Seeds ExporterSorghum & Sudan Grass Seed exporter — Pakistan origin
Kohenoor International exports forage and grain sorghum seed from Pakistan under HS 100710: the BMR 313 multi-cut forage hybrid, grain sorghum, sweet sorghum and Sudan grass, all at 98% purity and 85% germination in 25 kg bags. Seed is produced with contracted growers in Sindh, processed on Sortex lines and supplied untreated or with a Thiram/Carbendazim treatment on request.
Forage sorghum is the summer fodder that fills the gap when alfalfa yields fall in the Gulf heat, and the drought-tolerant grain crop for Sudan, Chad and Nigeria. The specialist site hybridsorghum.com carries trial data and agronomy.
Quick answer
Specification
Standard export specification for sorghum & sudan grass 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 | Sorghum bicolor / S. sudanense |
| HS code | 100710 |
| Varieties / grades | BMR 313 forage hybrid, Grain sorghum, Sweet sorghum, Sudan grass |
| Purity | 98% min |
| Germination | 85% min |
| Types | BMR 313 forage hybrid (F1), grain sorghum (OP), sweet sorghum (OP), Sudan grass (OP) |
| Moisture | 11% max |
| Inert matter | 1% max |
| Other crop seed | 0.5% max |
| Weed seed | 0.5% max |
| Johnson grass (S. halepense) | Nil (screened; declared where required) |
| Thousand-seed weight | 28–33 g forage / grain; 7–9 g Sudan grass |
| Colour / appearance | Red-brown to cream by type, uniform, no mould |
| Hybrid purity (BMR 313) | 98% min, grow-out checked |
| Seed treatment | Untreated standard; Thiram/Carbendazim with red colourant on request |
| Sowing rate | 10–15 kg/ha forage; 20–25 kg/ha Sudan grass; 8–10 kg/ha grain |
| Cuts per season | 3–4 (BMR 313) |
| Packing | 25 kg |
| MOQ | 1 x 20ft |
| Origin | Pakistan (Sindh / Punjab unless stated) |
Varieties and grades
BMR 313 forage hybrid. A brown-midrib F1 sorghum × Sudan grass type hybrid bred at Kohenoor for multi-cut green chop and silage. The bmr trait cuts lignin by 25–40%, so fibre digestibility and dairy intake are higher than in conventional forage sorghum; it gives 3–4 cuts in 100–120 days at 60–70 t/ha green weight under irrigation and can be ensiled at 65–70% moisture. Dairy farms in the Gulf, Egypt, Türkiye and Latin America choose it as the summer complement to alfalfa. Seed must be bought fresh each season.
Grain sorghum. Open-pollinated white and red types for food grain and poultry feed, 100–110 days, drought-tolerant; the staple crop seed for Sudan, Chad, Nigeria and Ethiopia and sold in 50 kg bags to government programmes.
Sweet sorghum. Tall, juicy-stalk type for green chop, syrup and stalk juice; high sugar in the stem improves silage fermentation.
Sudan grass. Fine-stemmed, quick-regrowth annual grass sown at 20–25 kg/ha for hay and multi-cut grazing in Türkiye, Central Asia and Russia; lower prussic-acid risk than forage sorghum and dries faster for hay.
Uses by industry
Who buys sorghum & sudan grass seed from Pakistan and what they do with it.
- Dairy silage and green chop. BMR 313 for summer silage and daily green chop in the Gulf, Egypt, Türkiye, Vietnam and Latin America; 3–4 cuts, higher digestibility than conventional sorghum.
- Beef and feedlot. Sweet and forage sorghum silage as the energy base of feedlot rations in Sudan, Kenya and Mexico.
- Hay and grazing. Sudan grass for hay and rotational grazing in Türkiye, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Russia.
- Food and feed grain. Grain sorghum seed for smallholder and government programmes in Sudan, Chad, Nigeria and Ethiopia.
- Bioenergy and syrup. Sweet sorghum for stalk juice, syrup and ethanol pilots in Brazil and India.
- Seed companies. Parent-line and hybrid seed supply for distributors in Argentina, Brazil and Mexico under distribution agreements.
Quality control and testing
Every lot of sorghum & sudan grass 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 sorghum the lab adds a hybrid-purity grow-out on BMR 313 (leaf midrib colour is scored on 400 seedlings), a specific screen for Sorghum halepense (Johnson grass) seed because many permits name it, and a test for seed-borne smut where the destination asks. Treated lots are checked for treatment uniformity and the treatment, dose and colourant are stated on the packing list and phytosanitary certificate.
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 sorghum & sudan grass 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. Sorghum seed at 11% moisture in lined bags keeps 85% germination for 12–18 months below 25 °C; hybrid seed should be sown in the season after purchase. Store away from grain stocks to avoid weevil infestation and fumigate the container where the destination is humid.
| 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 sorghum & sudan grass 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Arab Emirates | MOCCAE | Phytosanitary certificate; Certificate of origin; ISTA test report; commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading | 7–10 days sea from Karachi |
| Saudi Arabia | MEWA / SFDA | Phytosanitary certificate; Certificate of origin; SABER registration where applicable; commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading | 8–12 days sea |
| Iraq | Ministry of Agriculture | Phytosanitary certificate; Certificate of origin; Pre-shipment inspection; commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading | 10–14 days sea |
| Sudan | Plant Protection Directorate | Phytosanitary certificate; Certificate of origin; commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading | 10–14 days sea |
| Egypt | CAPQ | Phytosanitary certificate; Certificate of origin; Import permit; commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading | 12–16 days sea |
| 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 |
| Kenya | KEPHIS | Phytosanitary certificate; Certificate of origin; Plant import permit; commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading | 12–16 days sea |
| Ethiopia | MoA Ethiopia | Phytosanitary certificate; Certificate of origin; Import permit; commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading | 10–14 days sea |
HS classification. Sorghum and Sudan grass seed for sowing are HS 1007.10 (grain sorghum seed); some customs administrations classify Sudan grass under 1209.29. Countries that list Johnson grass as a quarantine weed (the United States, Australia, South Africa) require a specific additional declaration of freedom from Sorghum halepense; Türkiye needs a Kontrol Belgesi, Egypt an import permit, and Argentina, Brazil and Mexico a SENASA, MAPA or SENASICA import authorisation. Seed for sowing is duty-free in the Gulf, Africa and the EU; Latin American duties vary by country.
Season, new crop and availability
Sorghum for seed is sown March–July and harvested September–November. New-crop seed ships from November after drying, cleaning and germination testing. Buyers in the Gulf and Egypt sow in March–April, so most container orders load December–February; Central Asian buyers take delivery by rail in April; East African buyers sow with the long rains and load December–January.
Southern-hemisphere buyers in Argentina, Brazil and Mexico need seed for October–December sowing and should order by July for August–September loading (35–45 days transit). Prior-crop hybrid seed is available May–October, re-tested, and stated as such.
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 sorghum & sudan grass 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. Hybrid BMR 313 costs more per kg than open-pollinated grain, sweet or Sudan types but sows at a lower rate; treated seed adds the cost of the fungicide and colourant. Grain sorghum in 50 kg tender bags is the lowest-priced line.
- 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
Buyers choosing a summer fodder compare forage sorghum with hybrid pearl millet and with Johnson grass (perennial). Sorghum gives the highest silage yield on heavy soils; pearl millet is safer to graze young and suits light soils; Johnson grass stands for years but is a regulated weed in some countries.
| Criterion | Sorghum & Sudan Grass Seed | <a href="/products/pearl-millet/">Hybrid Pearl Millet (Baymisaal)</a> | <a href="/products/johnson-grass/">Johnson Grass (Sorghum halepense) Seed</a> |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Annual (F1 hybrid or OP) | Annual F1 hybrid | Perennial |
| Cuts per season | 3–4 | 3–4 | 4–5 |
| Prussic acid risk | Yes, wait 45–50 days / 60 cm | None | Yes, especially after drought |
| Sowing rate | 10–15 kg/ha | 8–10 kg/ha | 10–12 kg/ha |
| Best soils | Heavy, fertile | Light, sandy, acidic | Any, tolerates neglect |
| Silage quality | Best (BMR) | Good | Fair |
| Import restrictions | Few | Few | USA, Australia restrict |
Markets served
Kohenoor has shipped sorghum & sudan grass seed to United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Sudan, Egypt, Türkiye, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Chad, Vietnam, Thailand, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico. Demand is split between dairy and feedlot buyers of BMR 313 in the Gulf, Egypt, Türkiye and Latin America, government grain-sorghum programmes in Sudan, Chad and Nigeria, and Sudan grass buyers in Central Asia and Russia. 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 sorghum & sudan grass seed are published on our specialist site hybridsorghum.com. Variety-level agronomy (sowing rate, cutting schedule, seed standards, trial data) is on our reference site worldseed.net: bmr 313 forage sorghum, grain sorghum, sweet sorghum, sudan grass. 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 BMR 313 a hybrid or open-pollinated?
It is an F1 forage hybrid. Seed must be bought fresh each season; saved seed will not reproduce the brown-midrib trait uniformly. Sudan grass, sweet sorghum and grain sorghum in our catalogue are open-pollinated types.
Can sorghum seed be treated before export?
Yes. We apply Thiram or Carbendazim slurry treatment with a red colourant on request and state it on the packing list and phytosanitary certificate. Untreated seed is standard for countries that restrict treated imports.
What is the sowing rate for forage sorghum?
10–15 kg/ha for BMR 313 under irrigation, 20–25 kg/ha for Sudan grass, and 8–10 kg/ha for grain sorghum, at 2.5–4 cm depth into soil above 16 °C. Rates rise by about 20% for broadcast sowing.
Do you ship sorghum seed to Latin America?
Yes, to Argentina, Brazil and Mexico, mainly forage types for summer silage. Transit is 30–45 days, so orders need to be placed by July for the southern-hemisphere sowing window, with the SENASA, MAPA or SENASICA import authorisation obtained first.
What is the prussic-acid risk with forage sorghum?
Young, drought-stressed or frosted sorghum can carry hydrocyanic acid. Graze or cut BMR 313 only after plants reach 60 cm (about 45–50 days), avoid grazing regrowth after drought, and ensile or wilt before feeding. Pearl millet (Baymisaal) carries no such risk if early grazing is essential.
Is your sorghum seed free of Johnson grass?
Yes. Every lot is screened in the laboratory for Sorghum halepense seed, which is a quarantine weed in the United States, Australia and South Africa, and the phytosanitary certificate carries the additional declaration when the permit requires it.
How much sorghum 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. Treated seed weighs 1–2% more.
What silage yield does BMR 313 give?
60–70 t/ha green weight over 3–4 cuts in 100–120 days under irrigation in Sindh trials, at 30–32% dry matter when cut at soft-dough stage; NDF digestibility is 8–12 points higher than conventional forage sorghum because of the brown-midrib trait.
When is new-crop sorghum seed available?
From November after the September–November harvest. Gulf and Egyptian buyers sowing in March load December–February; Central Asian buyers take rail delivery in April. Prior-crop seed is available May–October, re-tested.
Can I get grain sorghum in 50 kg bags for a tender?
Yes. Grain and forage sorghum can be packed in 50 kg bags with tender-specified printing, SGS or Cotecna pre-shipment inspection and fumigation, which is how most government programmes in Sudan, Chad and Iraq buy.
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