Africa’s Spices Belong on the Global Shelf

How often have you wished that decadent Ethiopian berbere you used for that rich stew, or the Nigerian suya spice that transformed your meal were right within arm’s reach? Well, you’re not alone!

Africa is home to a vibrant array of unique, high-demand spices that elevate culinary experiences around the world.  With rising demand for authentic, organic, and ethically sourced spices, Africa has the potential to become a major supplier but unlocking this requires investment in sourcing networks, quality control, processing, and export infrastructure. 

The Untapped Spice Economy

Africa’s spices are both culturally significant and commercially valuable yet virtually untapped. The continent offers a wealth of indigenous botanicals and spice blends that are organic by default, cultivated using traditional, sustainable practices and deeply tied to local identities and cuisines.

According to the FAO, global spice exports have tripled in value since the early 2000s, driven by changing diets, health-conscious consumers, and rising interest in ethnic cuisines. Yet African countries like Nigeria, Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Madagascar, which grow high-demand spices, remain largely excluded from premium markets due to limited processing capacity, fragmented supply chains, and inconsistent quality standards.

Here is the global market landscape in 2025:

Figure 1. Spices Global Market Report 2025, The Business Research Company

Why Now? The Global Tailwinds

Africa is well-positioned to meet the new demands of spice buyers worldwide. Trends that work in the continent’s favor include:

• +30% growth in demand for organic spices in North America and Europe over the past five years (Statista, 2023)
• Consumers seeking origin stories: People now want to know where their ingredients come from and who grows them
• The rise of health-conscious eating: Many African spices, such as moringa, turmeric, and cayenne, are tied to wellness
• Digital trade and e-commerce: Platforms are opening direct access between smallholder producers and global buyers

The Infrastructure Gap

Unlocking Africa’s spice potential requires more than just cultivation. It demands:

• Efficient and ethical sourcing networks
• Food-safe processing and packaging facilities
• Traceability and certifications for export (e.g., USDA Organic, EU Organic)
• Market linkages with distributors, retailers, and direct-to-consumer brands
• Right now, most African spices are exported as raw or semi-processed products, losing out on the value-added stages where margins and jobs are highest.
  
  

For example, vanilla beans from Madagascar (which supplies 80% of the world’s vanilla) are often sold to foreign processors who earn up to 10x the farmgate price once they extract and bottle the vanilla. The same applies to cloves, ginger, and turmeric across the continent.

Impact at the center of Africa’s spice market

At Oxano Capital, we see African spices as more than ingredients. They are vehicles of heritage, empowerment, and economic transformation.

The E and S in spice do bring a meaning in the Africa market. We believe that investing in this sector offers triple returns:

1. E - Economic and environmental impact – tapping into a $20B+ market with strong growth potential and scaling regenerative agriculture through traditional practices
2. S- Social impact– supporting smallholder farmers, many of whom are women

There is no doubt the spice sector in Africa can bring positive social and environemntal impact across various fronts and will rippling effects of driving local economy and inclusive prosperity.  

Let’s Get African Spices on Every Shelf

At Oxano Capital, we see African spices as more than ingredients. They’re an opportunity to build sustainable, value-added export industries rooted in local knowledge and global demand.

Let’s turn Africa’s culinary heritage into a global economic force. If you are working to scale Africa’s spice potential, get in touch!