Cumin Seeds (Jeera)
Elysium Agri is a cumin seeds exporter supplying whole Indian cumin (jeera) from Gujarat and Rajasthan, the source of almost all the world's traded cumin. We ship Singapore, Gulf and Europe quality grades from 98% to 99.5% purity, machine-cleaned or sortex-cleaned, with high volatile oil and every lot tested for pesticides, ethylene oxide and Salmonella.
Our cumin is sourced through Unjha, Asia's largest cumin market, whose cumin received a GI tag in July 2026. India exported about 1.97 lakh tonnes of cumin worth US$ 524 million in 2025-26 (Spices Board), mainly to the UAE, Bangladesh and the USA.
Cumin Seeds Specification
Grades
Singapore 98 / 99, Gulf 99, Europe 99.5 sortex
Admixture
2% / 1% / 0.5% max by grade
Moisture
8% max (Codex 10%)
Total Ash / AIA
≤ 8.5% / ≤ 1.5%
Salmonella
Absent in 25 g
ETO and Pesticides
ETO not detected; EU / US / Japan MRLs
Aflatoxin / OTA
B1 ≤ 5 · total ≤ 10 · OTA ≤ 15 µg/kg
Packing
25 / 50 kg PP, 25 kg paper with liner
Container Load
20 ft ≈ 13–14 MT · 40 ft ≈ 26–28 MT
Cumin Seeds: Full Export Specification
The standard export specification for our whole cumin seeds, benchmarked to Codex CXS 327-2017 Class I. Send your own specification with your enquiry.
| General | Specification | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Product | Whole cumin seeds (Cuminum cyminum L.), dried | Jeera |
| Origin | Gujarat (Unjha, Saurashtra) and Rajasthan, India | Unjha cumin: GI tag, Jul 2026 |
| Crop / season | Rabi crop, harvested Feb–Apr; Unjha arrivals Mar–May | Crop year on each contract |
| Colour / aroma | Greyish-brown; strong, characteristic cumin aroma | Sensory |
| Physical | Specification | Test method / note |
|---|---|---|
| Purity / admixture by grade | Singapore 98 (2%) · Singapore 99 / Gulf (1%) · Europe 99.5 sortex (0.5%) | ISO 927 |
| Extraneous vegetable matter | ≤ 1% | Codex Class I |
| Foreign matter | ≤ 0.1–0.5% by grade | Codex Class I 0.1% |
| Insect-damaged | ≤ 0.5% | Codex Class I |
| Visible mould | ≤ 1% | Codex |
| Moisture | ≤ 8% | ISO 939; Codex max 10% |
| ASTA cleanliness (US) | Whole dead insects ≤ 4; mammalian excreta ≤ 3 mg/lb; other excreta ≤ 5 mg/lb; mould ≤ 1%; insect-defiled ≤ 1% | For US buyers |
| Chemical | Specification | Test method / note |
|---|---|---|
| Total ash | ≤ 8.5% (dry basis) | ISO 928; Codex Class I |
| Acid-insoluble ash | ≤ 1.5% | ISO 930; Codex Class I |
| Food safety | Specification | Test method / note |
|---|---|---|
| Aflatoxin | B1 ≤ 5 µg/kg; total ≤ 10 µg/kg | HPLC; EU limit for listed spices, applied by contract |
| Ochratoxin A | ≤ 15 µg/kg | HPLC; EU limit for spices |
| Ethylene oxide (ETO + 2-chloroethanol) | Not detected (below EU MRL; Spices Board test level 0.02 mg/kg for EU) | GC-MS/MS; no ETO fumigation used |
| Pesticide residues | Within EU / US / Japan MRLs (chlorpyrifos below LOQ) | LC-MS/MS and GC-MS/MS multi-residue screen |
| Lead | ≤ 0.9 mg/kg (EU limit for seed spices) | ICP-MS / AAS |
| Pyrrolizidine alkaloids | ≤ 400 µg/kg | EU limit for cumin |
| Salmonella | Absent in 25 g | ISO 6579-1 |
| Commercial | Specification | Note |
|---|---|---|
| HS code | 0909 31 29 (cumin, other than black, whole) | 0909 32 00 for ground cumin |
| Packing | 25 / 50 kg PP bags · 25 kg multi-wall paper with liner · 1 MT totes | Buyer's marks on request |
| Container load | 20 ft: about 13–14 MT · 40 ft: about 26–28 MT | See Cumin Packing and Container Loading |
| Documents | Spices Board clearance / health certificate (mandatory sampling for EU) · Official ETO certificate for EU (Annex II) · Certificate of Analysis (pesticides, ETO, aflatoxin, ochratoxin, Salmonella) · Phytosanitary Certificate · Certificate of Origin · Fumigation Certificate (where required) | — |
Singapore, Gulf and Europe Quality Cumin Explained
Cumin is traded by quality grade. "Singapore 99" is the benchmark grade that Indian cumin prices are quoted against.
| Grade | Purity / admixture | Cleaning | Typical market |
|---|---|---|---|
| Singapore 98 | 98% / 2% | Machine-cleaned | SE Asia, Africa, grinders |
| Singapore 99 | 99% / 1% | Machine-cleaned | Benchmark grade; Asia, Middle East |
| Gulf quality | 99% / 1% | Machine-cleaned, bold seed | UAE, Saudi Arabia, GCC |
| Europe quality | 99.5% / 0.5% | Sortex | EU, UK, USA |
| Sortex 99.9 | 99.9% / 0.1% | Double sortex | — |
| Codex CXS 327-2017 (whole) | Class I | Class II | Class III |
|---|---|---|---|
| Extraneous vegetable matter (% max) | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Foreign matter (% max) | 0.1 | 0.5 | 0.5 |
| Total ash (% max, dry) | 8.5 | 10 | 12 |
| Acid-insoluble ash (% max) | 1.5 | 3 | 4 |
| Volatile oil (ml/100 g min) | 2.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 |
| Moisture (% max) | 10 | 10 | 10 |
FSSAI's cumin standard matches Codex Class III; export buyers usually ask for Class I or better.
Machine-Cleaned or Sortex Cumin
Machine Cleaned
Destoned, graded and cleaned. Singapore 98 / 99 and Gulf grades.
Sortex Cleaned
Optical sorting removes off-colour seeds and admixture. Europe 99.5%.
Looking for kalonji? Black Cumin Seeds →. Also from Unjha: Fennel Seeds →
Cumin Packing and Container Loading
| Pack type | Net weight | Units per 20 ft | Net per 20 ft | Net per 40 ft HC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PP bag | 25 kg | ≈ 520–560 | ≈ 13–14 MT | ≈ 26–28 MT |
| PP bag | 50 kg | ≈ 260–280 | ≈ 13–14 MT | ≈ 26–28 MT |
| Multi-wall paper with liner | 25 kg | ≈ 520–560 | ≈ 13–14 MT | ≈ 26–28 MT |
| Tote bag | 1,000 kg | ≈ 13 | ≈ 13 MT | ≈ 26 MT |
Where Indian Cumin Is Used
Spice Blends and Grinders
Garam masala, curry powder, taco and chilli blends.
Food Manufacturers
Ready meals, sauces, snacks and seasonings.
Middle Eastern and North African Cuisine
Whole and ground cumin for rice, meat and falafel.
Spice Oil and Oleoresin
High-volatile-oil cumin for extraction.
Retail Packers
Whole cumin for branded spice packs.
Bakery and Cheese
Cumin breads and cumin Gouda.
Cumin Seeds Price: What Sets It
Cumin is one of India's most volatile spice prices. It is quoted per metric tonne FOB, and Unjha mandi prices lead the market.
- Crop size: the Gujarat and Rajasthan rabi crop (harvested Feb–Apr) sets the year's price.
- Grade: Europe 99.5 sortex costs more than Singapore 99 and 98.
- Volatile oil: high-oil lots command a premium from grinders and extractors.
- Demand from China and the Gulf: big buying rounds move Unjha prices quickly.
- Compliance: EU-grade lots with ETO and pesticide testing cost more.
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
EU shipments go through the Spices Board's mandatory sampling and carry the official ETO certificate. Indian cumin is under 50% EU border checks for pesticide residues (Annex I, Regulation (EU) 2019/1793 as amended by 2026/1206), so every EU lot is screened before loading.
- Sourcing from Gujarat and Rajasthan mandis
- Lot sampling (Spices Board / NABL-accredited lab)
- Pesticides, ETO, aflatoxin, ochratoxin and Salmonella tests
- Spices Board clearance and export documents
Documents with every shipment
Get a Cumin Quote
Share your grade, quantity and destination, and we will send an FOB or CIF price with the spec sheet.
Thank you. Our spices desk will send your price and spec sheet.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is Singapore 99 quality cumin?
Singapore 99 is the benchmark trade grade for Indian cumin: 99% purity with a maximum of 1% admixture, usually machine-cleaned. Indian cumin prices are quoted against it. Singapore 98 allows 2% admixture, and Europe quality is 99.5% sortex-cleaned.
What is the specification of cumin seeds for export?
Export cumin typically has 98–99.5% purity, 8% max moisture, volatile oil of at least 2.5 ml/100 g, total ash ≤ 8.5%, acid-insoluble ash ≤ 1.5%, Salmonella absent in 25 g, and pesticide and ETO residues within EU or buyer limits, in line with Codex CXS 327-2017 Class I.
What is the HS code for cumin seeds?
Whole cumin seeds are exported from India under HS 0909 31 29 (cumin, other than black, other than seed quality). Ground cumin is 0909 32 00.
Is jeera the same as cumin?
Yes. Jeera is the Hindi name for cumin (Cuminum cyminum). It is not the same as black cumin or kalonji (Nigella sativa), or shahi jeera (Bunium persicum).
How many tonnes of cumin fit in a 20 ft container?
A 20 ft container holds about 13–14 metric tonnes of cumin seeds, and a 40 ft about 26–28 tonnes.
Does Indian cumin meet EU pesticide and ETO rules?
It can, but it must be tested. Indian cumin faces 50% EU border checks for pesticide residues, and Indian spices need an official ETO certificate. Elysium Agri tests every EU lot for pesticides and ETO at an accredited lab and ships through the Spices Board's mandatory sampling.
When is the new cumin crop available?
India's cumin is a rabi crop harvested from February to April. New-crop arrivals peak at Unjha from March to May, which is usually the best time to book.
Who exports cumin seeds from India?
Elysium Agri Corporation, based in Jamnagar, Gujarat, exports whole cumin seeds sourced through Unjha in Singapore, Gulf and Europe grades, with lot-wise pesticide, ETO and Salmonella testing and Spices Board clearance.
