India's spice exports have suffered a significant decline of 33% due to the ongoing West Asia conflict and the Russia-Ukraine war, according to data from the Spices Board. This disruption has prevented the shipment of nearly 77,117 tonnes of spices, leading to a foreign exchange deficit of ₹854.37 crore for the 2025-26 fiscal year. In March 2025, India exported 2.34 lakh tonnes of spices, but this fell to 1.57 lakh tonnes in March 2026 amid geopolitical tensions. Karnataka, a major spice-producing state, has seen a 20-30% reduction in black pepper and chilli exports. The Indian government has responded by initiating the RELIEF (Resilience & Logistics Intervention for Export Facilitation) program to assist exporters facing challenges due to increased freight costs and war-related risks. The spice trade, crucial for India's economy, typically involves exporting 17.50 lakh tonnes of spices to over 180 countries.