Seeds ExporterFenugreek Seed exporter — Pakistan origin
Fenugreek seed (Trigonella foenum-graecum, methi) is exported by Kohenoor International in bold and machine-clean grades at 99% purity, HS 091099, in 25 kg or 50 kg bags. A sowing grade with 85% germination and a food-grade sprouting lot with microbial testing are cleaned separately from spice lots.
Pakistani fenugreek is harvested March–April. China takes the largest volume for extraction (diosgenin, galactomannan), the EU and US for spice blends and sprouting, and Australia and Russia for feed and health-food use.
Quick answer
Specification
Standard export specification for fenugreek 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 | Trigonella foenum-graecum |
| HS code | 091099 |
| Varieties / grades | Bold, Machine clean |
| Purity | 99% min |
| Germination | 85% min (sowing grade) |
| Grades | Bold, machine clean, sprouting (food grade), sowing (85% germination) |
| Moisture | 10% max (9% sprouting grade) |
| Admixture / foreign matter | 1% max (0.5% bold) |
| Other crop / weed seed | 0.5% max |
| Immature / shrivelled seed | 2% max |
| Thousand-seed weight | 15–18 g bold (approx. 55,000–65,000 seeds/kg) |
| Colour / appearance | Uniform golden-yellow, hard, no black or green seed |
| Sortex | Yes, all grades |
| Salmonella (25 g) | Absent (sprouting grade, per lot) |
| E. coli O157 (25 g) | Absent (sprouting grade) |
| Aflatoxin | Tested per lot for EU / US |
| Sowing rate | 20–25 kg/ha |
| Packing | 25 kg / 50 kg |
| MOQ | 1 x 20ft |
| Origin | Pakistan (Sindh / Punjab unless stated) |
Varieties and grades
Bold. A larger-seed grade (about 55,000–65,000 seeds per kg) selected on Sortex by size and colour, uniform golden-yellow with no black or green seed, for spice retail packing, whole-seed pickling blends and sprouting. Retail packers in the EU, UK and US choose it for appearance in clear packs.
Machine clean. The standard 99% grade, de-stoned and air-screened, for grinding into curry powders and for extraction of diosgenin, fenugreek gum and saponins in China. It is the volume grade and the lowest priced.
Sprouting (food grade). Bold seed from selected fields cleaned twice to 99.5% purity, 90% germination, untreated, and tested for Salmonella and E. coli O157 on every lot for sprout and microgreen growers in Germany, the Netherlands, France, Poland and the UK. MOQ 1 MT.
Sowing grade. 99% purity, 85% germination, ISTA-format report, for growers in Central Asia and Russia who produce green methi or seed.
Uses by industry
Who buys fenugreek seed from Pakistan and what they do with it.
- Spice grinders and blenders. Whole and ground fenugreek in curry, panch phoron, berbere and pickling blends in the EU, UK, US and Gulf.
- Sprout and microgreen growers. Bitter, fast-cycling sprout line (4–5 days) alongside alfalfa and cress in Germany, the Netherlands, Poland and the UK.
- Extraction industry. Diosgenin (steroid precursor), fenugreek gum (galactomannan) and 4-hydroxyisoleucine extracts in China and India.
- Feed and pet-food. Ruminant feed flavouring and appetite stimulant in Australia and the EU; equine supplements.
- Dietary supplements. Capsules and standardised extracts for blood-sugar and lactation products in the US and EU.
- Sowing. Sowing-grade seed for green-methi and seed growers in Central Asia and Russia.
Quality control and testing
Every lot of fenugreek 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.
Fenugreek spice lots are released on a COA (moisture, admixture, immature seed, colour, aflatoxin and, for EU lots, pesticide residues), while sowing and sprouting lots also get the ISTA purity and germination test; sprouting lots go to the accredited laboratory for Salmonella and E. coli O157 (absent in 25 g) and total aerobic count. Fenugreek seed is prone to bruchid infestation in storage, so lots are inspected for boring and fumigated before bagging where needed.
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 fenugreek seed is 25 kg / 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 720 x 25 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. Fenugreek keeps for 24 months at 10% moisture in a cool, dry, dark store; volatile flavour fades slowly after 12 months, and sprouting-grade germination holds 90% for about 18 months below 15 °C. Keep away from pulses and grain to avoid bruchids.
| Container | Net cargo | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 20ft standard | 18–20 MT | about 720 x 25 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 | 1 MT sprouting grade; 5 MT spice grade | Higher per-kg rate; used for trial lots |
Documents and import compliance
Every container of fenugreek 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 |
| Germany | BVL / 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 |
| Netherlands | NVWA / EU | Phytosanitary certificate; Certificate of origin; EU TRACES CHED-PP; commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading | 22–26 days sea |
| Poland | PIORiN / EU | Phytosanitary certificate; Certificate of origin; EU TRACES CHED-PP; commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading | 24–28 days sea |
| United Kingdom | APHA / DEFRA | Phytosanitary certificate; Certificate of origin; IPAFFS pre-notification; commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading | 22–26 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 |
| Australia | DAFF Biosecurity | Phytosanitary certificate; Certificate of origin; BICON import permit; commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading | 20–28 days sea |
| Russia | Rosselkhoznadzor | Phytosanitary certificate; Certificate of origin; EAEU import permit; commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading | 20–28 days sea |
HS classification. Fenugreek seed as a spice is HS 0910.99 (other spices); fenugreek seed for sowing is classified by some administrations under 1209.91 and for sprouting is treated as seed for sowing in the EU and UK (phytosanitary certificate and CHED-PP / IPAFFS required). Spice-grade entries to the EU use CHED-D; the US importer files FDA prior notice; Australia requires a BICON permit for seed for sowing but not for spice grade; China requires GACC registration. Duty is zero in the EU (GSP+), US and Australia for spice grade.
Season, new crop and availability
Sown October–November, harvested March–April; new-crop seed ships from May after drying, Sortex cleaning and, for sowing grade, a 7-day germination test. Sprouting grades are released once microbial results are back, usually early June.
Chinese extractors contract most of the volume in May–July; EU and US spice buyers spread purchases through the year from prior-crop stock, which is available November–April and stated as such. Reserve new-crop volume by February.
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 fenugreek 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. Bold and sprouting grades are priced above machine-clean because of size selection, double cleaning and (for sprouting) the microbial panel; sowing grade carries the germination test cost. Extraction buyers in China take machine-clean at the lowest rate.
- 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
Spice buyers compare fenugreek with cumin and nigella in the same blends; sprout growers compare it with alfalfa and cress. The table takes the spice view.
| Criterion | Fenugreek Seed | <a href="/products/cumin/">Cumin Seed</a> | <a href="/products/nigella/">Nigella (Kalonji) Seed</a> |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flavour role | Bitter, maple-like, curry base | Warm, earthy, cumin | Pungent, onion-like, bread topping |
| Harvest | Mar–Apr | Mar–Apr | Mar–Apr |
| Purity | 99% (99.5% bold) | 99% (99.5% Sortex) | 99% |
| Moisture std | 10% max | 9% max | 8% max |
| Sprouting grade | Yes, 90% germination | No | No |
| Oil / active | Diosgenin, galactomannan | 2.5–4% volatile oil | 32–38% oil, thymoquinone |
| 20ft load | 18–20 MT | 15–16 MT | 18–20 MT |
Markets served
Kohenoor has shipped fenugreek seed to China, Germany, France, Netherlands, Poland, United Kingdom, United States, Australia, Russia. Demand is led by extraction plants in China, spice grinders and retail packers in the EU, UK and US, sprout growers in Germany, the Netherlands and Poland, and feed manufacturers in Australia. 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 fenugreek 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: fenugreek. 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 difference between bold and machine-clean fenugreek?
Bold is a larger-seed grade (about 55,000–65,000 seeds per kg) selected on Sortex by size and colour for spice and retail packing and for sprouting. Machine-clean is the standard 99% grade for grinding and extraction.
Is Pakistani fenugreek seed suitable for sprouting?
Yes. Sprouting fenugreek is cleaned to 99.5% purity, tested for Salmonella and E. coli O157, certified at 90% germination and supplied untreated in 25 kg bags with a certificate of analysis. It sprouts in 4–5 days and is the bitter line in most EU sprout mixes.
Is fenugreek from Pakistan subject to EU import controls?
Fenugreek seed for sprouting from any third country needs a phytosanitary certificate and CHED-PP pre-notification, and the sprout producer must be approved under Regulation (EU) 210/2013; spice-grade needs CHED-D. We provide the certificate wording required for either channel.
What is the minimum order for fenugreek?
One 20ft container (18–20 MT) for spice and extraction grades. Sprouting grade is available from 1 MT by LCL; sowing grade from 5 MT.
What diosgenin content does Pakistani fenugreek have?
Typically 0.8–1.2% on a dry-seed basis, which is what Chinese extractors buy machine-clean grade for. We report it on request from a third-party laboratory; extractors usually run their own assay on a 1 kg sample before contracting.
Do you test fenugreek for aflatoxin and pesticides?
Yes, per lot for EU, UK and US buyers at an accredited laboratory in Karachi; results go on the certificate of analysis. Sprouting lots additionally carry the Salmonella and E. coli results.
How much fenugreek fits in a 20ft container?
18–20 MT in 25 kg or 50 kg bags loose-stacked, about 16–18 MT palletised. A 40ft carries 26–27 MT before the weight limit.
When is new-crop fenugreek available?
From May after the March–April harvest and Sortex cleaning; sprouting grade from early June once microbial results are back. Prior-crop stock is available November–April, re-tested and stated as such.
Can fenugreek be steam-sterilised for spice buyers?
Yes, through a partner facility for buyers who need reduced microbial counts on spice grade; it adds about 10 days to lead time and is quoted separately. Sprouting grade is never sterilised because it must germinate.
Do you supply sowing-grade fenugreek?
Yes, at 99% purity and 85% germination with an ISTA-format report, mainly to Central Asia and Russia for green-methi and seed production, from 5 MT. Sow at 20–25 kg/ha in October–November at 1–2 cm depth.
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