Seeds ExporterGuar Seed exporter — Pakistan origin
Guar seed (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba) for sowing is exported under HS 071340 in the KN17 and GumMaster varieties at 99% purity and 85% germination, 25 kg bags. Pakistan is the world's second guar producer after India, and Kohenoor supplies both sowing seed to new guar programmes in Argentina, Brazil, Mexico and the United States and raw guar for gum processing in China and India (guar gum itself is HS 130232).
Guar tolerates drought and heat, fixes nitrogen and gives a cash crop where cotton or sorghum are marginal. The specialist site guarseed.com covers agronomy and gum yields.
Quick answer
Specification
Standard export specification for guar 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 | Cyamopsis tetragonoloba |
| HS code | 071340 |
| Varieties / grades | KN17, GumMaster |
| Purity | 99% min |
| Germination | 85% min |
| Varieties | KN17 (single-stem, early), GumMaster (high gum content) |
| Moisture | 10% max |
| Inert matter | 1% max |
| Other crop seed | 0.5% max |
| Weed seed | 0.5% max |
| Thousand-seed weight | 28–33 g (approx. 30,000–35,000 seeds/kg) |
| Colour / appearance | Light grey to pinkish, bold, uniform |
| Damaged / split seed (sowing grade) | 1% max |
| Gum content (endosperm) | 28–32% typical |
| Sowing rate | 15–20 kg/ha |
| Days to maturity | 90–110 |
| Seed treatment | Untreated; Rhizobium on request |
| Packing | 25 kg |
| MOQ | 1 x 20ft |
| Origin | Pakistan (Sindh / Punjab unless stated) |
Varieties and grades
KN17. A Kohenoor-bred single-stem, upright, early-maturing guar (90–100 days) with pods set high and evenly along the stem, which is what a combine needs. Buyers in Texas, Oklahoma, Sonora and the Argentine Chaco choose it for mechanised production and for its shorter season where the first frost comes early. Gum content is 28–30%.
GumMaster. A branching, slightly later type (100–110 days) selected for maximum galactomannan: 30–32% endosperm gum with high viscosity. It suits hand or two-stage harvesting and irrigated fields in Brazil, Mexico and India where the season is long enough, and gum mills pay a premium for it as raw material.
Raw guar for processing. Whole guar or splits graded on colour, damage and gum content without a germination test, sold to gum mills in China, India and Brazil. Ask for the processing specification; it ships under the same HS heading but with a COA instead of the ISTA-format report.
Uses by industry
Who buys guar seed from Pakistan and what they do with it.
- Guar gum programmes. Sowing seed for growers contracted to gum processors serving oil-and-gas drilling fluids in the United States, Argentina and Brazil.
- Gum mills. Raw guar and splits for galactomannan extraction in China, India and Brazil; food-grade gum for dairy, bakery and pet food.
- Seed companies and distributors. Variety-identified seed for multiplication in Mexico, Argentina and Brazil under distribution agreements.
- Dryland farmers. Cash crop and nitrogen-fixing rotation partner for cotton and sorghum in semi-arid zones.
- Feed manufacturers. Guar meal and churi, the protein by-products of gum milling, for cattle and poultry rations.
- Vegetable growers. Cluster-bean pods as a fresh vegetable in South Asian and diaspora markets.
Quality control and testing
Every lot of guar 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.
For guar the laboratory adds a split-and-damage count and a hardness check because cracked seed coats lower emergence, and, for processing lots, a gum-content estimate by endosperm yield. A grow-out of 400 seedlings confirms variety identity on KN17 and GumMaster foundation lots. Guar is not a host for the quarantine pests most permits name, but the phytosanitary certificate carries whatever declaration the importer's permit requests.
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 guar seed is 25 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. Guar seed at 10% moisture keeps 85% germination for 18–24 months in dry storage below 25 °C. It is hard-coated and tolerant of transit heat but must be kept away from pulses and grain stores to avoid bruchid infestation; fumigate the container for humid destinations.
| 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 | 5 MT LCL | Higher per-kg rate; used for trial lots |
Documents and import compliance
Every container of guar 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Argentina | SENASA | Phytosanitary certificate; Certificate of origin; SENASA import authorisation; commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading | 35–45 days sea |
| Brazil | MAPA Brazil | Phytosanitary certificate; Certificate of origin; Import permit; commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading | 35–45 days sea |
| Mexico | SENASICA | Phytosanitary certificate; Certificate of origin; Import permit; commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading | 30–40 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 |
| 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 |
HS classification. Guar seed is classified under HS 0713.40 (dried leguminous vegetables, guar seeds) whether for sowing or for processing; guar gum and splits processed into gum are HS 1302.32. Argentina (SENASA), Brazil (MAPA) and Mexico (SENASICA) require an import authorisation before shipment; the United States accepts cleaned seed under USDA APHIS small-lot seed rules with a phytosanitary certificate, and China requires GACC registration of the exporter. Duty on guar is zero in the US and low in most other markets; confirm the sowing versus processing declaration with your broker.
Season, new crop and availability
Sown March–July with the monsoon, harvested September–November. New-crop seed ships from November after threshing, Sortex cleaning and a 10-day germination test. Latin American buyers sowing in October–December order by July so that seed arrives after 35–45 days at sea; US and Mexican growers sowing in May–June order by January for March loading.
Prior-crop seed is available May–October, re-tested. Processing guar is available year-round from stock and priced on the gum market rather than the seed calendar.
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 guar 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. Sowing grade (99% / 85%, variety-identified, Sortex-cleaned) is priced above processing grade; foundation-grade lots with field-inspection records cost more again. Processing guar follows the international gum market, which moves with oil-and-gas drilling activity rather than the seed crop.
- 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
Growers looking at guar as a summer legume compare it with sesbania (nitrogen, no cash crop) and with sesame (oilseed cash crop on similar soils). Guar is the only one with an industrial gum market.
| Criterion | Guar Seed | <a href="/products/sesbania/">Sesbania Seed</a> | <a href="/products/sesame/">Sesame Seed</a> |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Gum cash crop + N fixation | Green manure / reclamation | Edible oilseed cash crop |
| Season | 90–110 days, summer | 45–60 days to incorporation | 90–110 days, summer |
| Water need | 300–400 mm or 2 irrigations | Tolerates waterlogging | 400–500 mm |
| Sowing rate | 15–20 kg/ha | 30–40 kg/ha | 4–5 kg/ha |
| Germination std | 85% | 90% | Not tested (edible) |
| Main buyers | Americas, China, India | Egypt, Vietnam, Taiwan, Korea | China, Japan, EU, Türkiye |
| HS | 071340 | 120999 | 120740 |
Markets served
Kohenoor has shipped guar seed to Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, United States, China, India. Demand comes from gum-processor contract programmes in the United States, Argentina, Brazil and Mexico, gum mills in China and India, and seed distributors establishing guar in new dryland regions. 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 guar seed are published on our specialist site guarseed.com. Variety-level agronomy (sowing rate, cutting schedule, seed standards, trial data) is on our reference site worldseed.net: guar kn17, guar gummaster. 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
Is your guar seed for sowing or for gum processing?
Both. Sowing seed is cleaned to 99% purity with a germination certificate and variety identity; processing guar is graded on split quality and gum content without a germination test. State the use on the quote form; HS 071340 applies to both, guar gum is 130232.
Which guar variety is best for machine harvesting?
KN17: single-stem, upright, early-maturing, with pods set high on the stem for a combine. GumMaster branches more and gives higher gum content but suits hand or two-stage harvesting.
Can guar be grown outside South Asia?
Yes. Guar is grown commercially in Texas, Oklahoma, north-east Brazil, the Chaco (Argentina) and Sonora (Mexico). It needs 90–110 frost-free days, a hot summer and 300–400 mm of rain or two irrigations on well-drained soil.
Do you supply guar to the United States?
Yes, with a USDA APHIS-compliant phytosanitary certificate. Cleaned guar seed enters under the standard seed rules; an APHIS import permit is not needed for cleaned seed, but the buyer should confirm with their broker, and the Federal Seed Act labelling applies at resale.
What gum content does Pakistani guar have?
28–30% endosperm gum for KN17 and 30–32% for GumMaster, measured as endosperm yield. Viscosity depends on the season; gum mills usually test a 1 kg sample before contracting a processing lot.
What sowing rate and spacing do you recommend?
15–20 kg/ha in rows 45–60 cm apart at 3–4 cm depth into warm soil (above 20 °C); 20–25 kg/ha broadcast. Rhizobium inoculation helps on fields with no guar history.
How long does guar seed store?
18–24 months at 10% moisture in a dry store below 25 °C with germination staying at or above 85%. Keep it away from pulses and grain to avoid bruchids and fumigate on arrival in humid climates.
How much guar seed fits in a 20ft container?
18–20 MT in 25 kg bags (720–800 bags) loose-stacked; 16–18 MT palletised. A 40ft carries 26–27 MT.
When should Latin American buyers order guar seed?
By July for August–September loading. New crop is available from November, but the 35–45 day transit to Santos, Buenos Aires or Manzanillo means October–December sowings are served from re-tested prior-crop stock reserved in advance.
Do you supply guar meal or churi?
Guar meal and churi (the protein by-products of gum milling) can be supplied from partner mills on request under HS 2308; they are not part of the seed programme and ship with a COA for protein and aflatoxin.
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