Best Countries for Indian Licorice (Mulethi) Exports: Market Guide
By Saurabh Mittal, Founder, Altus Exports
A market-selection guide for Indian licorice suppliers, comparing demand, buyer expectations, product fit, and route planning across major import markets.

India licorice (mulethi) demand is spread across the USA, EU and UK, UAE and GCC, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and SE Asia. These markets are not interchangeable: an organic retail programme in Europe calls for different evidence than a bulk distributor programme in the Gulf. Use the country demand map to select products before approaching buyers.
The USA is important for ingredient, private-label, and wellness formats; EU and UK buyers commonly value traceability and certified organic pathways. UAE/GCC buyers can combine local demand with regional distribution. Canada suits many premium natural-product programmes. Australia requires a separate food versus complementary-medicine pathway check with counsel before quoting. Japan and South Korea often require disciplined technical specifications. SE Asia offers distributor-led opportunities for practical bulk formats.
Trade numbers need careful wording. HS 1211.10 and 1302.12 are dedicated liquorice headings. WITS CY2024 shows India HS 130212 ≈ USD 176.99K (Nepal, Germany, Spain, Myanmar, Indonesia among top partners) and no India HS 121110 World export rows — re-verify via WITS/Comtrade/DGCI&S on the quote date and never invent SKU-only dollars. Altus supports buyer-market qualification and shipping plans; see how to find licorice (mulethi) buyers for a targeted outreach model.
Key Takeaways
Summary Box
Executive Summary
Summary Box
Market selection for India licorice (mulethi) should start with importer readiness and lawful use pathway, not with the loudest Ayurvedic demand headline.
Corridor planners need to separate USA ingredient programmes, EU organic root powder channels, GCC Halal-ready bulk, Canada premium natural-product lanes, and Australia complementary-medicine versus food pathways.
Rank destinations on landed-cost feasibility and document burden, then pilot one channel with a defined SKU before expanding geography.
Market Size & Industry Overview
Key Statistics
Globally, licorice (mulethi) demand clusters around Ayurvedic ingredient, organic retail, GCC distribution, and technically specified Asian formulation channels across USA, EU/UK, UAE, Canada, Japan, Korea, Australia, and SE Asia.
Corridor attractiveness changes when supplement rules tighten residue panels, or when glycyrrhizin / glabridin claims need method disclosure after heat processing.
Build market maps from importer capability first and trade totals second — never cite HS 130212 as licorice-only.
Export Statistics
Key Statistics
- Cite India HS 130212 ≈ USD 176.99K CY2024 (WITS) as dedicated liquorice-extract context — re-verify grades/SKU demand; do not invent a 121110 India export total (WITS shows no CY2024 World rows).
- Verify the applicable India ITC-HS and destination HTS/TARIC for the exact finished SKU with CHA + importer broker.
- Re-check TradeStat/WITS/Comtrade before quoting figures to a buyer.
Corridor rankings should never lean on HS 130212 parent dollars as if they measured licorice root alone.
Market analysts can use directional partner trade under botanical headings as a prospecting hint, then verify actual licorice (mulethi) importers.
Update market decks with the heading-level trade caution every time CY figures change.
Scan: trade & HS cues (directional — verify on quote date)
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| Metric | Directional position | Buyer note |
|---|---|---|
| Core product | Dried whole/cut licorice root, root powder (churna/mesh), confectionery block/paste, spray-dried extract, glycyrrhizin-standardized extracts, DGL, glabridin cosmetic fractions | Specify *G. glabra* identity, root/stolon plant part, mesh or glycyrrhizin assay in every RFQ |
| Production base | Punjab / sub-Himalayan mulethi cultivation · North India aggregation · Gujarat packing · Hyderabad/Indore extracts (lots may also finish imported roots) | Verify actual processing site and lot origin per COA — India programmes may cultivate and/or process imported roots |
| Dried root and powder (India export cue) | ITC-HS 1211.10 — India eight-digit cue 12111000 (Liquorice roots) | Confirm live ITC-HS with CHA; WITS shows no India 121110 World export rows for CY2024 — do not invent a root-export total from silence |
| Extract classification (India export cue) | HS 1302.12 — India eight-digit cue 13021200 (Liquorice saps and extracts) | Do NOT default Glycyrrhiza extract to residual 1302.19; confirm block/paste/spray-dried form with CHA before shipping bill |
| Trade-data (WITS CY2024) | India HS 130212 exports ≈ USD 176.99K; top partners Nepal, Germany, Spain, Myanmar, Indonesia | Dedicated liquorice extract heading — still reconcile grade/SKU; re-fetch WITS/DGCI&S on quote date |
| Export gateways | Mundra, Nhava Sheva; ICD from Punjab/Haryana/UP; air for samples | Select the named port after factory location and sailing schedule are fixed |
Import Statistics
Key Statistics
- Segment destinations by buyer type and product form.
- Confirm the importer’s local route before shipping.
- Re-verify current partner data.
USA, EU/UK, UAE/GCC, Canada, Japan, Korea, Australia, and SE Asia show distinct licorice (mulethi) import profiles — score them separately.
Landed-cost and residue panels often matter more than headline import interest.
Pilot the highest-fit importer before allocating multi-market inventory.
Scan: market → form → buyer type
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| Market | Demand profile | Typical buyer |
|---|---|---|
| USA | Root powder, organic powder, glycyrrhizin–aware ingredients, and extracts | Ingredient importers, brand owners, private-label packers |
| EU / UK | Traceable root powder and organic programmes; extracts need pathway confirmation | Organic distributors, food brands; extract buyers need pathway confirmation |
| UAE / GCC | Bulk powder and retail-ready programmes with food-safety and Halal documentation | Distributors, re-export traders, retail chains |
| Australia / Canada | Canada: premium powder interest; Australia: food vs complementary-medicine pathway with counsel | Canada natural-product distributors; AU: confirm lawful product route before quoting |
| Japan / South Korea | Consistent fine powders and tightly specified HPLC extracts | Ingredient distributors and formulation companies |
| SE Asia | Accessible bulk powder, block/paste, and dried-root programmes | Wholesalers, distributors, confectionery houses, and regional packers |
How to Rank Destination Markets for Indian Licorice
Score each destination on importer readiness, intended product route, document requirements, testing burden, freight, payment terms, and realistic annual volume. Weight the score differently for powder distributors, finished-goods brands, and extract formulators because they buy and qualify differently.
Pilot the highest-fit markets through qualified buyers with a defined use case. A market is attractive when the buyer can state its specification and route to sale, not simply when its search volume or trade total looks large.
Use the country-by-form demand guide to connect destination research to a sample plan and a prospect list.
Country-wise Opportunities
Market Snapshot
Market ranking belongs here — landed cost, residue burden, payment norms, and importer density.
Australia needs counsel-led pathway checks; Canada often suits premium natural-product powder.
Re-score annually as rules and freight change Use the destination-market guide with the country table for a testable shortlist.
Scan: country → form × cert × channel
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| Market | Product fit | Requirement focus | Opportunity |
|---|---|---|---|
| USA | Organic root powder, glycyrrhizin-standardized lots, ratio/HPLC extracts | Supplier controls, lot COA, product and label review | Large ingredient and private-label base |
| EU / UK | Organic/documented root powder; glycyrrhizin food-limit grades; block/paste for confectionery | Glycyrrhizin labeling/limits, MRLs, contaminants, organic records | Root powder and extract demand strong; confirm form/use pathway with national authority |
| UAE / GCC | Bulk powder, dried root, retail programmes | Food-safety file, Halal where needed, suitable labels, reliable delivery | Regional distribution and re-export |
| Australia / Canada | Canada: organic/premium powder; AU: confirm food vs complementary-medicine route | Canada: organic + label review; Australia: counsel before retail-food assumptions | Premium natural-product and counsel-led AU programmes |
| Japan / South Korea | Fine mesh powder and HPLC extracts | Specification consistency and detailed technical documents | Quality-led ingredient channels |
| SE Asia | Value-oriented bulk root powder and dried root | Practical pack sizes and import-document alignment | Distributor-led regional expansion |
Product Categories / Variants
Summary Box
- Conventional and certified organic root powder.
- Declared mesh and industrial packing options.
- Declared extract formats with transparent analytical basis.
- No unsupported health or therapeutic claims.
Corridor buyers pick forms differently — USA organic powder, EU traceable root powder, GCC bulk, Japan fine mesh, Korea HPLC extracts.
Market teams should shortlist SKUs per destination before sampling.
A single global catalogue without corridor notes creates mismatched expectations. Compare forms via the India licorice (mulethi) product guide.
Scan: SKU catalogue (one row per commercial form)
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| Product | Specification variables | Primary buyer channel |
|---|---|---|
| Dried whole / cut licorice root | Root integrity, moisture, cleaning level, *G. glabra* ID | Ayurvedic, respiratory/throat, digestive ingredient distributors |
| Licorice root powder (churna/mesh) | Mesh grade, colour, moisture, micro profile | Nutraceutical, confectionery-ingredient, formulation buyers |
| Confectionery block / paste / soft extract | Solids %, glycyrrhizin content, flavor profile | Confectionery houses, flavor houses, food manufacturers |
| Steam-sterilized powder | Treatment record, micro release, moisture | Premium brands and retail-adjacent programmes |
| Organic root powder | NPOP/USDA/EU scope, segregation, TC | Organic respiratory/digestive and Ayurvedic programmes |
| 4:1 / 10:1 / 20:1 ratio extract | Ratio, solvent, carrier, assay, solubility | Nutraceutical and formulation buyers |
| ~5% / ~10% / ~20%+ glycyrrhizin HPLC extract | Marker, HPLC method, acceptance band | Respiratory/digestive and confectionery ingredient buyers |
| DGL (deglycyrrhizinated licorice) | Residual glycyrrhizin max, process disclosure | Digestive and gut-health brands |
| Glabridin / cosmetic-grade fraction | Glabridin %, solvent, cosmetic spec | Personal-care and cosmetic-ingredient buyers |
| Private-label respiratory / digestive / confectionery bulk | Pack format, label scope, MOQ | Retail and brand-owner programmes |

Quality Specification Reference
- Write acceptance limits before the first sample leaves India.
- Match COA parameters to the finished lot — not only the approved sample.
- Extracts need residual-solvent and carrier disclosure where applicable.
- Retain a sealed reference sample for destination retest disputes.
Corridor buyers may tighten micro or residue panels — confirm destination methods before locking the matrix.
Do not ship a generic “export quality” label into markets with explicit MRL or supplement-pathway questions for extracts.
Quality specs are market-entry tools as much as factory tools.
Scan: spec checklist (agree limits before sampling)
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| Parameter | Dried root / cut root | Licorice root powder | Extract |
|---|---|---|---|
| Identity | Glycyrrhiza glabra root / stolon (not anise / fennel confusion) | Glycyrrhiza glabra root / stolon | Glycyrrhiza glabra root / stolon; disclose plant part |
| Physical specification | Cut size, colour, moisture, foreign matter | Mesh grade, colour, moisture, flow | Ratio, solubility, carrier, appearance |
| Glycyrrhizin / glabridin / markers | Where claimed — method stated | Where claimed — HPLC method stated | Glycyrrhizin / glabridin % by HPLC; residual solvents for extracts |
| Food-safety testing | Agreed microbiology and contaminants | Agreed microbiology and contaminants | Agreed microbiology, contaminants, residual solvents |
| Contaminants | Heavy metals, pesticides/EtO as agreed | Heavy metals, pesticides/EtO as agreed | Heavy metals, pesticides/EtO, residual solvents |
| Traceability | Farm or collection and batch records | Input-to-batch records | Input, extraction, and batch records |
| Organic status | Certificate where sold as organic | Certificate where sold as organic | Certificate scope and carrier review |
| Lot release | COA matched to packing list | COA matched to packing list | COA matched to drum labels |

Trade Classification and Product Description
Compliance Notes
- India powder/dried root cue: ITC-HS 1211.10 family — eight-digit cue 12111000 (Liquorice roots); extracts 13021200; confirm live lines with CHA.
- India extract cue: HS 1302.12 / often 130212 (assay % is COA, not HS).
- Never invent alternate HS from memory — CHA confirms the finished article against live ITC-HS.
- Destination HTS/TARIC can differ — confirm with the importer's broker; never invent MFN %.
- Reconcile HS language across invoice, packing list, and shipping bill.
Market entry files should pair HS language with duty research per corridor.
Do not quote duty from memory.
Keep Access2Markets/USITC checks dated.
Manufacturing Overview
Export Tip
Destination expectations influence manufacturing tightness — EU residue panels and Japan consistency demands change in-process controls.
Do not run a casual bulk process for a market that will retest metals and pesticides.
Align manufacturing CAPA language to the corridor’s likely audit questions See the licorice export process guide for release-to-booking handoff.

Pricing Analysis
Buyer Tip
Landed-cost comparisons across USA, EU, GCC, and Asia should include freight, duty research, and compliance testing — not only Indian FOB.
Market selection fails when cheap FOB hides expensive residue panels.
Re-quote when destination test scopes expand.
Scan: FOB USD/kg bands (dated quote — lock assay & solvent)
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| Product | Directional FOB band | Commercial driver |
|---|---|---|
| Conventional licorice/mulethi root powder | Low-to-mid single digits to low teens | Mesh, moisture, micro controls, packing, and lot size |
| Organic licorice/mulethi root powder | Mid-teens to mid-twenties+ | Valid NPOP/USDA/EU chain, segregation, and demand timing |
| Dried whole / cut licorice root (G. glabra — disclose species) | Quote by cut size and moisture specification | Visual grade, foreign-matter control, botanical identity |
| Spray-dried / block-paste grade | Premium to solvent-extract mid tiers when contracted | Water process disclosure, residual-solvent N/A or low, documentation |
| ~10% glycyrrhizin HPLC extract | Often ~USD 18–55 depending on assay tier, solvent, and docs | Assay method, solvent system, carrier, WHO-GMP plant |
| ~20%+ glycyrrhizin / DGL / glabridin specialty grades | Mid-tens to USD 55–140+ for premium HPLC / DGL / glabridin lots | Assay tier, DGL residual, glabridin fraction, organic, volume, documentation |
| Confectionery block / paste | Quote by solids % and glycyrrhizin content | Block/paste form, solids, flavor profile, carton/drum MOQ |
| Private-label respiratory / digestive / confectionery bulk | Quote after pack and artwork scope | Packaging conversion, label compliance, and approval lead time |
Shipping Methods
Export Tip
- Match freight to quantity, shelf-life, humidity risk, and receiving plan.
- Inspect and photograph the empty container before stuffing.
- Keep container, seal, and lot identifiers consistent across documents.
- Confirm who files destination entry before offering DAP/DDP.
Corridor service and transit times change landed economics and shelf-life risk.
Rank USA, EU, GCC, Canada, Japan/Korea, Australia, and SE Asia lanes with real sailing data.
Re-validate freight before quoting DAP/DDP.

Certifications
Compliance Notes
Corridor buyers weight certs differently — GCC Halal, EU organic, USA supplier controls, Japan technical depth.
Market packs should attach only relevant certificates.
Australia pathway counsel may request additional manufacturing evidence.
Scan: cert/doc → purpose → who needs it
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| Item | Purpose | Most relevant for |
|---|---|---|
| IEC and AYUSH adjacency | Indian export readiness; Ayurvedic framing where applicable | Exporter supplier file |
| FSSAI licence | Food-business compliance in India | Food and nutraceutical handling |
| AYUSH adjacency | Medicinal-root / Ayurvedic programme participation where eligible | Dried root and selected powder programmes |
| Certificate of Analysis | Lot-specific identity, mesh or ratio, moisture, glycyrrhizin/HPLC where claimed, microbiology, and agreed tests | Every commercial shipment |
| NPOP / USDA / EU organic | Organic chain-of-custody and market claim support | Organic programmes |
| ISO 22000 / HACCP / BRCGS | Food-safety system evidence | Retail, distributor, and processor approval |
| WHO-GMP | Preferred manufacturing signal for extract plants | Extract and formulation buyers |
| Halal / Kosher | Channel-specific compliance | GCC and selected specialist markets |
| Certificate of origin | Origin declaration | When buyer, bank, or destination requests it |

Buyer Requirements
Buyer Requirements
- RFQ: form · mesh/ratio · destination · quantity · pack · Incoterm.
- Specs first: certs and analytical limits before you ask for FOB.
- Methods: agree lab methods and dispute process before the trial ships.
- Labels: approve artwork and document wording before production starts.
Destination requirements differ — do not accept a USA RFQ template for an EU organic programme without edits.
Confirm label language and claim limitations early.
Duty research belongs with the importer’s broker.

MOQ Analysis
Buyer Tip
Corridor MOQ expectations differ — distributors may want larger bag programmes than specialist formulators.
Do not force SE Asia trial buyers into premature FCL commitments.
Match MOQ to warehouse and cash-cycle reality.
Scan: MOQ ladder (commercial practice — not statutory)
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| Stage | Typical quantity | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Sample | 100 g–2 kg | Sensory review, lab testing, and formulation work |
| Powder trial | 100–500 kg | First commercial quality and packing validation |
| Extract trial | 25–100 kg | Formula compatibility and buyer approval |
| Powder wholesale | 1–5 MT+ | Distributor, processor, and recurring bulk demand |
| Extract wholesale | 200 kg–1 MT+ | Established ingredient programmes |
Packaging Standards
Export Tip
Corridor climate matters — GCC heat and humid SE Asia routes need stronger moisture barriers.
Market teams should confirm pallet and label language by destination.
Extract drums for Japan/Korea often need tighter mark discipline.
Scan: pack format → config → use case
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| Format | Configuration | Use case | Control point |
|---|---|---|---|
| Licorice root powder | 20/25 kg food-grade bag with liner or fiber drum | Bulk food and ingredient buyers | Lot code, moisture/heat/light barrier, clean outer pack |
| Dried root / cut root | 20/25 kg food-grade bag with liner | Ayurvedic, confectionery-ingredient, and respiratory/digestive-ingredient channels | Protect root integrity and prevent moisture pickup |
| Extract | 25 kg HDPE drum with double liner | Nutraceutical and ingredient supply | Seal integrity, drum label, and batch traceability |
| Private label | Buyer-approved pouches, jars, or cartons | Retail programmes | Artwork, destination labels, and master-carton plan |

Container Loading Details
Export Tip
Corridor transit times affect desiccant and heat-protection choices.
USA and EU long voyages need stuffing photos for claim defense.
GCC summer sailings need extra heat awareness for glycyrrhizin / glabridin–sensitive lots.
Scan: dispatch mode (density-dependent — no fixed MT)
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| Mode | Use | Planning point |
|---|---|---|
| Courier / air | Samples and urgent approvals | Heat/moisture protection; confirm destination import rules |
| LCL | Trials below container scale | Use palletisation or secure cartons where appropriate |
| 20-foot FCL | Bulk powder or dried-root programmes | Confirm payload after actual pack dimensions and port limits — do not invent fixed MT |
| 40-foot HC FCL | High-volume powder programmes | Cube with forwarder; use stuffing plan and moisture/heat protection |
| Drum shipment | Extract orders | Verify drum count, gross weight, and hazardous-status declaration if applicable |

Sourcing Checklist
Checklist
Market-specific sourcing checks add destination panels — MRLs, Halal, organic equivalence, prior notice.
Do not approve a supplier for all corridors on one EU success story.
Record corridor clearances in the supplier scorecard.
Common Buyer Mistakes
Common Mistakes Box
- Form mix-up: do not treat root powder and HPLC extract as interchangeable commodities.
- Method gap: do not approve samples without a written glycyrrhizin/HPLC lot-release method.
- Late rules: do not add destination requirements after cargo is already produced.
- Scale jump: do not jump to FCL before a sealed sample and trial succeed.
Market mistakes include chasing every geography at once and treating Australia like an automatic retail-food lane.
Ignoring landed-cost and residue burden mis-ranks corridors.
Pilot one pathway with a defined importer first.
Future Market Trends
Key Statistics
Market trends reward corridor specialization and honest heading-level trade footnotes.
GCC re-export and SE Asia distributor growth sit beside USA/EU premium channels.
Australia remains counsel-led for pathway selection.
Challenges & Solutions
Challenge: multi-market distraction — solve with scored corridor pilots.
Challenge: residue panel surprises — solve by freezing destination methods early.
Challenge: freight spikes — solve with dated Incoterm quotes.
Compliance Checklist
Checklist
Compliance Notes
Market compliance differs by corridor — MRLs, supplement rules, Halal, prior notice, and counsel-led AU pathways.
Do not ship one global compliance assumption.
Update matrices when rules change.
Sources
- WITS — India HS 130212 liquorice extract exports by country, 2024
- WITS — India HS 121110 liquorice roots exports by country, 2024
- UN Comtrade Database
- DGCI&S / TradeStat — Indian trade statistics
- DGFT — Directorate General of Foreign Trade (IEC)
- ICEGATE — Indian Customs EDI Gateway
- Ministry of AYUSH
- FSSAI — Food Safety and Standards Authority of India
- NMPB — National Medicinal Plants Board
- Chandigarh Administration — Madhu Yashti / Glycyrrhiza glabra cultivation note
- Apni Kheti — Mulethi farming (Punjab)
- APEDA — NPOP organic certification
- EximGuru — ITC HS 12111000 Liquorice roots
- Indian Business Portal — Dry Licorice / Mulethi (ITC-HSN 121110)
- XIMPEX — HS 13021200 Liquorice extracts (India ITC-HS)
- USITC Harmonized Tariff Schedule
- CBP CROSS — NY K88301 licorice roots HTS 1211.10.0000
- FDA — Dietary Supplements (USA)
- FDA Prior Notice (USA food imports)
- EUR-Lex — Commission Directive 2004/77/EC (glycyrrhizinic acid labelling)
- EUR-Lex — Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 (FIC)
- EU Novel Food status Catalogue
- EU TARIC — customs tariff database
- Access2Markets (EU)
- EU Pesticides Database — MRLs
- TGA — Therapeutic Goods Administration (Australia)
- Health Canada — Natural Health Products
- ITC Trade Map
- ICC — Incoterms rules
Corridor rankings expire; re-pull trade and regulatory sources before committing inventory to a destination.
Pay special attention to live tariff tools and food-authority pages linked below.
Re-verify HS, duties, food-labelling / food-supplement pathways, and lot documents on the quote and shipping-bill dates. WITS CY2024: India HS 130212 ≈ USD 176.99K; India HS 121110 shows no World export rows — re-check DGCI&S/TradeStat and CHA filings before quoting.
US duty planning cues (verify live on USITC HTS): licorice roots HTS 1211.10.0000 General/MFN Free (CBP NY K88301); licorice extract HTS 1302.12.00.00 General/MFN Free on published schedules — Chapter 99 / reciprocal overlays may still apply. Confirm with the importer’s broker.
EU glycyrrhizinic-acid labelling for prepacked confectionery/beverages follows Commission Directive 2004/77/EC / Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 Annex III thresholds — labelling rules, not a single bulk-ingredient maximum. Clickable government and trade references used for this licorice (mulethi) cluster:
Conclusion
Corridor selection should follow pathway fit and landed economics across USA, EU/UK, UAE/GCC, Canada, Japan, Korea, Australia, and SE Asia.
Altus supports market sequencing and qualified outreach without inventing SKU-only dollars from heading totals. Start with our Licorice (Mulethi) sourcing resources for SKU context.
Pilot one channel with a defined SKU and importer Contact Altus Exports with form, quantity, destination, application, certificates, and analytical needs to proceed.
