Psyllium Husk (Isabgol Husk)
Elysium Agri supplies psyllium husk (isabgol husk, sat isabgol) from Unjha, Gujarat, the world's psyllium processing hub. We export whole husk in 85%, 95%, 98% and 99% purity and husk powder in 40 to 100 mesh, for fibre-supplement makers, pharmaceutical companies, food manufacturers and bulk repackers.
India grows about 85–90% of the world's psyllium, and about 90% of it is processed in Gujarat. Every lot we ship is tested for purity, swell volume, microbiology, heavy metals and pesticide residues, with specs aligned to the USP monograph and the US FDA fibre health-claim rule.
Psyllium Husk Specification
Grades
99 / 98 / 95 / 85% purity
Light Extraneous Matter
≤ 1 / 2 / 5 / 15% by grade
Heavy Extraneous Matter
≤ 0.5%
Swell Volume
≥ 50 / 45 / 40 / 35 ml/g by grade
Moisture
12% max (typically ≤ 10%)
Total Ash / AIA
≤ 4% / ≤ 1%
Powder Mesh
40 · 60 · 80 · 100 mesh
Microbiology
Salmonella and E. coli absent
Container Load
20 ft ≈ 9–9.5 MT husk · ≈ 16–18 MT powder
Psyllium Husk: Full Export Specification
The standard export specification for our psyllium husk and husk powder, aligned to the USP "Psyllium Husk" monograph. Values by grade are in Which Psyllium Husk Grade Do You Need?. Send your own specification with your enquiry.
| General | Specification | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Product | Psyllium husk: the cleaned, dried seed coat of Plantago ovata Forssk., separated by milling and winnowing | Isabgol husk / sat isabgol / ispaghula husk |
| Forms | Whole husk (flakes) · husk powder 40 / 60 / 80 / 100 mesh | 95% through stated mesh |
| Origin | Seed from Gujarat and Rajasthan; milled in Unjha, Gujarat | — |
| Colour / odour | Pinkish-white to light beige; odourless, bland taste | Sensory |
| Physical | Specification | Test method / note |
|---|---|---|
| Purity | 99 / 98 / 95 / 85% by grade | USP |
| Light extraneous matter | ≤ 1 / 2 / 5 / 15% by grade | USP (max 15%) |
| Heavy extraneous matter | ≤ 0.5% | USP max 1.1%; FDA claim ≤ 0.5% |
| Swell volume | ≥ 50 / 45 / 40 / 35 ml/g by grade | USP: ≥ 40 ml/g (powder), ≥ 35 ml/g (whole) |
| Moisture (water) | ≤ 12% (typically ≤ 10%) | USP max 12% |
| Chemical | Specification | Test method / note |
|---|---|---|
| Total ash | ≤ 4% | USP max 4.0% |
| Acid-insoluble ash | ≤ 1% | USP max 1.0% |
| Protein (for FDA health-claim buyers) | ≤ 3% | 21 CFR 101.81 |
| Soluble fibre | About 85% of husk (arabinoxylan) | Typical (EMA) |
| Food safety | Specification | Test method / note |
|---|---|---|
| Yeast and mould | ≤ 10³ cfu/g | ISO 21527 |
| E. coli | Absent in 1 g | ISO 16649-2 |
| Salmonella | Absent in 25 g | ISO 6579-1 |
| Lead | ≤ 1 mg/kg nutraceutical grade | ICP-MS |
| Pesticide residues | Within EU / US MRLs | LC-MS/MS and GC-MS/MS multi-residue screen |
| Ethylene oxide (ETO + 2-chloroethanol) | Not detected; no ETO fumigation | GC-MS/MS |
| Commercial | Specification | Note |
|---|---|---|
| HS code | 1211 90 32 (psyllium husk, isobgul husk) | Husk powder also ships under 1211 90 32; seed under 1211 90 13 |
| Packing | 25 kg multi-wall paper bags with PE liner · 25 kg HDPE bags · 50 lb bags for the USA · fibre drums | Buyer's marks and private label on request |
| Container load | Husk: 20 ft about 9–9.5 MT, 40 ft HC about 20 MT | See Psyllium Husk Packing and Container Loading |
| Shelf life | 24 months in cool, dry storage | Cool, dry, ventilated storage away from odours |
| Documents | Certificate of Analysis (purity, swell volume, micro, heavy metals, pesticides) · Phytosanitary Certificate · Certificate of Origin · Fumigation Certificate (where required) | — |
Which Psyllium Husk Grade Do You Need?
Psyllium husk purity is 100% minus the light extraneous matter (mostly lighter husk fragments and plant fibre). The higher the purity, the higher the swell volume and the price.
| Grade | LEM max / swell volume min | Typical use | US FDA health claim? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 99% | 1% / 50 ml/g | Pharmaceutical laxatives, premium supplements | Yes |
| 98% | 2% / 45 ml/g | Fibre supplements, capsules, food | Yes |
| 95% | 5% / 40 ml/g | Food, bakery, repacking | Yes, if LEM ≤ 4.5% and HEM ≤ 0.5% |
| 85% | 15% / 35 ml/g | Budget retail, animal feed, industrial | No |
| US FDA rule (21 CFR 101.81) | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Purity | Psyllium husk of at least 95% purity |
| Limits | LEM ≤ 4.5%, HEM ≤ 0.5%, protein ≤ 3% |
| Claim basis | 7 g/day of soluble fibre from psyllium husk may reduce the risk of heart disease; at least 1.7 g per serving |
Whole Husk or Husk Powder
Whole Husk
Flaky husk for retail packs, drinks and supplements.
Husk Powder 40 / 60 Mesh
For capsules, sachets and food mixes.
Husk Powder 80 / 100 Mesh
Fine powder for tablets, bakery and gluten-free flours.
Need the whole seed? Psyllium Seeds →. Also from our range: Chia Seeds →
Psyllium Husk Packing and Container Loading
| Pack type | Net weight | Units per 20 ft | Net per 20 ft | Net per 40 ft HC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Husk: paper bag with PE liner | 25 kg | ≈ 360–380 | ≈ 9–9.5 MT | ≈ 20 MT |
| Husk: bag for the USA | 50 lb (22.68 kg) | ≈ 400–420 | ≈ 9–9.5 MT | ≈ 20 MT |
| Powder: paper bag with PE liner | 25 kg | ≈ 640–720 | ≈ 16–18 MT | ≈ 25–26 MT |
Whole husk is very light, so a container is full by volume at about 9 MT.
Where Psyllium Husk Is Used
Fibre Supplements
Powders, capsules and sachets.
Pharmaceuticals
Bulk-forming laxatives (USP, Ph. Eur.).
Heart-Health Foods
Cereals and foods carrying the FDA claim.
Gluten-Free and Keto Bakery
Binder in breads and doughs.
Food Thickener
Stabiliser in desserts, drinks and sauces.
Pet Food and Feed
Fibre for pets; low grades for feed.
Psyllium Husk Price: What Sets It
Psyllium husk is priced per metric tonne FOB, by purity. Prices follow the Unjha seed market.
- Seed crop: India's sown area and harvest weather set the year's price.
- Purity: each step from 85% to 99% adds to the price.
- Form: fine powder costs more than whole husk.
- US demand: the USA takes about three-quarters of India's husk.
- Testing: low-lead nutraceutical grades and extra tests add cost.
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
Every lot of psyllium husk is tested for purity, swell volume, moisture, ash, microbiology, heavy metals and pesticide residues at an NABL-accredited lab. Lead is the main concern for US supplement brands, so nutraceutical-grade lots are tested to low-lead limits. We never use ethylene oxide.
- Seed bought at Unjha and north Gujarat and Rajasthan mandis
- Lot sampling
- Lab tests: purity, swell volume, micro, heavy metals, pesticides and ETO
- Export documents
Documents with every shipment
Get a Psyllium Husk Quote
Share your grade, form, quantity and destination, and we will send an FOB or CIF price with the spec sheet.
Thank you. Our herbs desk will send your price and spec sheet.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is psyllium husk?
Psyllium husk is the seed coat of Plantago ovata, known in India as isabgol or sat isabgol. It is almost pure soluble fibre that swells in water, and is used in laxatives, fibre supplements and gluten-free baking.
What does 99% or 95% purity mean for psyllium husk?
The figure is 100% minus the light extraneous matter. 99% husk has at most 1% LEM and swells to about 50 ml/g or more; 95% has up to 5% LEM and swells to about 40 ml/g. Higher purity means more fibre per gram and a higher price.
What is the specification of psyllium husk for export?
Export psyllium husk typically has 95–99% purity, heavy extraneous matter ≤ 0.5%, swell volume ≥ 40 ml/g, moisture ≤ 12%, total ash ≤ 4%, acid-insoluble ash ≤ 1%, with Salmonella and E. coli absent, in line with the USP monograph.
What is the HS code for psyllium husk?
Psyllium husk is exported from India under ITC-HS 1211 90 32 (psyllium husk, isobgul husk). Psyllium seed uses 1211 90 13.
Which psyllium husk grade qualifies for the US FDA health claim?
The FDA claim (21 CFR 101.81) needs psyllium husk of at least 95% purity, with light extraneous matter ≤ 4.5%, heavy extraneous matter ≤ 0.5% and protein ≤ 3%. Our 98% and 99% grades meet it; 95% qualifies if it meets the LEM limit.
Who are psyllium husk manufacturers in India?
Most of India's psyllium husk is milled by 25–30 units around Unjha, Gujarat. Elysium Agri Corporation, based in Jamnagar, Gujarat, supplies Unjha-milled psyllium husk and powder in 85–99% purity, with lot-wise lab testing for export buyers.
