Indian Sesame, Pulses and Spices for Egypt, Documented for ACID and NFSA Before Loading
Lot-tested cargo from Gujarat, with papers prepared for Nafeza, NFSA inspection and plant quarantine.
Elysium Agri Corporation is an agro-commodity exporter in Jamnagar, Gujarat, India. For importers, wholesalers and food processors in Egypt, we ship sesame seeds, chickpeas and pulses, turmeric, dry ginger, seed spices and peanuts through Mundra, Kandla and Pipavav. Every export lot is tested at an NABL-accredited lab before loading.
Buying for Egypt starts with the paperwork. You raise an ACID number on Nafeza before loading, and it must appear on the invoice, the bill of lading and every other shipping document. Bags need Arabic marking with one production date and one expiry date. These details are set with you before packing.
At a Glance
- Main ports
- Alexandria / El Dekheila; Damietta; Port Said; Ain Sokhna
- Route and transit
- Red Sea to Ain Sokhna, or via the Suez Canal to Mediterranean ports. Confirmed with each quote.
- Food import authority
- National Food Safety Authority (NFSA); CAPQ for plant quarantine
- Label language
- Arabic, mandatory. Matching English may be added.
- Trade agreement with India
- No preferential agreement. Standard (MFN) duty applies.
- Certificates buyers ask for
- HACCP, ISO 22000 or FSSC 22000 (processor preference). Halal only for meat and poultry.
- Business languages
- Arabic; English in trade correspondence
What Egyptian Importers Buy from India
Specialist lines for processors, packers and wholesalers.
Sesame Seeds
Natural and hulled sesame for tahini and halawa producers. India was Egypt's third-largest sesame supplier in 2024.
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Pulses
Lentils, moong and other dried pulses. India shipped about US$12.35 million of dried pulses and chickpeas to Egypt in 2025.
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Chickpeas
Kabuli and desi chickpeas, cleaned to your specification.
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Turmeric, Ginger and Seed Spices
Turmeric, dry ginger, cumin, coriander and fennel. India shipped about US$8.9 million of turmeric, ginger and related spices to Egypt in 2025.
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Peanuts
Bold and java kernels, raw or blanched. A smaller line from India to Egypt today.
View detailsWhat NFSA and Customs Ask of Importers in Egypt
NFSA regulates and inspects all food imports. CAPQ controls plant products and can inspect before shipment.
- You hold an NFSA food import licence (Decision 6/2020) and an import permit.
- You pre-register each shipment on Nafeza and receive an ACID number before loading (Decree 38/2021, mandatory since 1 October 2021). Shipments without an ACID are refused.
- The exporter sends the shipping documents to Nafeza through CargoX.
- Labels are in Arabic (Egyptian Standard 1546/2011): product, producer, importer, origin, dates, weights and storage. One production date and one expiry date only, with no erasures.
- For retail packs, ask your broker whether GOEIC registration (Decree 43/2016) applies.
Duty on Indian Goods in Egypt
India and Egypt have no preferential trade agreement. The bilateral agreement in operation since March 1978 is based on most-favoured-nation treatment, so Indian goods pay the normal MFN rate for their HS line. We do not publish rates here; your customs broker can read the current rate from the Egyptian Customs tariff. Inspection and single-window fees also apply. Build your estimate in the landed cost calculator.
Shipping from Gujarat to Egyptian Ports
Ain Sokhna, on the Red Sea, is the Egyptian port nearest to India. Alexandria, Damietta and Port Said lie beyond the Suez Canal. Red Sea disruption has affected routings on this lane, so we do not publish a transit time. Routing and transit are confirmed with each quote.
- Loading ports: Mundra, Kandla and Pipavav.
Documents Egypt Asks For
| Document | Why this market needs it |
|---|---|
| ACID number on all shipping documents | Proves Nafeza pre-registration. Cargo without it is refused. |
| Phytosanitary certificate referring to your import permit | Required for plant products (Decree 562/2019). |
| Certificate of origin, Chamber of Commerce countersigned | Sources differ on consular legalisation, so we confirm this with your quote. |
| Health certificate (fit for human consumption) | Supports NFSA inspection. |
| Radiation or fumigation certificate | Supplied when you request it. |
Why Importers in Egypt Work with Elysium
- Label and date errors can lead to rejected cargo, so bag marking is agreed with you before packing. See packaging.
- Every export lot is tested at an NABL-accredited lab and has a Certificate of Analysis. See lab testing.
- SGS, Bureau Veritas or Intertek can inspect at loading on your behalf. See quality control.
- Before you pay an advance or open a letter of credit, check our IEC and GSTIN. See Verify Elysium.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need my ACID number before loading?
Yes. You raise the ACID on Nafeza as the importer. It must be printed on the invoice, the bill of lading and all other shipping documents. Egypt refuses shipments without one.
Can the bags carry Arabic marking?
Yes. Bulk bags should show the product, origin, producer, dates, net weight and importer in Arabic. Send us the Arabic text.
Do sesame, pulses or spices need a halal certificate in Egypt?
No. In Egypt, halal certification is mandatory only for meat and poultry. Plant products such as sesame, pulses, spices and peanuts do not need it. Tell us if your own customer asks for one.
How much shelf life must remain when the cargo arrives?
Under Decree 859/2012, a product with a total shelf life of six months or more needs at least three months remaining on arrival. Dates are fixed at packing, so tell us your shipment window early.
Which payment terms are used for Egypt?
Letters of credit, or an advance with the balance against documents, are typical. Egypt's 2022 letter-of-credit requirement was later cancelled, so ask your bank what it supports today.
Last reviewed: October 2026