What is a curcumin from turmeric project report?
A curcumin from turmeric project report is a detailed project report (DPR) for a unit that solvent-extracts dried turmeric and purifies the pigment into 95% curcumin powder. It sets out the process, machinery, turmeric needs, market, project cost, means of finance, five-year projections, DSCR and break-even that a lender checks.
Promoters use it to size the extraction plant and raise a term loan; banks and investors use it to judge whether the unit can repay from its margins.
Also known as: curcumin extraction project report, project report on curcumin from turmeric, curcumin business plan, turmeric extract plant DPR.
What a bank checks in a curcumin from turmeric project report
A curcumin unit lives or dies on what it pays for turmeric and how much pigment it gets out of each kilo. Credit officers look first at the numbers below. These are the values in our sample report.
A report that shows a much lower share is usually assuming cheap turmeric or a high recovery. Banks compare it with mandi prices in the buying season.
The rest is solvent make-up and filter aids. A rise in turmeric price moves profit more than any other cost, so the report should test it.
Turmeric is harvested once a year, so units stock up when prices are low. Stock days drive the cash credit limit, along with 45 days of buyer credit.
Debt service coverage ratio (DSCR) is cash available for loan payments divided by what is due. Lenders look at the weakest year, not only the 1.64 average.
Values are assumptions in our illustrative sample. Your report uses figures for your capacity, turmeric source and buyers.
Curcumin from turmeric manufacturing plant cost in India
The sample report models a unit making 82 kg of curcumin a day, or 24,600 kg a year over 300 working days. It starts at 60% of capacity and reaches 80% in Year 5, selling at ₹4,470 per kg ex-GST.
| Land and site development | 30.77 |
|---|---|
| Building and civil works | 97.26 |
| Plant and machinery | 172.87 |
| Other fixed assets | 22.18 |
| Contingencies | 13.51 |
| Preliminary and pre-operative | 8.41 |
| Working capital margin | 34.13 |
| Total | 379.13 |
| Promoter's contribution (25%) | 94.78 |
|---|---|
| Term loan from bank (75%) | 284.35 |
| Cash credit limit (separate) | 102.38 |
| Total project cost | 379.13 |
Term loan at 10.5% with a 6-month moratorium and 54 monthly instalments. All figures are illustrative.
Curcumin from turmeric manufacturing process
Curcumin is made in two stages: solvent extraction gives turmeric oleoresin, and crystallisation pulls the pigment out of that oleoresin. Some units stop at oleoresin; a curcumin unit carries on to a 95% powder.
- Lot testing
Every lot of dried turmeric fingers is tested for curcumin and moisture before it is bought, because pigment content sets the yield.
- Grinding
Fingers are ground to a coarse powder; too fine a grind packs the extractor bed and slows the solvent.
- Solvent extraction
Ethyl acetate or acetone circulates through the powder in closed stainless steel percolators and dissolves the colour, oil and resins.
- Concentration
The solvent is distilled off under vacuum and condensed for reuse, leaving oleoresin with about 25% to 35% colouring matter.
- Crystallisation
The oleoresin is washed with a selective solvent and cooled until curcuminoid crystals form, which a Nutsche filter separates.
- Vacuum drying
Wet crystals are dried under vacuum until residual solvent falls within the buyer's limit.
- Milling and release
The powder is milled, assayed by HPLC for 95% curcuminoids and packed in lined fibre drums with a batch certificate.
Turmeric and other raw materials for curcumin
Curcumin content varies by variety and region. TNAU lists Erode local at 3.9%, BSR 2 at 4.1% and Salem local at 4.75%, so the same plant can yield noticeably more from one lot than another. Units buy at harvest and test before paying a premium for high-curcumin turmeric.
| Raw material | Share of cost | Year 3 (₹ lakh) |
|---|---|---|
| Dried turmeric fingers (high curcumin grade) | 84% | 339.94 |
| Extraction solvents (make-up) | 11% | 44.52 |
| Filter aid and activated carbon | 5% | 20.23 |
| Total | 100% | 404.69 |
Solvent appears only as make-up, because most of it is recovered and reused. Losses rise fast if condensers are undersized.
Machinery for a curcumin extraction unit
The extractors take the largest share of the machinery budget, followed by the solvent recovery system. Both are built in stainless steel with flameproof motors and wiring, because the solvents are flammable.
| Machine | What it does | Sample cost (₹ lakh) |
|---|---|---|
| Turmeric pulveriser and flaker | Breaks fingers to extraction size | 13.83 |
| Stainless steel percolation extractors | Hold the powder while solvent dissolves the colour | 41.49 |
| Solvent recovery distillation unit | Recovers solvent through condensers for reuse | 31.12 |
| Vacuum evaporator | Concentrates the extract to oleoresin | 20.74 |
| Crystallisation vessels and Nutsche filter | Form and separate curcumin crystals | 20.74 |
| Vacuum tray dryer | Removes residual solvent at low temperature | 13.83 |
| Multi mill and blender | Gives uniform particle size and batch blend | 6.92 |
| Boiler and chilling plant | Steam for distillation, chilled water for condensers | 13.83 |
| Quality control lab with HPLC | Assays curcuminoids and checks residual solvent | 10.37 |
| Total plant and machinery | 172.87 | |
Costs are the sample report's estimates for an 82 kg per day line. Get current quotations before you finalise.
Who buys curcumin made from turmeric
India grew 10.74 lakh tonnes of turmeric in 2023-24 and exported 1.62 lakh tonnes of turmeric and turmeric products worth $226.5 million. These figures come from DD News coverage of the National Turmeric Board, set up at Nizamabad in January 2025. Curcumin units turn part of that crop into a higher-value ingredient.
Most curcumin goes into supplements, where buyers specify the curcuminoid assay, residual solvent and microbial limits. Food companies also use it as a natural yellow colour in place of synthetic dyes. Buyers include:
- Nutraceutical and dietary supplement makers
- Food colour and flavour houses
- Ayurvedic and herbal medicine companies
- Cosmetics and personal care brands
- Exporters and overseas ingredient distributors
Where a small unit wins: large buyers audit suppliers and reorder from those whose batches test the same every time. A unit near Erode, Sangli, Nizamabad or other turmeric markets also saves on freight for the 25 kg or more of turmeric behind each kilo of curcumin.
Licences and standards for curcumin manufacturing
Beyond Udyam, GST, factory and fire approvals, a curcumin unit needs a few product-specific registrations. Requirements vary by state, so confirm them before you order machinery.
| Food safety licence | FSSAI state licence for processing above 100 kg to 2 MT per day; central licence above 2 MT per day or for a 100% export-oriented unit |
|---|---|
| Solvent storage | PESO licence under the Petroleum Rules, 2002, as hexane, acetone and ethyl and methyl alcohol are listed products |
| Product specification | JECFA defines curcumin (INS 100(i)) as solvent-extracted, crystallised turmeric pigment, with an acceptable daily intake of 0–3 mg per kg body weight |
| Pollution board consent | Consent to establish and operate from the State Pollution Control Board; the category depends on the state's list and the solvents handled |
| Exports | Spices Board exporter registration (CRES) is mandatory for spice and spice-product exports; confirm with the Board how your curcumin grade is classed |
Loans and schemes for a curcumin unit
PMEGP
Manufacturing projects up to ₹50 lakhMargin-money subsidy of 15–35%. Fits a pilot or oleoresin-only unit, not a full curcumin plant.
MSME term loan with CGTMSE
Guarantee cover up to ₹10 croreCollateral-free cover for micro and small enterprises since 1 April 2025. Suits a unit the size of our sample.
Cash credit for turmeric stock
₹102.38 lakh in our sampleFunds the turmeric bought at harvest and the 45 days of credit that buyers expect.
Scheme limits change. Confirm current terms with the bank or the scheme portal before applying.
Mistakes that weaken a curcumin project report
- Pricing turmeric at one season's rate
Turmeric prices swing from year to year. A report that uses a single low price overstates profit and should show a price-rise test.
- Using laboratory yields
Bench extractions recover more pigment than a plant does. Base yield on trial batches with the variety you will actually buy.
- Leaving out solvent losses
Every batch loses some solvent through vents, spent turmeric and drying. Make-up solvent is a real running cost.
- Counting on by-product income without buyers
Spent turmeric and leftover oleoresin can be sold, but only if a buyer is lined up. Unbacked by-product revenue weakens the case.
- No budget for testing
Supplement buyers reject lots without HPLC assay and residual solvent results, so the lab belongs in the project cost.
How NPCS helps you set up a curcumin unit
- Product route and capacityDecide between oleoresin only and 95% curcumin, and size the plant to your turmeric supply.
- Machinery and solvent systemCompare extractor and solvent recovery suppliers and get quotations.
- Bank-ready project reportProjections, DSCR and turmeric price tests in the format your lender wants.
- Approvals and layoutPlant layout for flammable solvents, power load and the approvals list for your state.
NPCS has prepared project reports and feasibility studies for spice processing and plant extract units since 1994, for entrepreneurs, banks and companies in India and abroad.
What's inside the curcumin from turmeric sample report
- Introduction
- Uses and applications
- Market potential
- Manufacturing process
- Raw materials
- Plant and machinery
- Land, building and utilities
- Manpower
- Licences and approvals
- Project cost and means of finance
- Working capital
- Projected profitability
- Cash flow statement
- Projected balance sheet
- Depreciation
- Term loan repayment
- Debt service coverage
- Break-even analysis
- Financial ratios
- Key assumptions
- Conclusion
- Monthly loan repayment schedule
19 pages, five-year projections, illustrative figures.
Open sample reportFree sample or a report for your project?
| What you get | Free sample | NPCS report for your project |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity and location | Typical unit | Your capacity, site and state |
| Figures | Illustrative | Built on current prices and quotations |
| Machinery suppliers and quotations | No | Yes |
| Market survey for your region | No | Yes |
| Bank or scheme format (PMEGP, term loan) | No | Yes |
| Use for a loan application | No | Yes |
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Curcumin from Turmeric project report: frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to set up a curcumin extraction plant?
Our sample report models an 82 kg per day curcumin unit at a total project cost of ₹379.13 lakh, of which plant and machinery is ₹172.87 lakh. A smaller unit that stops at turmeric oleoresin costs less, and a larger plant costs more. Land, building and the solvent recovery system move the figure most, so your report prices them for your site.
How much turmeric is needed to make 1 kg of curcumin?
It depends on the curcumin content of the turmeric and how much the plant recovers. Indian varieties typically test about 3% to 5% curcumin. At 4% content and good recovery, a unit needs roughly 25–30 kg of dried turmeric per kg of 95% curcumin. This is indicative; trial batches on your chosen variety give the real figure.
What is the difference between turmeric oleoresin and 95% curcumin?
Turmeric oleoresin is the sticky extract left after the solvent is distilled off; it holds about 25% to 35% colouring matter along with turmeric oil and resins. Curcumin 95% is the crystallised and dried powder separated from that oleoresin. Oleoresin needs less equipment, while curcumin powder needs crystallisation, vacuum drying and HPLC testing.
Which solvents are used to extract curcumin from turmeric?
JECFA, the joint FAO and WHO committee on food additives, lists acetone, methanol, ethanol and isopropanol for curcumin, and ethyl acetate and carbon dioxide were proposed later. Most Indian units use ethyl acetate or acetone for extraction. The solvent you choose sets the residual solvent limits buyers test for and the storage licence you need.
Is curcumin manufacturing profitable?
In our illustrative sample, an 82 kg per day unit earns a net profit of ₹71 lakh on sales of ₹770 lakh in Year 3. Break-even is at 43% of capacity and payback takes about 3.9 years. Real profit depends heavily on the price of turmeric in the buying season, the curcumin content of each lot and sales of by-products.
Can I get a PMEGP loan for a curcumin unit?
PMEGP covers manufacturing projects up to ₹50 lakh, with a margin-money subsidy of 15% to 35% depending on category and location. That fits a small oleoresin or pilot unit. A full curcumin plant like the one in our sample needs an MSME term loan, which can carry CGTMSE guarantee cover for loans up to ₹10 crore.
Is the sample report free and can I use it for a loan?
Yes, the sample is free to view and download as a PDF. It is an illustrative report that shows the format and depth of an NPCS report. Its figures are representative and not based on a real project, so do not submit it to a bank. For a loan, NPCS prepares a report for your capacity, location and scheme.
Sources and references
- Curcumin: Chemical and Technical Assessment (61st JECFA)Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, checked Oct 2026
- JECFA evaluation: CurcuminWorld Health Organization, checked Oct 2026
- Turmeric varietiesTamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU Agritech Portal), checked Oct 2026
- Eligibility and applicability criteria for FSSAI registration and licenceFood Safety and Standards Authority of India, checked Oct 2026
- List of petroleum requiring licencePetroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation, checked Oct 2026
- Frequently asked questions on exporter registrationSpices Board India, checked Oct 2026
- Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP)MSME and Export Promotion Department, Government of Uttar Pradesh, checked Oct 2026
- Credit Guarantee Scheme guidelinesOffice of the Development Commissioner (MSME), checked Oct 2026
- Piyush Goyal launches National Turmeric BoardDD News, Prasar Bharati, checked Oct 2026
The NPCS project team, led by Ajay Kumar Gupta
This page and its sample report are prepared and reviewed by the NPCS project team, which has written techno-economic feasibility studies and detailed project reports since 1994.
Ajay Kumar Gupta founded Niir Project Consultancy Services (NPCS) and leads the organisation. With 40 years of experience in MSME project consulting, he has built the team that has delivered more than 28,000 project reports for clients worldwide, helping entrepreneurs plan and finance profitable manufacturing businesses.
- Published
- Last updated
- Next review
- Oct 2027
- Reviewed by
- NPCS project team
This page is reviewed every 12 months, or sooner when scheme limits, GST rates, BIS rules or pollution categories change. The sample report is illustrative: its figures are generated from industry-typical ratios for a unit of this size, checked so every statement balances, and are not taken from any client project.