Seeds ExporterRyegrass Seed exporter — Pakistan origin
Annual (Italian) ryegrass seed, Lolium multiflorum, is exported at 98% purity and 85% germination in 25 kg bags under HS 120925. Kohenoor multiplies a tetraploid annual type in Punjab for winter pasture and hay in Iran, Türkiye, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Afghanistan and Nepal.
Ryegrass gives the fastest winter grazing of any grass: first cut 45–50 days after an October sowing, then 3–4 cuts to April. It is often sown with Persian clover or berseem for a balanced ration, and we ship the two together as separate lots in one container.
Quick answer
Specification
Standard export specification for ryegrass 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 | Lolium multiflorum |
| HS code | 120925 |
| Varieties / grades | Annual / Italian |
| Purity | 98% min |
| Germination | 85% min |
| Type | Annual / Italian, tetraploid |
| Moisture | 11% max |
| Inert matter | 1.5% max |
| Other crop seed | 0.5% max |
| Weed seed | 0.5% max |
| Quarantine weeds | Nil (screened; wild oat, darnel declared where required) |
| Thousand-seed weight | 4.0–4.5 g (approx. 220,000–250,000 seeds/kg) |
| Colour / appearance | Straw-yellow, plump, awnless |
| Endophyte | Endophyte-free |
| Sowing rate | 25–30 kg/ha |
| First cut | 45–50 days |
| Cuts per season | 3–4 |
| Packing | 25 kg |
| MOQ | 1 x 20ft |
| Origin | Pakistan (Sindh / Punjab unless stated) |
Varieties and grades
Annual / Italian, tetraploid. The single type we export is a tetraploid Italian ryegrass: larger seed, wider leaves, higher soluble sugar and better palatability than diploid types, and quick establishment in cool autumn soils. It is a one-season crop that heads in April–May and does not persist through a hot summer, which is exactly what Iranian, Afghan and Central Asian dairy farms want: a winter forage that vacates the field for maize or sorghum. Buyers choose it for speed (first grazing at 45–50 days), for its fit with Persian clover and berseem in mixes, and because it is endophyte-free, so there is no ryegrass-staggers risk for horses or sheep.
We do not export perennial ryegrass (L. perenne) or Westerwolds types; the phytosanitary certificate reads Lolium multiflorum. A forage type only is supplied; turf buyers occasionally use it for temporary cover but it is not sold as a turf grade.
Uses by industry
Who buys ryegrass seed from Pakistan and what they do with it.
- Dairy farms on cold plateaus. Winter green chop and rotational grazing in Iran, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, from December to April.
- Mixed winter sowings. 20 kg/ha ryegrass with 6 kg/ha Persian clover or 15 kg/ha berseem, the standard Iran and Afghanistan winter mix shipped as two lots in one container.
- Hay makers. Last cut dried in April for fine, sugar-rich hay for horses and small ruminants.
- Over-sowing summer pasture. Sown into dormant Rhodes or Bermuda stands in autumn to give winter grazing in Türkiye and northern Iraq.
- Cover crop before maize. Winter cover that is grazed and then ploughed in before spring maize in Nepal and Central Asia.
Quality control and testing
Every lot of ryegrass 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 ryegrass the laboratory screens for wild oat, darnel and other cereal-weed seed that Central Asian and Iranian permits often name, confirms ploidy on a seed-size and seedling check, and runs the ISTA 14-day germination with pre-chill. Endophyte status is confirmed as free on the variety records.
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 ryegrass 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 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. Ryegrass seed at 11% moisture keeps 85% germination for 12–18 months in a dry store below 25 °C; it is less durable than legume seed, so sow within a year of the test date and keep bags sealed until sowing.
| 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 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 ryegrass 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iran | PPO Iran | Phytosanitary certificate; Certificate of origin; Import licence; commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading | 3–5 days sea / road via Taftan |
| Türkiye | Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry | Phytosanitary certificate; Certificate of origin; Kontrol Belgesi; commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading | 14–18 days sea |
| Uzbekistan | Agroinspection | Phytosanitary certificate; Certificate of origin; Import quarantine permit; commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading | 12–20 days road/rail |
| Kazakhstan | MoA Kazakhstan | Phytosanitary certificate; Certificate of origin; EAEU import permit; commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading | 15–22 days road/rail |
| Afghanistan | Phytosanitary certificate; Certificate of origin; commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading | 2–5 days road | |
| Nepal | NPPO Nepal | Phytosanitary certificate; Certificate of origin; commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading | 15–20 days |
HS classification. Ryegrass seed for sowing is HS 1209.25 (Lolium multiflorum and L. perenne). Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan require an EAEU or national quarantine import permit before loading; Iran an import licence from the PPO; Türkiye a Kontrol Belgesi; Afghanistan and Nepal clear on the phytosanitary certificate and certificate of origin. Seed for sowing is duty-free in each of these markets.
Season, new crop and availability
Sown October–November, harvested April–June. New-crop seed ships from June after cleaning and a 14-day germination test; Central Asian and Iranian buyers usually take delivery in August–September ahead of autumn sowing, by road via Taftan or Torkham or by rail via Termez.
Türkiye takes sea shipments loading July–August for Mersin. Prior-crop seed is shipped from December to May, re-tested. Reserve new-crop volume by March.
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 ryegrass 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. A single tetraploid forage grade is offered; price differences come from crop year, from cleaning to nil cereal-weed seed rather than a count, and from whether the container is a mixed load with clover, which shares the fixed costs.
- 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
Ryegrass is compared with berseem and Persian clover as a winter forage. It gives the earliest bulk and the highest energy; the clovers give protein and later cuts, which is why most farms sow ryegrass with one of them.
| Criterion | Ryegrass Seed | <a href="/products/berseem-clover/">Berseem Clover Seed</a> | <a href="/products/persian-clover/">Persian Clover Seed</a> |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Annual winter grass | Annual winter legume | Annual winter legume |
| First cut | 45–50 days | 50–60 days | 55–65 days |
| Cuts per season | 3–4 | 5–6 | 3–4 |
| Frost tolerance | To about −10 °C | Light frost only | To about −8 °C |
| Crude protein | 12–16% | 16–20% | 17–20% |
| Sowing rate | 25–30 kg/ha (20 in mix) | 25–30 kg/ha | 8–10 kg/ha |
| Typical mix partner | Persian clover or berseem | Ryegrass or oats | Ryegrass |
Markets served
Kohenoor has shipped ryegrass seed to Iran, Türkiye, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Afghanistan, Nepal. Demand comes from dairy farms in Iran, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan that need a fast winter grass to pair with Persian clover, and from Türkiye and Nepal for hay and over-sowing. 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 ryegrass seed are published on our specialist site kohenoorint.com. Variety-level agronomy (sowing rate, cutting schedule, seed standards, trial data) is on our reference site worldseed.net: annual ryegrass. 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 this perennial or annual ryegrass?
Annual (Italian) ryegrass, Lolium multiflorum, tetraploid. It is a one-season winter crop that heads in April–May. We do not export perennial ryegrass (L. perenne).
Can ryegrass and Persian clover be shipped together?
Yes, in the same container with separate lots and separate lines on the phytosanitary certificate and ISTA report, minimum 2 MT per product. This is the most common combination for Iran and Afghanistan.
What is the endophyte status?
Our annual ryegrass is endophyte-free, which matters for horses and for buyers who have had ryegrass staggers with imported perennial types.
How is ryegrass seed shipped to Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan?
By road or rail via Torkham–Termez or via Iran, 12–22 days. An EAEU or national quarantine import permit is required; we prepare the phytosanitary certificate to match its wording.
What sowing rate do you recommend?
25–30 kg/ha alone, drilled 1–1.5 cm deep in October–November into a firm seedbed; 20 kg/ha with 6 kg/ha Persian clover or 15 kg/ha berseem in a mix. Tetraploid seed is larger, so rates are slightly higher than for diploid types.
How many cuts does annual ryegrass give?
3–4 cuts from December to April after an October sowing under irrigation, the first at 45–50 days. Yield is 35–45 t/ha green weight over the season at 12–16% crude protein.
Why is tetraploid ryegrass preferred?
Wider leaves, higher soluble sugar, better palatability and faster autumn establishment than diploid types; cattle intake is higher and it mixes well with clover. Seed is larger, so bag counts and sowing rates differ slightly.
How long does ryegrass seed store?
12–18 months at 11% moisture in sealed bags below 25 °C with germination staying at or above 85%. It is less durable than clover or alfalfa seed, so sow within a year of the test date.
Does Türkiye require any special document?
Yes, a Kontrol Belgesi (control certificate) issued to the importer by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry before shipment, plus the phytosanitary certificate, certificate of origin and ISTA-format report.
Can ryegrass be over-sown into Rhodes grass?
Yes. In Türkiye and northern Iraq annual ryegrass is broadcast at 25–30 kg/ha into dormant Rhodes or Bermuda stands in October to give winter grazing, then dies out as the warm-season grass regrows in spring.
Get today's FOB rate
Tell us the product, quantity and destination port. The export desk replies within 24 hours with price, MOQ, documents and transit time.
export@kohenoorint.com · +92 310 4929292 · Reply within 24 hours