Red Lentils (Masoor Dal: Whole, Split and Football)
Elysium Agri exports red lentils (masoor, Lens culinaris) as whole masoor, red split lentils (masoor dal / malka) and red football lentils (whole, dehulled). Every lot is cleaned, milled where needed, sortexed and tested for moisture, admixture, pesticides including glyphosate, and heavy metals.
India grew a record 1.6 million tonnes of lentils in 2023-24 and is also one of the world's largest lentil importers. India's lentil exports, mostly milled red lentils, reached about 1.69 lakh tonnes worth US$ 149 million in 2024, with Bangladesh taking over 60%.
Red Lentils Specification
Forms
Whole masoor · red split · football
Purity
99% min (sortex)
Moisture
12% max
Foreign Matter
≤ 0.2–0.5%
Damage
≤ 2%
Peeled / Broken (whole)
≤ 2%
Glyphosate
≤ 10 mg/kg (EU MRL); tested
Lead / Cadmium
≤ 0.20 / ≤ 0.040 mg/kg (EU)
Container Load
20 ft ≈ 24–25 MT
Red Lentils: Full Export Specification
The standard export specification for our red lentils, benchmarked to Codex CXS 171-1989, FSSAI and the Canadian No. 2 lentil grade. Send your own specification with your enquiry.
| General | Specification | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Product | Lentils (Lens culinaris Medik.), red cotyledon: whole, dehulled whole (football) or split | Masoor / masoor dal / malka |
| Crop / season | Indian rabi crop: sown Oct–Nov, harvested Feb–Apr | — |
| Colour | Whole: brown seed coat · split / football: orange-red | Visual |
| Physical | Specification | Test method / note |
|---|---|---|
| Purity | 99% min | — |
| Moisture | ≤ 12% | ISO 24557; FSSAI max 14% whole / 12% split |
| Foreign material | ≤ 0.2–0.5% | CAN No. 1: 0.2%, No. 2: 0.5% |
| Stones | ≤ 0.1% | CAN No. 1: 0.1% |
| Total damage | ≤ 2% | CAN No. 1: 2% |
| Peeled, split, broken (whole) | ≤ 2% | CAN No. 1: 2% |
| Contrasting classes | ≤ 0.5% | CAN No. 2: 0.5% |
| FSSAI / Codex benchmarks | Limit | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Moisture (FSSAI legal max) | 14% whole · 12% dehusked / split | FSSAI 2.4.6(22), 2025 |
| Extraneous matter | ≤ 1% (mineral ≤ 0.25%, animal origin ≤ 0.10%) | FSSAI; Codex CXS 171 |
| Other edible grains | ≤ 2% | FSSAI |
| Damaged (incl. broken ≤ 3%) | ≤ 7% | FSSAI; Codex slight defects |
| Discoloured | ≤ 3% | FSSAI |
| Food safety | Specification | Test method / note |
|---|---|---|
| Pesticide residues | Within EU / destination MRLs (e.g. EU chlorpyrifos and thiamethoxam 0.01 mg/kg) | LC-MS/MS and GC-MS/MS multi-residue screen |
| Glyphosate | ≤ 10 mg/kg (EU MRL for lentils); lower on request | LC-MS/MS |
| Lead | ≤ 0.20 mg/kg | ICP-MS; EU limit for pulses (Reg 2023/915) |
| Cadmium | ≤ 0.040 mg/kg | ICP-MS; EU limit for pulses |
| Uric acid | ≤ 100 mg/kg | FSSAI |
| Live insects | Nil | Visual; fumigated before loading |
| Commercial | Specification | Note |
|---|---|---|
| HS code | 0713 40 00 (lentils, whether or not skinned or split) | Covers whole, split and football red lentils |
| Packing | 25 / 50 kg PP or BOPP bags · jute bags on request · 1 MT jumbo bags | Buyer's marks and private label on request |
| Container load | 20 ft: about 24–25 MT · 40 ft HC: about 26–27 MT | See Red Lentils Packing and Container Loading |
| Shelf life | 12 months in cool, dry storage | Cool, dry, ventilated storage away from odours |
| Documents | Phytosanitary Certificate · Certificate of Origin · Certificate of Analysis (moisture, admixture, pesticides, lead, cadmium) · Fumigation Certificate (where required by destination) · Independent inspection (SGS or buyer's surveyor) on request | — |
Whole Masoor, Red Split or Football Lentils?
About 90–95% of red lentils are sold dehulled, as football or split.
| Form | What it is | Look | Main uses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whole masoor (sabut) | Whole, seed coat on | Brown | Whole dal, soups |
| Red football | Whole, dehulled | Round, orange-red | Soups, Middle Eastern cooking, retail |
| Red split (masoor dal / malka) | Dehulled and split | Orange-red halves | Masoor dal, soups, lentil flour |
Codex CXS 171 moisture limit for lentils: 15–16%; export trade works to 12–14%.
Red Lentil Options
Whole Masoor
Sortexed whole lentils.
Red Football
Dehulled whole lentils.
Red Lentils 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 | ≈ 480–520 | ≈ 24–26 MT | ≈ 26–28 MT |
| PP / BOPP bag | 25 kg | ≈ 960–1,040 | ≈ 24–26 MT | ≈ 26–28 MT |
| Jumbo bag | 1,000 kg | ≈ 24 | ≈ 24 MT | ≈ 26–28 MT |
Where Red Lentils Are Used
Masoor Dal
Quick-cooking everyday dal.
Soups
Middle Eastern and European lentil soups.
Lentil Flour and Pasta
Gluten-free flours.
Ready Meals
Dals, soups and curries.
Retail Packs
Whole, split and football lentils.
Plant Protein
Protein ingredients.
Red Lentil Price: What Sets It
Red lentils are priced per metric tonne FOB or CNF. World prices follow Canada and Australia; Indian prices also depend on import duty.
- World crops: Canadian and Australian harvests set world prices.
- Indian crop: rabi masoor harvest in UP, MP and Bihar.
- Import duty: India levies 10% on lentil imports (since March 2025).
- Form: split and football lentils carry milling costs.
- Support price: masur MSP 2026-27 is ₹7,000 per quintal.
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
Indian pulses are not under increased EU border checks, but we test to EU and destination limits for every buyer.
- Lot sampling
- Moisture, admixture, pesticide and heavy-metal tests
- Phytosanitary, fumigation and export documents
Documents with every shipment
Get a Red Lentil Quote
Share your grade, quantity and destination, and we will send an FOB or CIF price with the spec sheet.
Thank you. Our pulses desk will send your price and spec sheet.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What are red lentils?
Red lentils (masoor) are lentils with a red-orange cotyledon. They are sold whole with a brown seed coat, dehulled whole as football lentils, or split as masoor dal.
What is the difference between red split and football lentils?
Both are dehulled. Football lentils are whole and round; red split lentils (masoor dal) are split into halves and cook faster.
What is the specification of red lentils for export?
Export red lentils typically have 99% purity, moisture ≤ 12%, foreign material ≤ 0.2–0.5%, stones ≤ 0.1%, damage ≤ 2% and glyphosate within the EU MRL of 10 mg/kg, close to the Canadian No. 1–2 grades.
What is the HS code for red lentils?
Lentils, whole or split, are exported from India under ITC-HS 0713 40 00.
Does India export red lentils?
Yes. India exported about 1.69 lakh tonnes of lentils in 2024, mostly milled red lentils, with Bangladesh taking over 60% and smaller volumes to Iraq, Djibouti, the UAE and Malaysia (WITS).
Are your lentils tested for glyphosate?
Yes. Glyphosate is a known issue in lentils, so we test to the EU MRL (10 mg/kg for lentils) or the buyer's lower limit.
Who exports red lentils from India?
Elysium Agri Corporation, based in Jamnagar, Gujarat, exports whole masoor, red split lentils and football lentils, sortexed and tested for moisture, admixture, glyphosate and heavy metals.
