The Oman market for Indian kabuli chickpeas
UAE: Dubai Municipality FIRS requires the importer to register the company and each food item (label assessment) before arrival; Arabic/English labelling per GSO 9; India-UAE CEPA preference with a CEPA certificate of origin. UAE (11.10% of India's FY2024-25 pulses exports, APEDA) and Saudi Arabia are core hummus/falafel markets.
Indian community in Oman (Ministry of External Affairs estimate): 678,837 (NRI 676,781 + PIO 2,056).
Kabuli Chickpeas specification for Oman orders
| Parameter | Typical export value |
|---|---|
| Size | 42-44, 44-46, 58-60, 60-62, 75-80 count per ounce or 8-12 mm screen (typical) |
| Moisture | ≤ 12-13% (typical) |
| Admixture / foreign matter | ≤ 0.5% (typical) |
| Damaged / weevilled | ≤ 1-2% (typical) |
| Splits | ≤ 1-2% (typical) |
| Processing | Machine cleaned, sortexed, double polished (typical) |
Final values are agreed per contract, then confirmed by lab report or pre-shipment inspection.
Shipping kabuli chickpeas to Oman
Typical sea transit from India: 3–5 d Mundra/Nhava Sheva → Sohar/Muscat; 4–6 d Salalah (ASSUMPTION — this file's analyst estimate, not in 06 §F.2) days.
Container loading (estimate): 20' about 22-25 MT bagged, 40' HC about 25-26 MT (weight-limited).
Quoted on FOB, CFR, CIF, FCA; CIF Oman is the common choice for first orders.
Where buyers are in Oman
| City | Port / airport | Buyer sectors |
|---|---|---|
| Muscat | Port Sultan Qaboos (Muttrah; now mainly cruise/tourism, cargo shifted to Sohar) / Port of | Indian diaspora grocery & restaurants (Indians largest expat group), HORECA, pharma distributors |
| Salalah | Port of Salalah (APM Terminals; major transshipment hub, Arabian Sea) · Salalah Internatio | Indian grocery, transshipment-linked logistics & re-exporters to East Africa/Yemen, free-zone manufacturers (inputs) |
| Sohar | Port of Sohar (Sohar Industrial Port; container terminal operated by Hutchison Ports) · So | industrial catering, steel/aluminium/petrochemical plants (refractories, chemicals |
Frequently asked questions
How long does shipping from India to Oman take?
Typically 3–5 d Mundra/Nhava Sheva → Sohar/Muscat; 4–6 d Salalah (ASSUMPTION — this file's analyst estimate, not in 06 §F.2) days at sea (estimate).
Does Oman have a trade agreement with India?
India–Oman CEPA signed 18 Dec 2025, in force 1 Jun 2026 (zero duty on ~99% of Indian export lines per S10) [S7][S9][S10] A preferential certificate of origin is needed to claim any reduced duty.
Which HS code applies to kabuli chickpeas from India?
Usually HS 071320. Oman applies its own national tariff extension to the 6-digit code; confirm the full line with your broker.
What does 42-44 count mean?
It is the number of chickpeas per ounce (28.35 g); a lower count means larger seeds. 42-44 is a bold premium grade.
Do you supply desi chickpeas and chana dal too?
Yes, desi (brown) chickpeas and split chana dal can be supplied for South Asian diaspora markets alongside kabuli grades.
When is the new crop available?
The Indian rabi chickpea harvest runs roughly February-April; new-crop shipments start from about April.
Related guides
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