Seeds ExporterCastor Seed exporter — Pakistan origin
Castor seed (Ricinus communis) is exported by Kohenoor International in bold and hybrid types at 99% purity, HS 120730, in 50 kg bags, as crushing grade for castor-oil mills and as sowing grade with 85% germination for growers. The crop is sown June–August in Sindh and southern Punjab and picked from November to January.
Castor oil (45–50% of the seed) is the source of ricinoleic acid for lubricants, sebacic acid, polyamide-11, biodiesel additives, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. Buyers are crushers in China, India, Germany, the Netherlands, France, Brazil and the US, and seed companies establishing castor in new regions. The seed contains ricin and is handled as a non-food industrial raw material with an MSDS.
Quick answer
Specification
Standard export specification for castor seed, as it appears on the pro forma invoice and the lot report. Custom specifications (higher purity, treated seed, different pack, private label) are quoted on request.
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Ricinus communis |
| HS code | 120730 |
| Varieties / grades | Bold, Hybrid |
| Purity | 99% min |
| Germination | 85% min (sowing grade) |
| Types | Bold (open-pollinated), hybrid (F1, sowing grade) |
| Moisture | 8% max |
| Oil content | 45–50% (dry basis) |
| Admixture / foreign matter | 1% max |
| Immature / damaged seed | 2% max |
| Other crop / weed seed (sowing grade) | 0.5% max |
| Thousand-seed weight | 250–350 g bold (approx. 3,000–4,000 seeds/kg) |
| Colour / appearance | Mottled brown-grey, bold, no cracked hulls |
| Free fatty acid (oil) | 2% max |
| Bulk density | approx. 0.55 kg/litre |
| Germination (sowing grade) | 85% min, ISTA-format report |
| Ricin / toxicity | Toxic; industrial use only, MSDS and handling note supplied |
| Sowing rate | 10–15 kg/ha |
| Packing | 50 kg |
| MOQ | 1 x 20ft |
| Origin | Pakistan (Sindh / Punjab unless stated) |
Varieties and grades
Bold. Large-seeded open-pollinated castor (250–350 g per 1,000 seeds) from Sindh and southern Punjab, harvested in two or three pickings, dehulled by machine and cleaned to 99% purity. Crushers choose it for oil content (45–50%) and low FFA; it is the volume crushing grade shipped in 50 kg bags to China, India and Europe. The same bold seed can be supplied as sowing grade with an 85% germination test for growers who want an open-pollinated type.
Hybrid. F1 castor hybrids for sowing, earlier and more uniform than bold types with a first picking at 120–150 days and a stronger yield response to irrigation; supplied as sowing grade only, 99% purity, 85% germination, with an ISTA-format report and variety identity. Fresh seed is needed each season. Seed companies and growers in Brazil, Mexico, the US and East Africa establishing castor buy hybrid seed.
Both types are declared as industrial oilseed on all documents; castor is never offered as food or feed.
Uses by industry
Who buys castor seed from Pakistan and what they do with it.
- Castor-oil crushers. Crushing grade for cold-pressed and solvent-extracted castor oil in China, India, Germany, the Netherlands, France and Brazil; sold on oil content and FFA.
- Oleochemical producers. Oil for ricinoleic acid, sebacic acid, 12-hydroxystearic acid, polyamide-11 and bio-based polyols.
- Lubricant and biofuel formulators. Castor oil as a base for greases, hydraulic fluids and biodiesel additives.
- Cosmetic and pharmaceutical manufacturers. Refined and hydrogenated castor oil for lipsticks, creams, laxatives and excipients; from the crusher, not from raw seed.
- Seed companies and growers. Sowing-grade bold and hybrid seed for new castor programmes in Brazil, Mexico, the US and East Africa.
- Not supplied. Food, feed or any use of raw seed or untreated cake for animals; castor cake is toxic unless detoxified.
Quality control and testing
Every lot of castor seed offered for export is tested in Kohenoor's own laboratory in Hyderabad to the ISTA International Rules: a submitted sample of at least 1 kg drawn with a stick trier from a minimum of 10% of bags, purity analysis by species on a working sample (pure seed, other crop seed, weed seed and inert matter by weight), germination on 4 x 100 seeds in a controlled chamber for the prescribed period, moisture by the oven method and a thousand-seed weight. Forage legumes and small-seeded grasses also get a separate 500 g count for dodder (Cuscuta spp.) and other quarantine weed seed, which is the item most import permits ask about. Results go on an ISTA-format report with the lot number that appears on the bag labels, packing list and phytosanitary certificate.
Before the lab sees the lot it has been through air-screen cleaning, a gravity table and Buhler Sortex optical sorting, which removes off-colour, immature and weed seed that sieving cannot. A lot that misses the specification is re-sorted or dropped from export; it is never blended up. Prior-crop lots are re-tested before dispatch and no container leaves on a report older than 90 days.
Crushing-grade castor is released on a COA covering moisture, admixture, immature and damaged seed, oil content by Soxhlet and FFA; sowing grade also gets the ISTA purity and germination test (14 days at 20/30 °C) and a variety grow-out for hybrids. Every shipment carries an MSDS and a ricin handling note: seed dust and cracked seed are a toxic and allergenic hazard, so bags are lined and sewn closed, the cleaning line is dedicated, and staff use respiratory protection. Buyers must not use raw seed or untreated cake as feed.
How to verify on arrival. Draw a composite sample from at least 10 bags with a trier, seal and label it with the lot number, and test within 14 days at your NPPO or any ISTA-accredited station. Compare against the report using the ISTA tolerance tables (about 6 percentage points between two 400-seed germination tests at the 85% level, 0.5–1.0 points for purity at 99%). If a result falls outside tolerance, send the report and the sealed bag labels within 30 days; we re-test the 1 kg reference sample we keep from every lot for 12 months and settle any confirmed difference by price adjustment or replacement.
Packing, loading and shipping
Standard packing for castor seed is 50 kg, in woven polypropylene bags with an inner polyethylene liner. Each pack is printed or labelled with product, variety or grade, lot number, net weight, origin (Pakistan), exporter and any text the importing country's labelling rules require, and closed with a sewn tear-off tag. Private-label printing is available with artwork two weeks before loading.
A 20ft container carries about 18–20 MT (about 360 x 50 kg per 20ft) loose-stacked on a kraft-paper floor in a brick pattern with a cardboard door wall; a 40ft carries about 26–27 MT. Palletised loads on ISPM 15 heat-treated pallets take roughly 10% less and are used for Europe, East Asia, North America and Australia where the container is unloaded by forklift. Desiccant bags are added for humid destinations on request. Every stuffing is photographed from empty box to applied seal and the photos go to the buyer the same day with the packing list. Full figures for every product are in the container loading guide.
Storage and shelf life. Castor seed keeps oil quality (FFA below 2%) for 12 months at 8% moisture in a cool, dry store; sowing grade holds 85% germination for 12–18 months. Store away from food and feed, keep bags closed to contain dust, and fumigate on arrival in humid climates.
| Container | Net cargo | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 20ft standard | 18–20 MT | about 360 x 50 kg per 20ft; loose on kraft-paper floor |
| 40ft / 40ft HC | 26–27 MT | Weight-limited on dense seed; volume-limited on light seed |
| Palletised (any size) | ≈ 10% less | ISPM 15 pallets, shrink-wrapped and strapped |
| LCL / air | 5 MT LCL | Higher per-kg rate; used for trial lots |
Documents and import compliance
Every container of castor seed leaves with the phytosanitary certificate from the Department of Plant Protection (DPP) Karachi carrying the importer's additional-declaration wording, a certificate of origin from the Hyderabad Chamber of Commerce, the ISTA-format purity and germination report, commercial invoice, packing list and bill of lading, plus a fumigation certificate and pre-shipment inspection report where the destination requires them. The table lists what the main destinations for this product ask for; the documents guide explains each certificate and the import guide shows the sequence.
| Country | Authority | Documents required | Transit from Karachi |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | GACC | Phytosanitary certificate; Certificate of origin; GACC registration; commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading | 18–24 days sea |
| India | PPQS | Phytosanitary certificate; Certificate of origin; Import permit (PQ Order); commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading | 3–6 days sea |
| Germany | BVL / EU | Phytosanitary certificate; Certificate of origin; EU TRACES CHED-PP; commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading | 22–26 days sea |
| Netherlands | NVWA / EU | Phytosanitary certificate; Certificate of origin; EU TRACES CHED-PP; commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading | 22–26 days sea |
| France | DGAL / EU | Phytosanitary certificate; Certificate of origin; EU TRACES CHED-PP; commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading | 20–25 days sea |
| Brazil | MAPA Brazil | Phytosanitary certificate; Certificate of origin; Import permit; commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading | 35–45 days sea |
| United States | USDA APHIS | Phytosanitary certificate; Certificate of origin; APHIS import permit where required; commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading | 30–40 days sea |
HS classification. Castor oil seeds are HS 1207.30. Castor is an industrial oilseed, not a food, so the document set is COA, MSDS, phytosanitary certificate, certificate of origin, invoice, packing list and bill of lading; sowing grade adds the ISTA-format report. China requires GACC registration of the exporter; India a PQ Order import permit; Brazil (MAPA) and the US (USDA APHIS) an import permit or declaration for seed for sowing; the EU and UK clear crushing grade on the phytosanitary certificate and COA. Duty is zero or low in all listed markets. Ricin is a Schedule 1 chemical under the Chemical Weapons Convention, but whole castor seed is not controlled; carriers may ask for the MSDS.
Castor seed is toxic and allergenic. The importer should handle bags in a ventilated area, avoid crushing seed outside a proper mill, and never use raw seed or untreated cake as animal feed. Our MSDS and handling note describe first-aid and spill measures; a fumigation certificate is supplied where requested.
Season, new crop and availability
Sown June–August with the monsoon in Sindh and southern Punjab; first picking at 120–150 days, so harvest runs November–January in two or three pickings. New-crop crushing grade ships from January after dehulling, cleaning and oil analysis; sowing grade from February after the 14-day germination test.
Crushers in China and India contract most volume January–March; European crushers buy through the year. Growers in Brazil and Mexico sowing in October–December order by July from re-tested prior-crop sowing grade, which is available April–December. Reserve new-crop volume by October.
The availability calendar shows every product month by month, and prior-crop lots are always described as such on the pro forma.
Price factors and how to get today's rate
Kohenoor does not publish a price for castor seed because a price is only meaningful for a specific lot, grade, pack, quantity and date. A firm FOB Karachi or CIF quote in USD per kg or per MT comes back within 24 hours of an enquiry and is held for 7–14 days. What moves the number, in order of size:
- Crop year and timing. Pre-harvest bookings are fixed and usually lowest; spot prices rise in a short crop or when prior-crop stock runs down before new crop. Difference between the two can be 15–20%.
- Grade and purity. Crushing grade follows the international castor-oil market (driven by Indian production and oleochemical demand) and is priced on oil content; sowing grade, especially hybrid seed with variety identity and a germination test, is priced separately and well above crushing grade. Fumigation and the oil analysis are itemised.
- Packing. 25 kg loose bags are the base; 50 kg is slightly cheaper per kg; 10 kg, cartons, private label and palletising add 2–8%.
- Quantity. Each additional container in one contract is priced 2–5% lower; LCL lots cost 20–40% more per kg because inspection, documents and handling are the same for 2 MT as for 20 MT.
- Incoterm. FOB Karachi is the base; CIF adds freight and insurance at the current line rate for your port; road delivery to Afghanistan, Iran and Central Asia is priced per truck.
- Tests and treatment. Third-party COA, residue or aflatoxin panels, SGS inspection, fumigation and seed treatment are itemised at cost.
Samples. 200 g to 1 kg from the offered lot is free against courier charges (typically USD 40–90) and goes out with the current report. Larger trial lots are invoiced at the container rate. The full logic, MOQ table and sample policy are on seed prices and MOQ.
How this compares
Oil mills and growers compare castor with sesame and nigella, the two other oilseeds we export. Castor is the only industrial (inedible) oilseed of the three and has the highest oil content after sesame.
| Criterion | Castor Seed | <a href="/products/sesame/">Sesame Seed</a> | <a href="/products/nigella/">Nigella (Kalonji) Seed</a> |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oil content | 45–50% | 50–52% | 32–38% |
| Edible | No (industrial; ricin) | Yes | Yes |
| Main use | Castor oil, ricinoleic acid, polymers | Oil, tahini, bakery | Spice, black seed oil, supplements |
| Sowing grade | Yes, 85% germination | No | On request |
| Moisture std | 8% max | 6% max | 8% max |
| Harvest | Nov–Jan | Oct–Nov | Mar–Apr |
| HS | 120730 | 120740 | 120799 |
Markets served
Kohenoor has shipped castor seed to China, India, Germany, Netherlands, France, Brazil, United States. Demand comes from castor-oil crushers in China, India, Germany, the Netherlands, France and Brazil serving the oleochemical, lubricant and cosmetic industries, and from seed companies establishing castor in Brazil, Mexico and the US. Each destination has its own permit and phytosanitary wording; the country pages under markets summarise them and we prepare the certificate to match before DPP inspection.
Specialist site and further reading
Detailed agronomy, variety trials and technical downloads for castor seed are published on our specialist site herbnseed.com. Variety-level agronomy (sowing rate, cutting schedule, seed standards, trial data) is on our reference site worldseed.net: castor. For pricing, MOQ and shipping use the quote form on this page; the lab and sorting line are described on the quality page, and all 28 lines are listed under products.
Frequently asked questions
What is the oil content of Pakistani castor seed?
45–50% on a dry basis by Soxhlet, with FFA below 2% in fresh, properly dried seed. Oil content and FFA are reported on the certificate of analysis for every crushing-grade lot.
What is the shelf life of castor seed?
12 months for crushing grade at 8% moisture in a cool, dry store before FFA rises; 12–18 months for sowing grade holding 85% germination. Store away from food and feed and keep bags closed to contain dust.
Is castor seed dangerous to handle?
The seed contains ricin and is toxic if ingested and allergenic as dust. It is safe to handle in sealed 50 kg bags with normal precautions; an MSDS and handling note accompany every shipment, and raw seed or untreated cake must never be used as feed.
Do you supply castor seed for sowing?
Yes. Bold (open-pollinated) and hybrid (F1) sowing grade at 99% purity and 85% germination with an ISTA-format report and variety identity, mainly to growers and seed companies in Brazil, Mexico, the US and East Africa. Hybrid seed must be bought fresh each season.
Which HS code applies to castor seed?
1207.30 (castor oil seeds) for both crushing and sowing grade. Castor oil is 1515.30 and castor cake 2306.90; we export the seed only.
How much castor seed fits in a 20ft container?
18–20 MT in 50 kg bags (360–400 bags) loose-stacked; 16–18 MT palletised. A 40ft carries 26–27 MT before the weight limit.
When is new-crop castor seed available?
Crushing grade from January after the November–January pickings, dehulling and oil analysis; sowing grade from February after the 14-day germination test. Prior-crop sowing grade is available April–December, re-tested.
Is castor seed regulated as a chemical-weapons precursor?
Ricin is a Schedule 1 chemical under the Chemical Weapons Convention, but whole castor seed is a normal agricultural commodity traded worldwide and is not controlled. Carriers and some customs administrations ask for the MSDS, which we supply.
What sowing rate and season do you recommend for castor?
10–15 kg/ha of bold seed (8–10 kg/ha hybrid) in rows 90–120 cm apart at 5–8 cm depth into warm soil after the onset of rains or with irrigation; first picking at 120–150 days. Castor tolerates drought once established but not waterlogging.
Does China require anything special for castor seed?
GACC registration of the exporter, which Kohenoor holds, plus the phytosanitary certificate, certificate of origin (Pakistan–China FTA format on request), COA, packing list, invoice and bill of lading. Transit to Qingdao or Tianjin is 18–24 days.
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