Export guide
Exporting black pepper from India to the UAE
Price in India (FOB)
$7.08/kg
$7,076 per tonne
Import duty, UAE
0%
Plus 5% Import VAT, reclaimable
Landed in UAE
$7.37/kg
AED 27.06/kg, before VAT
Typical wholesale there
$8.25/kg
Estimate
About the product
India grows black pepper mainly in Kerala and Karnataka and sells it by bulk density (grams per litre); 500 g/l and 550 g/l are the common export grades, and Malabar and Tellicherry are the best-known names.
- Product used for the figures
- Black pepper, whole, 500 g/l
- HS code
- 0904.11 (Indian ITC-HS 09041130)
- Route
- Nhava Sheva (JNPT), India → Jebel Ali, UAE
- Price source
- India wholesale ~$7.15/kg (Tridge, 2026)
Landed cost for 20 tonnes
Packed in 25 kg PP or paper sacks, palletised, shipped as 1 × 40' FCL.
| Cost | Shipment | Per kg |
|---|---|---|
| Goods, FOB Nhava Sheva (JNPT)20 t at about $7.08/kg | $141,512 | $7.08 |
| Sea freight1 × 40' FCL | $3,360 | $0.17 |
| Cargo insurance0.15% of 110% of value | $239 | $0.01 |
| Destination port and clearance | $470 | $0.02 |
| Delivery to the buyer's warehouseIncludes the Gulf disruption surcharge | $1,780 | $0.09 |
| Import duty0%, with or without the India–UAE CEPA certificate | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Landed cost, before VAT | $147,361 | $7.37 |
| Import VAT, 5%Paid at the border; a registered importer can reclaim it | $7,256 | $0.36 |
Estimates in US dollars. Tariffs checked 30 Sep 2026; exchange rates as of 30 Sep 2026. Freight changes weekly, so confirm with your forwarder, and confirm duty with your customs broker.
Documents
- Commercial invoiceHS code, Incoterm, currency and origin stated
- Packing listMarks, numbers, net and gross weights per package
- Bill of lading or air waybill
- Preferential certificate of origin (India–UAE CEPA)Needed to claim the preferential rate
- Cargo insurance certificateRequired under CIF or CIP
- Customs client codeHeld by the importer of record
- Certificate of analysis per batch
- Phytosanitary certificateIssued by the origin plant protection authority
- Lab report: residues, aflatoxin, ethylene oxide, microFrom an ISO/IEC 17025 lab
- Halal certificate where applicable
Before you ship from India
- An Importer-Exporter Code (IEC) from DGFT.
- A Certificate of Registration as Exporter of Spices (CRES) from the Spices Board. It also serves as your registration-cum-membership certificate.
- A lab test of each lot for pesticide residues, aflatoxin, ethylene oxide and microbes, from an ISO/IEC 17025 lab.
- A phytosanitary certificate from the plant quarantine office at the port.
Rules in the UAE
- Customs client registration · UAE customs authorities
Importer needs a trade licence and customs client code in the relevant emirate.
- Food registration and Halal · Dubai Municipality / emirate authorities
Product registration, GSO-based labelling and Halal certification where applicable.
- India–UAE CEPA preferences · UAE Ministry of Economy
Preferential duty with a CEPA certificate of origin.
Common questions
›What is the import duty on black pepper in the UAE?
0%, with or without the India–UAE CEPA certificate on HS 0904.11. Import VAT of 5% is charged on top; a registered importer can normally reclaim it. Confirm the rate with your customs broker before you quote.
›What HS code is used for black pepper?
HS 0904.11 internationally. On Indian export papers the 8-digit ITC-HS code is 09041130.
›Which documents do I need to ship black pepper to the UAE?
Commercial invoice, Packing list, Bill of lading or air waybill, Preferential certificate of origin (India–UAE CEPA), Cargo insurance certificate, Customs client code, plus the documents your buyer's food registration needs. The full list is on this page.
›How much does it cost to land black pepper in the UAE?
For a 20-tonne shipment, about $7.37 per kg delivered to the buyer's warehouse, against about $7.08 per kg FOB India. Freight rates change weekly, so check the live figure in the landed-cost tool.
›Do I need a certificate of origin for the UAE?
Duty on black pepper is already 0%, so a preferential India–UAE CEPA certificate saves no duty. Most buyers still ask for a certificate of origin.
Price your own black pepper shipment
Put in your price, quantity and buyer's terms. The terminal works out landed cost, duty and documents, and makes a quote you can send.