Key facts
- India exported US$59 million of millets in FY2024-25 (static.pib.gov.in).
- Largest destinations by value: unavailable
- Market guides for 20 countries, each with destination requirements and transit times.
- Certifications available from the supply base: FSSAI licence, APEDA RCMC, Phytosanitary certificate, HACCP, ISO 22000 and more.
- Typical minimum order: One 20' container mixed millets possible; LCL from about 2-5 MT for minor millets (typical).
Product overview
India is the world's largest millet producer and promoted the crops internationally as 'Shree Anna' during the 2023 International Year of Millets. PIB, citing APEDA, puts millet exports at US$ 59.23 million in FY2024-25 - small in value but growing from a low base as demand rises for gluten-free and low-glycaemic grains.
The main export products are whole pearl millet (bajra) from Rajasthan and Gujarat, sorghum (jowar) from Maharashtra and Karnataka, finger millet (ragi) from Karnataka, and hulled minor millets (foxtail, little, kodo, barnyard, proso) from Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Value-added flours, flakes and ready mixes are a separate, faster-growing line.
Minor millets need dehulling and good cleaning (stones and husk are the most common quality complaints), so buyers should specify sortex-cleaned grain and lab-tested moisture and aflatoxin.
HS note: Pearl, finger and minor millets fall under 1008 29; grain sorghum (jowar) is 1007. Millet flours go under 1102 and millet flakes/ready mixes under 1904.
Specifications
| Purity | ≥ 98-99% (sortex cleaned) (typical) |
|---|---|
| Moisture | ≤ 12% (typical) |
| Foreign matter | ≤ 0.5-1% (typical) |
| Admixture (other grains) | ≤ 1-2% (typical) |
| Aflatoxin | As per destination limit (EU B1 2 µg/kg / total 4 µg/kg for cereals - verify) |
Typical commercial values. Final specifications are fixed per contract and verified by lab report or pre-shipment inspection.
Grades & variants
Pearl millet (bajra) - green/grey, machine cleaned or sortex
Whole grain for flour milling, bird feed and ethnic grocery.
Sorghum (jowar) - white
Hybrid or Maldandi white jowar for flour, popping and gluten-free bakeries.
Finger millet (ragi) - red
Whole or flour; high calcium, used in porridges and baby food.
Hulled minor millets
Foxtail, little, kodo, barnyard, proso - dehulled, polished, sortexed for rice substitution.
Millet flours and flakes
Value-added milling products, retail packs.
Packaging, MOQ & container loading
| Packing | Sizes | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bulk | 25 kg and 50 kg PP bags | Fumigated container |
| Retail | 500 g-5 kg pouches | Private label possible for hulled millets and flours |
Container load (estimate): 20' GP about 22-25 MT bagged · 40' HC about 25-26 MT (weight-limited). Dense grain; weight-limited like rice
Customisation: Hulled and polished minor millets, flours, flakes, retail pouches, organic-certified lots
Where we source in India
Producing regions and manufacturing clusters our supplier network draws from.
Rajasthan
Barmer, Jodhpur, Jaipur, Nagaur
Largest pearl millet (bajra) area
Karnataka
Tumakuru, Hassan, Chitradurga, Mandya
Finger millet (ragi) and minor millets
Maharashtra
Solapur, Ahmednagar, Pune
Sorghum (jowar)
Andhra Pradesh
Anantapur, Kurnool, Chittoor
Foxtail and other minor millets
Market requirements by region
European Union
EU buyers focus on organic and gluten-free claims and pesticide MRLs; check the EU Pesticides Database and organic import rules (COI in TRACES NT).
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. US and Canadian demand is driven by gluten-free and ancient-grain retail; organic lots need USDA NOP certification (no India equivalence).
Gulf (GCC)
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 and Saudi Arabia buy bajra and jowar for diaspora retail and bird feed.
Australia & New Zealand
Australia: check the DAFF BICON case for this commodity (permit, treatment, inspection) and FSANZ labelling/country-of-origin rules; imported food is inspected under the Imported Food Inspection Scheme. Whole grains generally need BICON import conditions checked for seed viability/contamination.
General guidance, not legal advice. Confirm current requirements with your customs broker or the regulator.
Quality control
- • Pre-shipment inspection by SGS / Bureau Veritas / Intertek on request
- • Accredited (NABL) lab report for moisture, aflatoxin, pesticide residues and microbials
- • Pre-shipment and loading photographs, container seal record
Certifications available
- • FSSAI licence
- • APEDA RCMC
- • Phytosanitary certificate
- • HACCP
- • ISO 22000
- • Halal certificate
- • Kosher certificate
- • India Organic (NPOP)
- • USDA Organic (NOP)
- • EU Organic
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)
- • Phytosanitary certificate
- • Fumigation certificate
- • Certificate of analysis
- • Organic transaction certificate (if organic)
Trade data
| Period | Flow | Value (USD mn) | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2024-25 | India exportsLine: Millets | 59.2 | verified | static.pib.gov.in |
Top destinations: unavailable
Export markets
Frequently asked questions
Which millets do you export?
Pearl millet (bajra), sorghum (jowar), finger millet (ragi) and hulled minor millets such as foxtail, little, kodo, barnyard and proso, plus flours and flakes.
Are your minor millets dehulled?
Minor millets are supplied dehulled, cleaned and sortexed for direct cooking; whole-grain forms are also available for flour mills.
Can you supply organic millets?
Organic millets are available from NPOP-certified grower groups; US buyers need separate USDA NOP certification on the lot.
What is the shelf life of millet flour?
Typically 3-6 months because of the oil content; whole grain keeps around 12 months in dry storage.
How big is India's millet export trade?
PIB (citing APEDA) puts FY2024-25 millet exports at US$ 59.23 million - a small but growing category.
Request a quote for Millets (Pearl, Sorghum, Finger, Foxtail, Little, Kodo, Barnyard)
Tell us grade, quantity and destination. We reply with options, packaging and pricing on your Incoterm.
