecticide or Pesticide residue, poisonous metals, naturally occurring Contaminants, Microbial load and the like as specified by the Codex Aliment Arius Commission or as per buyers requirements for Export purposes and the Prevention of Food Adulteration Rules, 1955 for domestic trade.

Source: India Ginger 

The specific documentation required may vary based on the destination country and the terms of the export agreement. Here is a list of common documents required for exporting ginger from India:

•  Importer/Exporter Code from Directorate General of Foreign Trade

• Commercial Invoice
  

• Packing List
  

• Certificate of origin
  

• Mate Receipt
  

• Shipping Bill

• Bill of handing

• Bill of Lading / Airway Bill

• GR Form: Documents required by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) assures that the exporter will realize the proceeds of goods within 180 days from the date of Shipment.

• Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) registration of exporter

• Plant and Quarantine Registration certificate (Phytosanitary Certificate) from Directorate of Plant Protection Quarantine and Storage for export consignment

• GLOBAL GAP Certification of exporter and producer

• Organic certificate for the owner of farm/nursery from Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) if the produce is organic and labeled as organic ginger produce for export

• Health Certificate, as per destination requirement

• Certificate of Analysis, as per destination requirement

India is one of the world's largest producers and exporters of ginger, and it competes in the global ginger market with several other countries. Some of the major countries that compete with India in the ginger market include:

1.  China is one of the largest ginger producers and exporters in the world. It competes with India in supplying ginger to various international markets.

2. Thailand is known for producing high-quality ginger, often referred to as "Thai ginger" or "galangal." Thai ginger is popular for its distinct flavor and aroma, making it a competitive player in the global ginger market.

3. Nigeria is a significant ginger producer in Africa and competes with India, particularly in regional and international markets.

4. Peru has been increasing its ginger production and exports in recent years. It competes with India in supplying ginger to North American and European markets.

5. Brazil is another emerging ginger producer, and it is gradually becoming a competitor in the global ginger market.

6. Nepal: India's neighboring country, Nepal, also produces ginger and competes with India, especially in regional markets.

7. Other Southeast Asian Countries: Several other countries in Southeast Asia, such as Indonesia and Vietnam, produce ginger and compete with India in regional and international markets.

The competition in the ginger market is influenced by factors such as ginger quality, price, trade regulations, and consumer preferences. Different countries have their own unique ginger varieties, qualities, and characteristics, which cater to diverse market segments. Additionally, ginger is used in various culinary traditions around the world, and this can create demand for different types of ginger from different sources.

It's important to note that the competition in the ginger market can fluctuate based on factors like weather conditions, crop yields, and global trade dynamics. As a result, the relative competitiveness of these countries can change from year to year.