Monthly Market Newsletter: November 2026

Santa Maura Spice & Chiles

Wholesale importer · Los Angeles

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Burlap sack of whole cumin seed with a steel scoop, a bowl of star anise, bay leaves, thyme, guajillo and chile de árbol on a warehouse table

Monthly Market Newsletter · November 2026

Cumin is climbing. Freight is easing.

Cumin and star anise are tightening into the new year. Freight to Los Angeles is coming down. Book your first-quarter cover now.

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Add products to your quote list as you browse and send it in one request. We quote at the day’s market price.

Market notes

India chile crop down. 2026 output fell about 40%. Cold-storage stocks are 40–50% below last year. Cumin is up about 15% in two weeks. Indian chiles and cumin expected firm into 2027. (Indian crop report, Oct 12, 2026)

China garlic crop down. Traders report China’s 2026 harvest about 30% smaller than last year. Prices are firmer than a year ago. Argentina’s new crop is the next thing to watch. (Garlic trade report, Oct 20, 2026)

Vietnam cinnamon season closed. The autumn cinnamon and star anise harvest is finished. Next crop April 2027. Exporters expect higher prices. (Exporter notice, Oct 29, 2026)

Rupee near a record low. The Indian rupee closed at 95.26 to the dollar on Oct 29, close to its May record of 96.97. A weak rupee lowers the dollar cost of Indian spices. (Business Recorder, Oct 29; BusinessToday, Oct 8, 2026)

Freight easing. Shanghai–Los Angeles down 6% to $7,514 per 40-ft container. Drewry expects transpacific rates to keep falling. (Drewry World Container Index, Oct 29, 2026)

Book before prices firm
Cumin seed, ground cumin and star anise. Cumin is up about 15% in two weeks. No new star anise until April.
See all herbs and spices →
The Thanksgiving kitchen
Thyme, bay leaves and celery seed for turkey, stuffing and gravy. Whole or ground, 50 lb minimum.
See more for American kitchens →
Pozole and menudo for the holidays
Guajillo, chile de árbol and menudo seasoning for Christmas pozole and New Year’s menudo.
See all Mexican chiles and spices →
A heat chart your customers can use
Every chile we carry, ranked by Scoville heat. Share the link with your kitchen and your customers.
Open the Chile Heat Index →
Request a quote

Wholesale only, minimum 50 lb per product, priced at the day’s market cost. Quotes are valid for 14 days and are FOB our Los Angeles warehouse. Collect from our dock at 746 Merchant St, Los Angeles, Monday to Friday 7am–3pm, or send your own freight carrier. If you need delivery outside Los Angeles, let us know and we can obtain freight quotes.

Santa Maura Spice and Garlic Co., Inc.
747 S. Central Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90021 · (213) 489-9018 · info@santamauraspice.com
SQF & GMP/HACCP certified · Kosher (MK Pareve) · ASTA member