The United States market for Indian dehydrated garlic and onion
USA: the packing facility needs FDA Food Facility Registration, every shipment needs FDA Prior Notice, and the US importer must run FSVP supplier verification. US tariff treatment of Indian goods changed several times in 2025-26 (reciprocal tariffs, product exemptions, a Feb-2026 India-US framework and later court rulings) - verify the current duty for the HTS line before quoting landed cost. US buyers commonly require low-micro (steam/heat-treated) grades.
Indian community in United States (Ministry of External Affairs estimate): 6,079,221 overseas Indians (PIO 3,767,737 + NRI 2,311,484) — largest PIO population worldwide.
Dehydrated Garlic and Onion specification for United States orders
| Parameter | Typical export value |
|---|---|
| Moisture | ≤ 5-6% onion; ≤ 6% garlic (typical) |
| Colour | White to creamish (white onion); pink (red onion) (typical) |
| Mesh sizes | Flakes 8-20 mm; chopped 3-5 mm; minced 1-3 mm; granules 0.2-0.5 mm; powder 80-100 mesh (typical) |
| TPC | ≤ 100,000-500,000 cfu/g standard; lower for low-micro grades (typical) |
| Salmonella | Absent in 25 g |
Final values are agreed per contract and checked against the United States requirements below, then confirmed by lab report or pre-shipment inspection.
Import requirements in United States
| Requirement | Regulator | Document / registration |
|---|---|---|
| Facility registration | FDA | Food Facility Registration (biennial, even years Oct-Dec) + US Agent |
| Advance notice of each shipment | FDA | Prior Notice via PNSI/ACE (<=5 days before; min 8h sea / 2h air) |
| Importer supplier verification | FDA (FSMA) | FSVP by the US importer |
| Process filing | FDA | FCE registration + SID process filing |
| Import permit / phytosanitary | USDA APHIS | APHIS permit (where required); PSC; ACIR tool; ISPM-15 WPM |
| HACCP & species | FDA / NOAA | Seafood HACCP (21 CFR 123); SIMP for listed species |
| Lacey Act | USDA APHIS / CBP | Lacey Act plant product declaration |
General guidance as of November 2026. Confirm with your customs broker or the regulator before shipping. Final regulatory decisions require professional verification.
Shipping dehydrated garlic and onion to United States
Typical sea transit Jawaharlal Nehru Port (Nhava Sheva) → New York / New Jersey: 24-30 via Suez; 32-40 via Cape days. India-USEC services route via Suez/Med when open; FDA prior notice >=8h before arrival by sea
Supply window: Indian dehydrated garlic and onion is mainly produced or harvested Harvest Mar-Apr (ASSUMPTION); Rabi (storable) Mar-May; kharif Oct-Dec; late-kharif Jan-Feb (ASSUMPTION). Allow 24-30 via Suez; 32-40 via Cape days at sea plus 5–10 days for inspection, export clearance and United States customs when you set delivery dates.
Container loading (estimate): 20' about 10-14 MT (flakes) / 14-17 MT (powder), 40' HC about 20-24 MT.
Quoted on FOB, CFR, CIF, FCA; CIF New York / New Jersey is the common choice for first orders.
Where buyers are in United States
| City | Port / airport | Buyer sectors |
|---|---|---|
| New York City | Port of New York and New Jersey (Newark/Elizabeth, Staten Island, Red Hook) · John F. Kenn | HORECA, Indian diaspora grocery & spice distributors, apparel/home-textile importers |
| Houston | Port Houston (Bayport & Barbours Cut container terminals) · George Bush Intercontinental ( | Indian diaspora grocery & restaurants, oilfield & engineering goods buyers (pipes, valves |
| Dallas | Houston, inland (also rail from LA/Long Beach via DFW intermodal) · Dallas/Fort Worth Inte | apparel & home-textile wholesale (Dallas Market Center), Indian diaspora grocers (large Telugu/Gujarati community), IT services |
| Atlanta | Savannah (Georgia Ports Authority), inland ~400 km · Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Internatio | engineering goods for Southeast distribution, Indian diaspora grocery & restaurant supply (large Gujarati community), home-textile/carpet trade |
| Miami | PortMiami; Port Everglades (Fort Lauderdale) · Miami International (MIA) - top US internat | HORECA, Latin America re-export distributors, pharma/generics for LatAm |
| Newark-Edison, New Jersey | Port Newark-Elizabeth (Port of NY/NJ) - largest East Coast container port · Newark Liberty | Indian diaspora grocery/spice wholesalers (largest South Asian hub in US), pharma/generics & API buyers, apparel & home-textile importers |
Frequently asked questions
What do I need to import dehydrated garlic and onion into United States?
Key requirements: Facility registration — FDA (Food Facility Registration (biennial, even years Oct-Dec) + US Agent); Advance notice of each shipment — FDA (Prior Notice via PNSI/ACE (<=5 days before; min 8h sea / 2h air)); Importer supplier verification — FDA (FSMA) (FSVP by the US importer); Process filing — FDA (FCE registration + SID process filing). Your customs broker confirms the full list for your HS line.
How long does shipping from India to United States take?
Typically 24-30 via Suez; 32-40 via Cape days port-to-port from Jawaharlal Nehru Port (Nhava Sheva) to New York / New Jersey, plus 5–10 days for stuffing, export clearance and destination clearance (estimates).
Does United States have a trade agreement with India?
No FTA; BTA under negotiation (talks 1–4 Jun 2026) [S7]. Tariff on Indian goods as of 22 Oct 2026: MFN + 10% Section 301 (from 24 Jul 2026), or the Section 232 rate for steel/aluminium/autos/copper; IEEPA tariffs struck down by the Supreme Court 20 Feb 2026 — verify weekly [06 §C.3] A preferential certificate of origin is needed to claim any reduced duty.
Which HS code applies to dehydrated garlic and onion from India?
Usually HS 071220. United States applies its own national tariff extension to the 6-digit code; confirm the full line with your broker.
What forms of dehydrated onion do you supply?
Flakes (kibbled), chopped, minced, granules and powder, plus fried (crispy) onion.
Where is Indian dehydrated onion made?
Mainly in the Mahuva cluster of Bhavnagar district, Gujarat, using white onion grown in Saurashtra.
What is the shelf life?
Typically 18-24 months in sealed, double-poly-lined cartons stored dry.
Related guides
Request a quote: dehydrated garlic and onion to United States
Tell us grade, quantity and your port in United States. We quote CIF/CFR with the destination documents listed above.