Madagascar exported more cloves in 2021 (source: FAO) than Indonesia, which nevertheless remains the world's leading producer with 74% of world production, compared to 13% for Madagascar (2nd largest producer). Indonesia consumes around 90% of its own clove production, notably for the manufacture of a local cigarette called kretek. Madagascar, for its part, exports between 30% and 50% of the world's cloves, mainly to India, Singapore and Indonesia.
Cloves are a spice used worldwide for their aroma and culinary and medicinal properties. Cloves are an important crop for the Malagasy economy and represent a source of income for many small farmers.
In Madagascar, nearly 18,000 producers make a living from this sector. They cultivate cloves on more than 70,000 hectares of land spread over the east coast of the island.
