Millet Grain (Bajra, Jowar, Ragi and Small Millets)
Elysium Agri exports Indian millets: pearl millet (bajra, "green millet"), sorghum (jowar), finger millet (ragi) and small millets such as foxtail and proso.
India is the world's largest millet producer (about 18 million tonnes in 2024-25) and was the largest millet exporter in 2023. Indian millets go mainly to the UAE, Nepal, Saudi Arabia, the USA and Europe, for food, gluten-free flours and bird feed.
Millet Grain Specification
Types
Bajra · jowar · ragi · foxtail · proso · others
Purity
98–99% machine · 99.9% sortex
Moisture
12% max (FSSAI 13%)
Foreign Matter
≤ 1% (mineral ≤ 0.25%)
Damaged / Discoloured
≤ 2%
Broken
≤ 2%
Other Grains
≤ 2%
Ergot
≤ 0.05% (EU sclerotia ≤ 0.2 g/kg)
Container Load
20 ft ≈ 24–25 MT
Millet Grain: Full Export Specification
The standard export specification for our millets (bajra shown; other millets similar), benchmarked to Codex CXS 169-1989 and CXS 172-1989 and India's FSSAI millet standard. Send your own specification with your enquiry.
| General | Specification | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Products | Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum, bajra), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor, jowar), finger millet (Eleusine coracana, ragi), foxtail, proso, little, kodo, barnyard, browntop | Specify millet on order |
| Origin | Bajra: Gujarat, Rajasthan · jowar: Maharashtra, Karnataka | — |
| Crop / season | Kharif (harvest Sep–Oct); Gujarat summer bajra (harvest May–Jun) | Crop year on each contract |
| Colour (bajra) | Greenish-grey ("green millet") | Visual; Codex allows brown, white or green |
| Physical | Specification | Test method / note |
|---|---|---|
| Purity | 98–99% (machine) · 99.9% (sortex) | — |
| Moisture | ≤ 12% | FSSAI max 13%; Codex pearl millet 13%, sorghum 14.5% |
| Foreign matter | ≤ 1% (mineral ≤ 0.25%) | FSSAI; Codex whole ≤ 2% |
| Damaged / discoloured | ≤ 2% | Buyer limit; FSSAI slight defects ≤ 7% |
| Broken | ≤ 2% | Buyer limit |
| Other edible grains | ≤ 2% | FSSAI |
| Quality | Specification | Test method / note |
|---|---|---|
| Protein (bajra, dry basis) | ≥ 8% | Codex CXS 169 |
| Fat (bajra, whole) | 3.5–6.0% | Codex CXS 169 |
| Tannin (sorghum, whole) | ≤ 0.5% | Codex CXS 172 |
| Uric acid | ≤ 100 mg/kg | FSSAI |
| Food safety | Specification | Test method / note |
|---|---|---|
| Aflatoxins | EU: B1 ≤ 2 / total ≤ 4 µg/kg (food), 5 / 10 if sorted; feed / bird-feed per buyer | EU Reg 2023/915 |
| Ochratoxin A | ≤ 5 µg/kg (unprocessed cereals) | EU Reg 2023/915 |
| Ergot sclerotia | ≤ 0.2 g/kg (≤ 0.05% ergot by weight) | EU Reg 2023/915; exporter spec |
| Tropane alkaloids (millet, sorghum) | ≤ 5 µg/kg | EU Reg 2023/915 |
| Pesticide residues | Within destination MRLs | LC-MS/MS and GC-MS/MS |
| Live insects | Nil; fumigated before loading | Visual |
| Commercial | Specification | Note |
|---|---|---|
| HS code | Bajra 1008 29 20 · ragi 1008 29 30 · proso 1008 29 50 · foxtail 1008 29 60 | — |
| Packing | 25 / 50 kg PP bags · jute bags · jumbo bags on request | Buyer's marks and private label on request |
| Container load | 20 ft: about 24–25 MT · 40 ft HC: about 26 MT | See Millet Grain Packing and Container Loading |
| Documents | Phytosanitary Certificate · Certificate of Origin · Certificate of Analysis (moisture, protein / quality, mycotoxins, pesticides) · Fumigation Certificate (where required) · Independent inspection (SGS or buyer's surveyor) on request | — |
Bajra, Jowar, Ragi and Small Millets Compared
India grows more kinds of millet than any other country. These are the ones most often exported.
| Millet | Other names | Main Indian source | Main export uses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pearl millet | Bajra, green millet, cumbu | Rajasthan, Gujarat, UP | Food, flour, bird feed, poultry feed |
| Sorghum | Jowar, milo, cholam | Maharashtra, Karnataka | Flour, gluten-free foods, feed |
| Finger millet | Ragi, nachni | Karnataka | Flour, baby food, health foods |
| Proso millet | Chena, white millet | — | Bird feed, cereals, gluten-free bakery |
| Foxtail millet | Kangni, navane | Karnataka, AP | Health foods, rice substitute |
Millet Grades
Green Bajra, Sortex 99.9%
Food grade, bright colour.
Bajra, Machine Cleaned 98–99%
Feed and bird feed.
Millet Grain Packing and Container Loading
| Pack type | Net weight | Units per 20 ft | Net per 20 ft | Net per 40 ft HC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PP bag | 50 kg | ≈ 480–500 | ≈ 24–25 MT | ≈ 26 MT |
| PP bag | 25 kg | ≈ 960–1,000 | ≈ 24–25 MT | ≈ 26 MT |
| Jute bag | 50 kg | ≈ 480–500 | ≈ 24–25 MT | ≈ 26 MT |
Where Millet Grain Is Used
Staple Foods
Rotis, porridge and rice substitutes.
Gluten-Free Flours
Millet flours and mixes.
Bird Feed
Bajra and proso in seed mixes.
Poultry and Cattle Feed
Energy grain.
Health and Baby Foods
Ragi and small millets.
Breakfast Cereals and Snacks
Millet flakes and puffs.
Millet Price: What Sets It
Millets are priced per metric tonne FOB; government support prices set the floor in India.
- Support prices: MSP 2026-27 bajra ₹2,900, jowar (hybrid) ₹4,023, ragi ₹5,205 per quintal.
- Crop: monsoon for kharif; Gujarat's summer bajra adds supply in May–June.
- Millet type: ragi and small millets cost far more than bajra.
- Cleaning: sortex food grade costs more than feed grade.
- Demand: Gulf food demand and European bird-feed buying.
Prices move with the crop and the market, so we quote on the day. Tell us your grade, quantity and port for a current FOB, CFR or CIF price.
Tested, Certified and Traceable
- Lot sampling
- Moisture, quality, mycotoxin and pesticide tests
- Phytosanitary, fumigation and export documents
Documents with every shipment
Get a Millet Quote
Share your grade, quantity and destination, and we will send an FOB or CIF price with the spec sheet.
Thank you. Our grains desk will send your price and spec sheet.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Which millets does India export?
India exports pearl millet (bajra) most, followed by sorghum (jowar), finger millet (ragi) and small millets such as foxtail and proso. Bajra is the largest export line.
What is green millet?
Green millet is the trade name for greenish-grey pearl millet (bajra), especially the bright summer-crop bajra from Gujarat, sold for food and bird feed.
What is the specification of bajra for export?
Typically 98–99.9% purity, moisture ≤ 12%, foreign matter ≤ 1%, damaged ≤ 2%, broken ≤ 2%, other grains ≤ 2% and ergot ≤ 0.05%, within Codex CXS 169 and FSSAI limits.
What are the HS codes for millets?
In India's tariff, bajra is 1008 29 20, ragi 1008 29 30, proso 1008 29 50 and foxtail 1008 29 60; sorghum (jowar) is usually exported under 1007 90 00. Confirm the code with your customs broker.
Which countries buy Indian millets?
The UAE, Nepal, Saudi Arabia, the USA, Germany, Libya, Italy, the UK and Senegal were among the largest buyers of Indian millets in 2023–24 (WITS).
Is millet used for bird feed?
Yes. Bajra and proso millet are major ingredients in bird-seed mixes, especially in Europe; food-grade sortexed millet is used for flour and gluten-free products.
Who exports millets from India?
Elysium Agri Corporation, based in Jamnagar, Gujarat, exports green bajra and other Indian millets, sortexed or machine-cleaned, with lot-wise testing.
