Gujarat's best-known agri exports are seed spices such as cumin and fennel, psyllium (isabgol), groundnut, sesame, castor, cotton and dehydrated onion and garlic. Which one leads in a given year depends on the crop and world demand, so use official trade data if you need a ranking.
For an overseas buyer, the useful point is that these products are grown, traded and processed in the same state, close to export ports.
Seed spices and psyllium
Cumin and fennel are major Gujarat crops. They are winter crops, sown around October to December and harvested roughly February to April. Market arrivals usually peak around March to April.
Unjha, in Mehsana district, is the main trading hub for these and other seed spices. Psyllium is also traded heavily there, as seed and as husk. Buyers usually specify purity, moisture, and whether the product is machine cleaned or sortex cleaned. Many EU, UK and US buyers also ask for steam sterilisation.
Oilseeds and cotton
Groundnut and sesame are major crops, with kharif harvests roughly September to November. Saurashtra markets such as Rajkot and Gondal trade them in large volume. Groundnut is exported as kernels for food use, and sesame as natural or hulled seed.
Sesame needs care for the EU. From 2020, EU authorities found ethylene oxide residues in sesame from India, which led to large recalls and stricter checks. Require no ETO treatment in your spec and test for it. See what ETO treatment is and why EU buyers reject it.
Castor is also a major Gujarat crop. It is mainly an industrial raw material, crushed for castor oil, rather than a food product.
Cotton is a major Gujarat crop, though it is usually bought by spinning mills rather than food importers. The state grows many other crops too. For a product outside this list, compare Gujarat suppliers with those in the main growing state before you decide.
Dehydrated onion and garlic
Mahuva, in Bhavnagar district, has a concentration of plants that dry onion and garlic into flakes, chopped, minced, granules and powder. These go to food manufacturers, seasoning blenders and food service buyers abroad.
Raw material follows the harvests. Garlic is harvested roughly February to April, and onion has several harvests through the year. Dehydrated products are usually packed in cartons with liners, and need tight control of moisture, microbiology and foreign matter.
Onion has faced export restrictions in the past. Exports were banned from December 2023, and the ban was lifted in May 2024 with conditions such as a minimum export price and an export duty for a period. Check with DGFT whether any current rule covers the product you buy.
Shipping from Gujarat
Most containerised agri exports from the state leave through Mundra or Pipavav, with Kandla (Deendayal) also used. Some shippers truck goods to Nhava Sheva near Mumbai for particular sailings. Ask your supplier which port they use and why, since it affects freight and transit time. For the trade terms, see what FOB Mundra or CIF Rotterdam includes.
How we help
Creston & Co works for buyers sourcing Gujarat seed spices, psyllium, oilseeds and dehydrated onion and garlic. We audit processors, have samples tested at NABL-accredited labs and supervise container loading. Start with a free sourcing review.