LAHORE: Pakistan’s spice exports, once hampered by concerns over microbial contamination, inconsistent shelf life and regulatory barriers, are undergoing a transformation. Processors are increasingly adopting pharmaceutical-grade food safety protocols to win the confidence of foreign buyers.
Producers have secured certifications such as FSSC 22000 and BRCGS, while also deploying technologies including cryogenic grinding to preserve aroma and nitrogen-flushed packaging to extend shelf stability -- practices that are now becoming industry standard.
For decades, Pakistan relied on exporting raw spices. But 2023 data shows that exports of “mixtures of spices” surged to about $71.9 million, with top destinations including the US ($23.8million), Saudi Arabia ($16.4 million) and the UK ($8.6 million).
The shift reflects how branded blends are carrying Pakistani culinary heritage abroad. While demand is still driven by millions of South Asian expatriates, local consumers in importing countries are increasingly acquiring the taste.
Experts suggest that with effective marketing, value-added spice recipes could generate as much as $500 million in the next five years, helping Pakistan move away from low-value raw exports towards high-value branded food products.
A recent visit by senior reporters from Lahore to the newly established Faisalabad facility of National Foods Limited, a leading spice and recipe-mix producer, highlighted this shift. Contrary to common perception, the plant operates to pharmaceutical-grade protocols. Reporters donned protective gowns, passed through airlocked zones, and observed stainless-steel production lines under SCADA control. The facility’s precision resembled that of a pharmaceutical plant—an emblem of how Pakistan’s spice exports are preparing for global retail shelves.
National Foods’ Faisalabad plant, built at a cost of over Rs7 billion, handles nearly 70 per cent of the company’s culinary and condiments business. With SCADA-based automation, a production capacity of 6,000 tonnes per month, and rigorous certification standards, the facility ensures access to international markets. It also provides local benefits, employing more than 600 people and offering training in technical, quality and safety skills.
Pakistan ranked as the world’s third-largest exporter of spice mixes in 2021, recording $80.8 million in exports, 13 per cent of the global total, alongside China and India. That year, half of Pakistan’s spice mixes were shipped to Saudi Arabia and the UK, underscoring international trust in the country’s flavours. Rising global demand for convenient meal solutions is further strengthening the case for Pakistan’s spice mixes. Their blend of authentic taste, halal certification and competitive pricing positions them well beyond diaspora markets.
“Our FSSC 22000 audits and zero-contamination packaging were essential to securing listings in British supermarkets,” said a senior executive at a leading spice brand. A trade official added that the growth of spice mixes lies in their “convenience, shelf stability and cultural flavour -- three traits global retailers prize”.
Still, industry players say more support is needed. A dedicated HS-code assistance portal could help SMEs navigate labelling rules and allergen limits across markets, while shared R&D labs for shelf-life and stability testing could enable smaller processors to compete. Marketing strategies also need to evolve, positioning spice mixes as “global quick meals” rather than merely “ethnic cuisines”.
One major producer has already tripled its exports in the past three years and expects to do so again within the next three. With the right alignment between industry and policymakers -- on standards, R&D and marketing -- Pakistan has the climate, cultural capital and infrastructure to become a global leader in value-added spice blends.