Exporting curcuma longa (turmeric) to Europe

Curcuma longa (turmeric) is in high demand on the European market for health products. Numerous studies have been conducted on the anti-inflammatory properties and antioxidant activities of Curcuma longa. In Europe the capsules/tablets containing powder and extracts are marketed to support the immune system, joint and digestive health. Curcuma longa’s popularity has also sparked research into other health areas.

1. Product Description

Curcuma longa (also known as turmeric) is a plant that is native to southern Asia, where it is widely cultivated. The plant is now also cultivated in the Americas. The main producers of Curcuma longa include the following countries.

• India
• Pakistan
• China
• Haiti
• Jamaica
• Peru
• Taiwan
• Thailand
• Indonesia
• Madagascar

The roots and rhizomes (underground stems of the plant from which the roots grow) of Curcuma longa are used in the following areas.

• Food (as a spice and as food additive for colour and flavour)
• Cosmetics
• Health products

Curcuma longa is available in several product forms on the European market (see Table 1). Of the products in Table 1, food-grade powder, powder capsules and high-potency tablets are the most common on the European market. Fresh turmeric rhizomes are also on the market for use in cooking.

Rhizomes are collected, boiled, dried and ground to make a yellow crude powder. This powder is also used to create an extract, which can be standardised regarding curcumin content, so that there is a a specific percentage of the active component curcumin (usually 93–95%).

Table 1: Common Curcuma longa products on the European market

	Crude powder	Food-grade powder	Powder capsules	Pharmaceutical-grade capsules (often sold as herbal medicinal product)	Capsules/tablets containing extract	High-potency tablets: standardised curcumin content (for example 95%)
Processing needed for the product	NA	-  Grinding -  Packaging	-  Grinding -  Encapsulating -  Packaging	-   Complying with pharmacopoeia -   Grinding -   Encapsulating -   Packaging	-  Extraction -  Encapsulating or tableting -  Packaging	-   Extraction -   Standardising extract -   Tableting -   Packaging

Health applications of Curcuma longa

The roots of Curcuma longa contain various active components. The most researched component is curcumin. Research shows that curcumin has anti-inflammatory properties and a high level of antioxidant activity. Curcumin can also be produced synthetically (see section on competition).

The content of curcumin in the roots differs between varieties of Curcuma longa. On average, roots contain 3% curcumin. The highest curcumin content reported was 9.3% in roots cultivated in Pakistan.

In European health products, Curcuma longa is mainly used for:

• joint health
• immune support
• digestive health.

This study focuses on these main uses for Curcuma longa.

In addition, the popularity of Curcuma longa has also led to research on its uses in:

• liver support
• cognition
• mood, mental well-being and work-related stress
• heart health.

Curcuma longa can be used in both food supplements and herbal medicinal products (see Table 2 below). For use in herbal medicinal products, the ingredient’s use is limited to digestive health.

Several European countries (or groups of countries, such as Belgium, France and Italy in the case of BELFRIT) have established positive lists of species which are allowed to be used in food supplements. You can find these in the table below. Please note that species allowed for use in food are not necessarily allowed for supplements (e.g. in concentrated form).

The use of species in medicine is described in Pharmacopoeia monographs. A pharmacopoeia is a reference work identifying and specifying medicines. The descriptions identifying medicines are called monographs. You can find these references in the table below.

Table 2: Use and classification of Curcuma longa in health products

Food supplements	The rhizome of Curcuma longa is allowed in food supplements. It listed in BELFRIT and German national positive lists. The essential oil of Curcuma longa is also listed in BELFRIT.
Herbal medicinal products	Curcuma longa is allowed on the European market as listed in European Pharmacopoeia monograph #2543: Curcuma longae rhizome. Its use in herbal medicinal products is described in the Community Herbal Monograph on Curcuma longa rhizoma For more information on use outside Europe, see: ESCOP Monographs 2nd Edition on Curcumae longae rhizome WHO monograph Rhizoma Curcumae Longae
Chemical Administration Service number	84775-52-0
European Community Number	283-881-2
Harmonised System code for trade in Curcuma longa:	0910.30: ‘Turmeric (curcuma)’, as raw material (root/powder). The extract of Curcuma longa is traded under: 1302.19: ‘other vegetable saps and extracts’

Source: European Chemicals Agency

2. Which market segments can be targeted?

Food supplements

In Europe, Curcuma longa rhizomes are allowed in food supplements (Table 2). See Table 1 for an overview of the most common Curcuma longa products on the market. For product examples, check the websites of companies such as Holland & Barrett, Neal’s Yard Remedies and Mount Natural.

The essential oil is also allowed in the BELFRIT countries (Belgium, France and Italy). Based on this list, health authorities in other European countries might allow use of the essential oil as well.

Although the main market for health products in Europe is based on Curcuma longa products, other Curcuma species are also allowed in food supplements:

• Curcuma xanthorrhiza rhizome
• Curcuma zedoaria rhizome.

The Italian positive list for food supplements ingredients lists similar uses for these species as for Curcuma longa. These include the following.

Main uses in health products:

• for digestive health
• for joint health
• as an antioxidant.

Additional uses in health products:

• for liver health
• for menstrual cycle disorders.

Producers of food supplements may not make medicinal claims. The following are examples of claims used in Europe for supplements containing Curcuma longa.

• ‘… to help overall wellbeing’
• ‘… to help maintain joint health’
• ‘Supports digestive health’
• ‘Turmeric root … contains the active constituent curcumin’
• ‘Turmeric and ginger may help to manage inflammatory responses’

Herbal medicinal products

Several herbal preparations of Curcuma longa can be used in herbal medicinal products. This is according to its monographs for the European market (see Table 2), including the following.

• Powdered Curcuma longa herbal substance
• Tincture (extraction solvent ethanol)
• Dry extract (extraction solvent ethanol)

In herbal medicinal products, claims for Curcuma longa are specified by the Community Herbal Monograph. An example of a claim: ‘… increase[s] the bile flow for the relief of symptoms of indigestion (sensation of fullness, flatulence and slow digestion)’.

If you want to target this market segment, you must comply with strict European legal requirements for the herbal medical industry (see the section on buyer requirements below).

Monographs list standards on the production of ingredients for herbal medicinal products and provide information on the claims that may be made for these ingredients. They also include scientific information on uses, effects and counter-indications. You can find additional monographs for Curcuma longa for non-European markets in Table 2.

The European Medicines Agency has also developed a monograph for Curcuma xanthorrhiza rhizome. This species can be used in herbal medicines with the claim of: ‘[for] symptomatic treatment of digestive disturbances, such as feelings of fullness, slow digestion and flatulence’. Curcuma xanthorrhiza rhizome can therefore compete with Curcuma longa.

3. What makes Europe an interesting market for Curcuma longa?

The European curcumin market is growing

The growth of the global curcumin market (one of the active compounds in Curcuma longa) is driven by its use in herbal food supplements. This product group also makes up the largest share of the global curcumin market.

The global market for curcumin is expected to grow by 12% annually from 2015 to 2022. In 2022, this market is expected to reach 1.3 thousand tonnes at $84 million (€74 million). In another study expectations are even higher, stating that the European market will grow by more than 17% annually, from 2015 to 2022. Europe is the second largest global market for curcumin, after North America.

Source: Eurostat, 2016

Because Curcuma longa does not grow in Europe, demand must be met by imports. Figure 1 gives an overview of leading European importers of Curcuma longa. Spain’s imports increased vastly from 2014 to 2015. European re-exporters contributed more to this recent growth than developing country exporters.

From 2011 to 2015, imports increased by 7.5% annually. In 2015 imports reached 16.5 thousand tonnes at €33 million. Note that the largest share of this is used in food products.

Of the total European imports in 2015, almost 75% originated in developing countries. The following countries have the highest direct imports from developing countries.

• the United Kingdom (30% of 2015 European imports from developing countries)
• the Netherlands (21%)
• Germany (19%)
• France (8.9%)
• Spain (5.8%)

In 2015, these countries accounted for 85% of European imports from developing countries.

Of the total imports about 25% are re-exports from European sources. The countries that have highest direct imports from developing countries also are the largest re-exporters.

Smaller, but fast-growing importers of Curcuma longa from 2011 to 2015 include the following countries.

• Italy (+29% annually)
• Austria (+13%)
• Ireland (+28%)
• Hungary (35%)

These countries mainly imported from European re-exporters.

India is the main supplier of Curcuma longa. In 2015, this country accounted for 88% of supplies from developing countries. The Indian Spices Board lists the United Kingdom and Germany as the main European importers of Indian Curcuma longa.

Other developing country suppliers include the following.

• Peru
• Indonesia
• Madagascar

Strong demand for Curcuma longa due to a changing perception of health

A changing consumer understanding of what it means to be healthy is driving consumption of Curcuma longa. Instead of the absence of illness, consumers use health products to prevent diseases and feel good, for example by adding supplements to their regular diet.

European consumers often use immune support and digestive health products to improve their overall health and to prevent illnesses. Moreover, they use digestive health products for health issues related to poor diet. This opens up opportunities for Curcuma longa supplements. Use for these health issues is based on Curcuma’s antioxidant properties and its traditional use to relieve symptoms of indigestion.

The European food supplements market is expected to grow by 9.5% from 2015 to 2020.

Demand for immune health supplements

In this market, supplements that support immune health are very popular. In 2013, these products had a high market share of total food supplements in the following countries.

• France (14%)
• Italy (12%)
• Germany (9%)
• the United Kingdom (7%)

Food supplements aimed at general health are often related to maintaining a robust immune system. In Western Europe, these have a particularly high market share in the following countries.

• Germany (20%)
• the United Kingdom (14%)
• Italy (12%)

Demand for digestive health supplements

Sales of digestive health products grew by 2% annually between 2011 and 2015. The main European markets for these products are Germany, Italy and Poland.

Source: AESGP, 2016

* Sales at consumer price level unless otherwise specified. MSP: Manufacturer Selling Price. WP: Wholesaler Price.

Growing need for joint health products

Although some European consumers are adopting healthier lifestyles, Europe still has an increasingly overweight and inactive population. The European population is also ageing. As a result, the overall population has a higher risk of health conditions involving joints. This offers opportunities for exporters of Curcuma longa, with the anti-inflammatory properties of its active compound curcumin. Consumers are looking for products that work and that they can take long-term.

Around 22% of Europe’s population is reported to be under long-term treatment for muscle, bone and joint conditions (such as rheumatoid arthritis). Countries with a relatively high incidence include the following.

• Austria (38%)
• Hungary (36%)
• Slovakia (36%)
• Spain (35%)

The global market for bone and joint health supplements is expected to reach $9 billion (€8 billion) in 2017. In Europe, ingredients related to bone and joint health are more frequently consumed in functional foods and beverages than in food supplements, for example in margarines or milk.

In 2013, the market share of joint health food supplements was highest in the United Kingdom (16% of a total market of €538 million) and Belgium (19% of €188 million).

Interest in organic certified Curcuma longa

European demand for organically produced food supplements continues to grow. However, the total market share for organic Curcuma longa is still small, according to industry sources.

Organic certification is most common for Curcuma longa powder, because companies can certify the final product. For capsules/tablets containing Curcuma longa extracts, food supplement manufacturers do not certify the entire product very often. Capsules/tablets usually contain a small amount of Curcuma longa extracts and a much higher one of fillers. These fillers are usually do not have organic certification.

4. What are the requirements Curcuma longa must comply with to be allowed on the European market?

You can only supply European Curcuma longa buyers if you comply with buyer requirements for natural ingredients for health products (see below). Which specific requirements you need to comply with depends on whether your Curcuma longa is used in herbal medicinal products or in food supplements.

Regardless of the segment it is used in, your Curcuma longa needs to be sustainably sourced. However, you do not necessarily need to certify this sustainability.

Specific requirements for herbal medicinal products

If you target the European herbal medicinal products market with your Curcuma longa, you must comply with the following legal requirements:

• relevant European legislation (Directive 2004/24/EC), the simplified regime for traditional herbal medicinal products
• detailed quality, documentation, labelling, packaging, certification and traceability standards as established in the rules governing medicinal products in the European Union
• marketing authorisation of medicinal products to be sold in the EU market
• good agricultural and collection practices (GACP) for raw plant materials
• good manufacturing practices (GMP) for extracts or active substances used as starting materials
• monographs as outlined in the product description above.

Requirements specifically for food supplements

If you target the European food supplements market with your Curcuma longa, you must comply with the following legal requirements:

• European legislation for food supplements (composition and labelling requirements)
• general food law
• food safety standards (see below).

Food safety requirements cover:

• maximum residue levels
• contaminants in food and microbiological contamination of food (contamination with ochratoxins, aflatoxins and Salmonella are the main issues for Curcuma longa entering Europe). For more information, have a look at the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed, searching for results for turmeric
• general foodstuffs hygiene (HACCP: Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point)
• extraction solvents
• food irradiation
• traceability.

Additional requirements

Many European buyers have additional quality requirements. These can go beyond legislation and standards. They are outlined in buyer specifications. Examples are requirements related to:

• active ingredient content
• moisture content
• contaminants
• residues.

To show that you meet the specifications of buyers, you need to develop well-structured company and product information, including detailed technical data sheets.

Requirements for niche markets

If you want to enter niche markets, you will need to meet standards and requirements for social and environmental sustainability. These include those regarding the following:

• organic production
• verification and/or certification of sustainable production (including FairWild, FLO Fairtrade, FairForLife, UNCTAD BioTrade Initiative, Union for Ethical BioTrade)
• supplier codes of conduct
• ISO 26000 on social responsibility.

European food industries increasingly demand compliance with quality and food safety management. This includes the following.

• ISO 9001:2008 (required for health ingredients)
• International Featured Standards (IFS) related to food (e.g. IFS Food, IFS Global Markets Food)
• ISO 22000 (food safety)
• ISO 31000 (risk management)

Quality requirements for Curcuma longa

The main quality requirements for Curcuma longa concern its curcumin content and antioxidant activity.

European buyers value high curcumin content in extracts, as this compound is linked to the anti-inflammatory activity of Curcuma longa.

The percentage of curcumin in extracts ranges widely, beginning at 2% in the Kadappa variety from India, through 6% in the Indian Alleppey variety, all the way up to 9.3% in Roma and Suroma varieties from Pakistan.

Antioxidant activity can be estimated based on an extract’s content of phenols and flavonoids.

Research suggests that steam cooking of Curcuma longa can improve the antioxidant activity of the extract.

If you want to target the herbal medicine segment, you need to comply with the monograph in the European Pharmacopoeia. This monograph sets specifications for the ingredient for use in medicinal products.

Labelling requirements

If you want to export your Curcuma longa to Europe, you will need to comply with the following labelling requirements.

• Set up a registration system for individual batches of your Curcuma longa, whether they are blends or not. Mark them accordingly to ensure traceability.
• Label your products in English, unless your buyer wants you to use a different language.

Your labels must include:

• product name/INCI name
• batch code
• place of origin
• name and address of exporter
• date of manufacture
• best before date
• net weight
• recommended storage conditions.

If you supply organic Curcuma longa, your label needs to include the name/code of the inspection body and certification number.

You also need to give your buyer the following documentation.

• Technical Data Sheet (TDS) (check this example for curcumin powdered extract)
• CAS number
• Certificates of Analysis (COA) (check examples of Curcuma longa dried root and tincture)
• Safety Data Sheet (SDS) (see these examples of turmeric powder, Curcuma longa extract, Curcuma longa essential oil and curcumin)
• GMO certificate (if requested)
• Certificate of origin
• Product information sheet

Curcuma longa extract and essential oil are classified as hazardous. You must include hazard symbols on your label if you export these products. See the example below.

 

You also need to include risk and safety phrases in your Safety Data Sheet, see the examples above. These phrases show what the main risks and hazards are and how you need to prevent them.

Also include for the extract:

• risk phrases R36 and R40
• safety phrases S22, S36/37, S46.

And for the oil:

• risk phrases R43, R52/53, R65
• safety phrases S24, S37, S62.

Packaging requirements

Packaging requirements may differ per buyer and Curcuma longa product. However, there are some general requirements which you must take into account which are encompassed in standards. See the tips below.

5. What competition will you face on the European Curcuma longa market?

Market entry barriers

There is a strong demand for Curcuma longa in Europe. But competition is fierce, especially from suppliers from India. Therefore, scale of production and processing is important to enter the market.

If you are a small farmer of raw materials you need to engage with Curcuma longa processors at a relatively close distance to be able to ensure product quality. Vertically integrated companies can combine cultivation, processing and marketing. For example, the Indian company Sabinsa is involved in research, manufacturing and standardising extracts, as well as marketing and export. Integrated companies also operate on a larger scale and work with outgrowers and/or have plantations to grow the product.

Powders vs. extracts

Market entry barriers depend on the level of processing you do.

If you produce Curcuma longa powder, market entry barriers are relatively low. You can also expect more new entrants at this level.

However, if you produce Curcuma longa extracts, especially with a standardised curcumin content, market entry barriers increase. You need more advanced technology, skilled personnel to work with this technology and you will need to manage quality. This means that competition from new entrants decreases substantially once you have mastered this level of processing and are able to produce an extract that complies with legal and buyer requirements.

Food supplements vs. herbal medicinal products

Market entry barriers also depend on the segment your Curcuma longa is used in food products (supplements) or herbal medicinal products.

Competition from new entrants is low if you produce ingredients for herbal medicinal products. Once European buyers have established a supply chain, they are less likely to switch to new suppliers. This reduces opportunities for new entrants.

For European buyers the costs of changing established supply contracts, and (perceived) risks of changing suppliers often do not weigh up against the reduction in supply costs. Costs can be especially high in terms of producing a new Common Technical Document (CTD).

For food supplements, you can expect more competition from new entrants. Supplier-buyer relationships are less stable than in herbal medicinal products. Costs of compliance with legal and buyer requirements for food supplements are relatively low when compared to herbal medicinal products. Manufacturers will switch more easily to new suppliers when demand is high and they need to find new sources of Curcuma longa.

What are substitute products for Curcuma longa?

Substitutions between Curcuma species

In terms of their use in health products, Curcuma longa can be substituted by two other Curcuma species: Curcuma zeodoaria and Curcuma xanthorrhiza. All three are permitted in food supplements. Curcuma xanthorrhiza is also allowed in herbal medicinal products, with the same claim as Curcuma longa. 

In practice, substitution with these species is limited, especially for food supplements. Most products on the European market are based on Curcuma longa. This is the species that has been the subject of a wide and expanding list of studies and which has been given superfood status in marketing campaigns.

At the same time, natural curcumin competes with synthetic curcumin. This synthetic version is much cheaper than natural curcumin. There have been many incidents where synthetic curcumins were sold as natural curcumin. Buyers closely monitor incoming batches.

Substitute products for Curcuma longa used for digestive health

Most alternatives to herbal food supplements for digestive health are natural, non-botanical supplements.

Major products are supplements that contain dietary fibres, probiotics and prebiotics and natural alternatives for digestive enzymes (which can be obtained from fruits such as papaya or pineapple). For examples, check the website of Holland & Barrett (a retailer from the United Kingdom).

In addition to these non-botanical supplements, several plants are also used for digestive health. These are used in both food supplements and herbal medicinal products. The most commonly used plants include the following.

• Peppermint (Mentha piperita)
• Roman camomile (Chamaemelum nobile)
• Green tea (Camellia sinensis)
• Ginger (Zingiber officinale)
• Boldo leaf (Peumus boldus)
• Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)
• Black psyllium (Plantago psyllium/ovata)
• Senna (Senna alexandrina)
• Milk thistle (Silybum marianum)

European consumers want products that have proven benefits, with claims that show that they work. Curcuma longa has a competitive advantage over species only allowed in food supplements. European manufacturers can make medicinal claims for digestive health regarding Curcuma longa products, as these are described in monographs. Such claims are not allowed for food supplements.

Substitute products for Curcuma longa used for joint health

Most alternatives to herbal food supplements for joint health are natural, non-botanical supplements. Major products are supplements that contain glucosamine and chondroitin. For examples, check the website of Holland & Barrett.

Since the European markets for supplements that contain glucosamine and chondroitin are reaching maturity, companies are interested in alternative ingredients that have more potential for growth.

Other natural alternatives include:

• botanical products (such as seaweed and pine bark extracts)
• non-botanical products (such as extracts of eggshell membranes).

Curcuma longa stands out from other products because various studies have shown that its active compound curcumin has the potential to reduce inflammation. This is a competitive advantage for Curcuma longa since European consumers want products with measureable benefits.

Substitute products for Curcuma longa used for immune support

For immune support, vitamins and minerals are the main synthetic food supplement substitutes for Curcuma longa. These products make up around half of the European food supplement market.

A wide range of natural products are marketed for immune support and overall wellbeing. These include:

• plant-derived vitamins or products with plant materials that are high in vitamins
• probiotics and prebiotics (which are often consumed as yoghurt or yoghurt drinks)
• fruit-based antioxidants (e.g. using blueberries, elderberries and açai).

Commonly used plants for immune support include the following.

• Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea)
• Ginseng (Panax quinquefolius and P. ginseng)
• Green tea (Camellia sinensis)
• Ginger (Zingiber officinale)
• Cat’s claw (Uncaria tomentosa)
• Eleuthero (Eleutherococcus senticosus)

Other superfoods are also strong sources of product competition, especially if they have a healthy nutritional profile (such as high concentrations of vitamins) or high levels of antioxidant activity. These are often used to improve general health or immune support. Examples include the following.

• Moringa (Moringa oleifera)
• Baobab fruit powder (Adansonia digitata)
• Mulberries (Morus spp.)
• Spirulina (Arthrospira plantensis)

Company competition

India is Europe’s main supplier of Curcuma longa. Companies from this country will be your main competitors with regard to the raw material. They can offer products at a low price. However, European buyers indicate concerns regarding quality and quality consistency, including adulteration.

Other producing countries include the following.

• Pakistan
• China
• Haiti
• Jamaica
• Peru
• Taiwan
• Madagascar
• Thailand

Companies from China and India are the main developing country suppliers of extracts of Curcuma longa. If you produce an extract, they will be strong competitors.

Some Chinese and Indian companies have even patented ingredients based on Curcuma longa for the European and North American markets. It will be difficult to compete with these companies. You would need to invest a lot in research and development (R&D) to develop intellectual property rights of your product and to obtain patents.

One of the Indian companies which has developed a patented ingredient is Arjuna Natural Extracts Ltd. This company produces a bioactive curcumin ingredient called BIOCURCUMIN® (BCM-95®). Another example is the Sabinsa Corporation. This company, based in both India and the United States produces a patented ingredient based on Curcuma longa: Curcumin C3 Complex®.

European processors are strong competitors for Curcuma longa extracts as well. According to industry sources, many European health product manufacturers prefer to buy extracts from European processors to reduce risks regarding product quality. Examples of these processors include Flavex and Naturex.

European processors also develop ingredients based on Curcuma longa with an improved delivery system of curcumin. This means that higher amounts of curcumin are released in the human body, leading to a stronger and quicker effect. An example of this is Meriva® from Italy-based company Indena.

To stand out in the European market you can also certify your company according to social and environmental sustainability standards. Although the total market is small, organic certification can offer opportunities for Curcuma longa producers. Certification options are different for food supplements and herbal medicinal products. Note the following.

• Food supplements: opportunities for certification increase if the product is positioned as a food-type product, rather than as a medicinal-type product. For example, Curcuma longa powder on the European market is often has organic certification.
• Herbal medicinal products may mention certifications on their labels. Sustainable certification will add value if you target a manufacturer that has a philosophy that calls for such certification, such as organic certification. Alternatively, this may also be the case if selling to a company that considers organic an additional measure of quality assurance.
• Fair trade certification can help indicate to your buyers that the production of your ingredient is generating rural income and does not harm local communities. This could in turn improve your buyer’s image.

6. Which channels can you use to put Curcuma longa on the European market for health products?

Market channels

Figure 3: Market channels for Curcuma longa for health

 

Source: ProFound

Importers and distributors are your most important entry point into the European Curcuma longa market (see Figure 2). They can trade in up to 500 natural ingredients, together with other ingredients, synthetic and otherwise. They focus on global sourcing, analysis and quality control, rectification, blending, product documentation and sales to processors and end-product manufacturers.

If you are a small, new exporter, you can work with an agent to represent you on the European market.

Production of further processed or standardised extracts takes place in the United States, Europe and in more developed sourcing countries such as India and China. It may be difficult to produce these further processed extracts yourself, because market entry barriers are a lot higher. See the section on competition for more information.

7. What are the end-market prices for Curcuma longa?

Prices for Curcuma longa strongly depend on the type of product being sold (dried roots/powder or extract) and its curcumin content.

ITC Market Insider has reported prices of $1.85–1.91 (€1.63–1.69) per kilogram for Curcuma longa spice (food-grade powder) on the European market (early 2016). At the same time, the Curcuma longa roots of the Alleppey variety with 5% curcumin fetched $3.31 (€2.92) per kilogram on the American market.

Organic rhizomes can obtain a higher price. For example, a European buyer put prices for these at around €4.35 per kilogram.

The price of Curcuma longa extracts depends on the concentration of curcumin and the how the extract is produced. Industry sources indicated a price of €150 per kilogram for dry Curcuma longa extract.

A 2012 study into the value chain of Curcuma longa indicates that the market price of Curcuma longa increases substantially with additional processing. The research is based on consumer products on the market in the United Kingdom. See the table below for more information.

Table 3: Indicative United Kingdom consumer market prices for Curcuma longa products, prices per kg

	Crude powder	Food-grade powder	Powder capsules	Pharmaceutical grade capsules (often sold as herbal medicinal product)	Capsules/tablets containing extract*	High-potency tablets
Indicative market prices (per kg)	€ 1.43	€ 17	€ 248	€ 285	€ 226	€ 768

Source: ‘Value chains of herbal medicines-Research needs and key challenges in the context of ethnopharmacology’ (2012).

* Source: Amazon.co.uk

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