Key facts
- 3 production clusters mapped, in Uttar Pradesh; Maharashtra; Telangana; Punjab, Gujarat; Haryana; Punjab; Maharashtra; Karnataka, Gujarat; Maharashtra.
- Market guides for 23 countries, each with destination requirements and transit times.
- Certifications available from the supply base: FSSAI licence, APEDA RCMC, EIC export health certificate, HACCP, ISO 22000 and more.
- Typical minimum order: One 20' container (about 16-18 MT in tins) or LCL for retail lines (typical).
Product overview
India is the world's largest milk producer and a natural origin for ghee (clarified butter). Dairy exports were US$ 721 million in FY2024-25 per APEDA's product table (US$ 492.86 million in its livestock section), with the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the USA and Egypt the leading destinations; a ghee-only value is not available in the sources used.
Ghee is produced by cooperative and private dairies in Gujarat (Anand, Mehsana), Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, from cow milk, buffalo milk or a mix. It is sold to South Asian diaspora retail, Middle Eastern cooking (where samn/ghee is traditional), and increasingly to keto/paleo and Ayurvedic health-food brands.
Ghee is shelf-stable at ambient temperature. Key specifications are moisture, free fatty acids, Reichert-Meissl and Polenske values (authenticity), and the absence of vegetable-fat adulteration. Dairy exports require EIC certification and listing for markets with veterinary controls.
HS note: Ghee is classified under 0405 90 (India has a specific 8-digit line); butter is 0405 10.
Specifications
| Milk fat | ≥ 99.5% (typical) |
|---|---|
| Moisture | ≤ 0.3-0.5% (typical; FSSAI limit 0.5%) |
| FFA (as oleic) | ≤ 1.4-3.0% (FSSAI; typical) |
| RM value | ≥ 24-28 per FSSAI state standards (typical) |
| Adulteration | No vegetable fat / animal body fat (Baudouin and sterol tests) |
Typical commercial values. Final specifications are fixed per contract and verified by lab report or pre-shipment inspection.
Grades & variants
Cow ghee
Golden yellow, granular texture.
Buffalo ghee
White, higher yield; preferred in some Gulf markets.
Mixed-milk ghee
Standard diaspora grade.
A2 / bilona / grass-fed / organic
Premium health-food positioning (claims must be substantiated).
Butter oil (anhydrous milk fat)
Industrial grade for recombination and bakery.
Packaging, MOQ & container loading
| Packing | Sizes | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Retail | 200 ml-1 L glass/PET jars; 1-15 kg tins | Private label |
| Bulk | 15 kg tins, 200 kg drums | For repackers and industry |
Container load (estimate): 20' GP about 16-18 MT (tins/jars) · 40' HC about 22-24 MT. Ambient dry container; avoid high-heat stuffing
Customisation: Cow/buffalo/A2/organic, jar and tin formats, private label
Where we source in India
Producing regions and manufacturing clusters our supplier network draws from.
Gujarat
Anand, Kheda, Mehsana, Banaskantha
Cooperative dairy heartland
Punjab
Ludhiana, Patiala
Private and cooperative dairies
Haryana
Karnal, Sonipat
Private dairies; NDRI Karnal
Rajasthan
Jaipur, Alwar
Cow ghee
Market requirements by region
European Union
EU entry of milk products requires India to be listed for the commodity and an EU-listed establishment with TRACES NT certificates - check current listing status before quoting.
United States & Canada
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. The USA is a top-five dairy destination (APEDA); ghee health/A2 claims must comply with FDA labelling rules.
Gulf (GCC)
Saudi Arabia: the importer registers the establishment and each product on SFDA's Ghad platform; FASAH clearance needs certificate of origin, invoice showing batch and expiry, health/phytosanitary certificate as applicable; Arabic labelling per SFDA.FD/GSO 9. UAE, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain are the top three dairy destinations (APEDA FY2024-25); dairy products need health and halal certificates.
Africa
Egypt is a top-five dairy destination (APEDA FY2024-25); Arabic labelling and NFSA clearance apply.
General guidance, not legal advice. Confirm current requirements with your customs broker or the regulator.
Trade policy note
Dairy exports require EIC certification for notified markets; as of 2026-11 no ghee-specific export restriction was found - verify current DGFT policy before quoting.
Quality control
- • EIC-approved establishment where the destination requires veterinary certification
- • Authenticity tests (RM/Polenske, sterols, Baudouin)
- • FFA, moisture and peroxide value per batch
Certifications available
- • FSSAI licence
- • APEDA RCMC
- • EIC export health certificate
- • HACCP
- • ISO 22000
- • FSSC 22000
- • Halal certificate
- • Kosher certificate
- • India Organic (NPOP)
- • USDA Organic (NOP)
- • SFDA registration
Held by the producing supplier for the specific lot; copies shared with the quote.
Shipping documents
- • Commercial invoice
- • Packing list
- • Bill of lading
- • Certificate of origin (preferential where an FTA applies)
- • EIC veterinary/health certificate
- • Certificate of analysis
- • Halal certificate (GCC/SEA)
Export markets
Frequently asked questions
Is ghee shelf-stable?
Yes, properly made ghee keeps 12-18 months at ambient temperature in sealed jars or tins.
What is the difference between cow and buffalo ghee?
Cow ghee is golden and granular; buffalo ghee is whiter with a different flavour and is preferred in some markets.
How do you ensure ghee is not adulterated?
Batches are tested for RM and Polenske values, sterols and the Baudouin test to detect vegetable or animal body fat.
Can you supply A2 or organic ghee?
Yes, from dairies with substantiated A2 or organic certification; claims are made only where documentation exists.
Request a quote for Ghee (Cow and Buffalo; Clarified Butter)
Tell us grade, quantity and destination. We reply with options, packaging and pricing on your Incoterm.
