Amaranth
Amaranth is the seed of several species of the genus Amaranthus, chiefly Amaranthus cruentus, hypochondriacus and caudatus, tall broadleaf plants grown in Mesoamerica and the Andes long before European contact and now planted across Asia, Africa and Europe. Like quinoa it is a pseudocereal rather than a grass, and it carries no gluten. The seed is very small, roughly a millimetre across, pale gold to dark brown. It is popped, flaked, milled into flour, cooked as a porridge and used in cereals, bars, breads, extruded snacks and infant food. The leaves of the same plant are eaten as a vegetable across Africa and South Asia.
Listed amaranth markets
Each line is a grade at a delivery point. Open one for its full specification and terms.
Grades
Amaranth is graded on physical purity and seed size, on species and colour, and on the analytical figures a food manufacturer contracts against.
Physical purity and condition
12 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| SpeciesAmaranthus cruentus, hypochondriacus or caudatus, declared | Seed size, colour and popping behaviour differ between them. |
| Seed colourPale gold, cream, brown or black, declared | Dark seed is common in wild and volunteer plants and is separated out of pale lots. |
| PurityMinimum percentage by mass of sound seed of the named species | Determined by hand separation of a weighed sample after sieving. |
| Other seedsMaximum count or percentage by mass | Seeds of any other cultivated or wild species, separated and weighed. |
| Foreign and extraneous matterMaximum percentage by mass | Stones, soil, chaff, stalk, husk fragments and any non seed material. |
| Broken and damaged seedMaximum percentage by mass | Split, cracked, shrivelled, heat damaged, sprouted and insect bored seed, separated and weighed. |
| Sieve analysisRetained and passing stated apertures | Test sieves to ISO 5223. Sets the size band and separates fines. |
| Thousand seed massGrams per 1000 seeds | Determined by ISO 520. The compact measure of seed size and fill. |
| Bulk densityKilograms per hectolitre | A filled standard measure, weighed. Drives stowage and container fill. |
| ColourCIELAB coordinates on a stated instrument, or against a sealed sample | Colour type is a contract term where the crop trades in more than one colour. |
| Live and dead insectsAbsence, or count per stated sample mass | Determined by sieving and inspection. |
| Mould and odourAbsence of visible mould and of any foreign odour | Assessed on a drawn sample. |
Processing form
5 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Raw whole seedCleaned and sized, sold by mass | The base traded form. |
| PoppedExpansion measured as volume per unit mass | Heat expanded. Unpopped seed is reported as a percentage by mass. |
| FlakedFlake thickness in millimetres | Rolled after conditioning. |
| FlourMilled to a stated mesh | Sieve analysis reported. Whole seed flour and sifted flour are separate products. |
| OilSqualene content as a percentage of the oil | Cold pressed amaranth oil is traded separately for cosmetic and nutraceutical use. |
Analytical requirements
11 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| SqualenePercentage of the crude fat | Determined by gas chromatography. Amaranth carries an unusually high level and it is a priced attribute. |
| MoistureMaximum percentage by mass | Determined by ISO 712. The controlling figure for storage life and shipping mass. |
| ProteinPercentage by mass, dry basis | Determined by ISO 20483, Kjeldahl, with the conversion factor stated. |
| Total ashMaximum percentage by mass | Determined by incineration at a stated temperature. |
| Crude fatPercentage by mass, dry basis | Determined by solvent extraction. |
| Crude fibrePercentage by mass, dry basis | Determined by acid and alkali digestion. |
| MycotoxinsMicrograms per kilogram | Aflatoxins and ochratoxin A, tested against destination market limits. |
| Heavy metalsMilligrams per kilogram | Cadmium, lead and arsenic, tested against destination market limits. |
| Pesticide residuesMilligrams per kilogram | Tested against destination market maximum residue limits. |
| Microbiological limitsColony forming units per gram, and absence of Salmonella in a stated mass | Contracted to destination market limits. |
| GlutenMilligrams per kilogram, by ELISA | Tested where the lot is sold as gluten free, because cross contact happens in shared handling, not in the crop. |
Production and certification claims
6 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| OrganicCertificate under the destination market scheme | EU, NOP, JAS or an equivalence arrangement. Named on the contract with the certifier and certificate number. |
| Non GMODeclaration, with PCR testing where required | Tested where the destination market or the buyer requires evidence rather than declaration. |
| Fairtrade or equivalentCertificate and transaction certificate | Named scheme, with the transaction certificate issued for the specific lot. |
| Identity preservedDocumented chain of custody | Segregation from field to container, evidenced at every transfer. |
| Kosher and HalalCertificate from the named authority | Certificate travels with the lot. |
| TreatmentDeclared | Fumigant, heat treatment or steam pasteurisation, with the agent and the schedule declared, because destination markets differ on what they permit. |
Grades outside this list trade on request. Send us the contract specification you work to and we will price against it.
Locations
| Country | Region | We trade it as |
|---|---|---|
| Peru | South America | Origin |
| Bolivia | South America | Origin |
| Mexico | North America | Origin and destination |
| Ecuador | South America | Origin |
| Argentina | South America | Origin and destination |
| Guatemala | Central America | Origin |
| India | South Asia | Origin and destination |
| Nepal | South Asia | Origin |
| China | East Asia | Origin and destination |
| United States | North America | Origin and destination |
| Canada | North America | Destination |
| Russia | Europe | Origin and destination |
| Poland | Europe | Origin and destination |
| Austria | Europe | Origin and destination |
| Germany | Europe | Destination |
| Netherlands | Europe | Destination |
| United Kingdom | Europe | Destination |
| France | Europe | Destination |
| Italy | Europe | Destination |
| Spain | Europe | Destination |
| Czechia | Europe | Destination |
| Slovakia | Europe | Origin and destination |
| Hungary | Europe | Origin and destination |
| Ukraine | Europe | Origin and destination |
| Turkiye | Middle East | Destination |
| United Arab Emirates | Middle East | Origin and destination |
| Israel | Middle East | Destination |
| Japan | East Asia | Destination |
| South Korea | East Asia | Destination |
| Singapore | Southeast Asia | Origin and destination |
| Australia | Oceania | Destination |
| New Zealand | Oceania | Destination |
| Kenya | Africa | Origin and destination |
| Nigeria | Africa | Origin and destination |
| Uganda | Africa | Origin |
| South Africa | Africa | Destination |
Origins and destinations outside this list trade on request. We are not limited to the locations shown here.
Timing
Harvest is when the crop is taken at origin. Arrival is when a shipment from that origin typically lands in a consuming market. The gap between them is processing, grading and the voyage.
HarvestArrival
| Origin | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | Window |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| India | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest | Arrival | Harvest Feb to Nov, arrival Apr to JanUttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and the Deccan. Two windows across the kharif and rabi seasons. | |||
| China | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Harvest Sep to Nov, arrival Nov to JanHenan, Shandong, Hebei and Inner Mongolia. | |||||||
| Peru | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest May to Jul, arrival Jul to SepAndean valleys of Cusco, Ancash and Ayacucho, where the caudatus type is grown. | |||||||
| Bolivia | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Apr to Jun, arrival Jun to AugAndean valleys harvest with the quinoa crop. | |||||||
| Mexico | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest Oct to Dec, arrival Dec to FebPuebla, Morelos, Tlaxcala and Oaxaca. | |||||||
| United States | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Sep to Oct, arrival Oct to DecNebraska, Kansas, Illinois and the central plains. | ||||||||
| Nepal | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest | Arrival | Harvest Sep to Nov, arrival Dec to FebMid hill districts harvest late in the monsoon. | ||||||
| Poland | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Aug to Sep, arrival Sep to NovCentral European plantings harvest in late summer. | ||||||||
| Kenya | Harvest | Harvest | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Jan to Aug, arrival Mar to OctTwo rainy seasons give two harvests. |
Windows outside this pattern trade on request, including carry, forward positions and stock already sitting in a destination warehouse.
Customs, packing and contract terms
Indicative terms for amaranth. Tariff classification is the importer’s responsibility and limits change, so confirm both against the destination customs authority and the current regulation before you fix a contract.
- HS heading1008.90 Other cereals, including amaranth grain
- PackingPP woven or jute bags of 25 kg to 50 kg, 1 t big bags, or bulk in a container liner. Moisture at load is the operative clause on every grain and seed contract.
- Container loading20ft: 21 t to 26 t bagged or bulk lined. 40ft is volume limited around 26 t. Bulk vessel parcels price against the same specification with an independent superintendent at load.
- Contract and arbitrationGAFTA contracts, GAFTA 119 for containerised and the GAFTA 100 series for bulk, with GAFTA Arbitration Rules No. 125 in London and sampling and analysis under GAFTA 124.
- Destination limitsEU pesticide MRLs under Regulation 396/2005, mycotoxin limits under Regulation 2023/915, phytosanitary certification under Regulation 2016/2031 and GMO controls where the crop has genetically modified varieties. US FDA FSMA and, where applicable, USDA AMS grading.
Common questions
What grades of amaranth does SIP Global trade?
We quote 34 published grades of amaranth, including Species - Amaranthus cruentus, hypochondriacus or caudatus, declared, Seed colour - Pale gold, cream, brown or black, declared, Purity - Minimum percentage by mass of sound seed of the named species, Other seeds - Maximum count or percentage by mass, Foreign and extraneous matter - Maximum percentage by mass and Broken and damaged seed - Maximum percentage by mass. Every grade is tied to a delivery point and a settlement route. Grades outside the published list are priced on request.
How is amaranth graded?
Amaranth is graded on physical purity and seed size, on species and colour, and on the analytical figures a food manufacturer contracts against. Grading runs on 4 systems: Physical purity and condition, Processing form, Analytical requirements and Production and certification claims.
Where does SIP Global trade amaranth?
We trade amaranth in Peru, Bolivia, Mexico, Ecuador, Argentina, Guatemala, India and Nepal and 28 further markets. Origins and destinations outside this list trade on request. We are not limited to the locations shown.
When is amaranth harvested and when does it arrive?
Typical windows are India: harvest feb to nov, arrival apr to jan; China: harvest sep to nov, arrival nov to jan; Peru: harvest may to jul, arrival jul to sep; Bolivia: harvest apr to jun, arrival jun to aug; Mexico: harvest oct to dec, arrival dec to feb. Harvest is when the lot is taken at origin, arrival is when a shipment from that origin lands in a consuming market. Windows outside this pattern, including carry, trade on request.
What is the HS code for amaranth?
Amaranth is normally classified under HS 1008.90 (other cereals, including amaranth grain). The heading follows the form the goods are in at the border, and national tariffs extend it beyond six digits, so confirm the full line with the destination customs authority before you fix a contract.
How do I get a price for amaranth?
Send the grade, the origin and the delivery window to the SIP Global desk. That is enough for a trader to come back with a level and a settlement route. 2 listed amaranth markets are published on this page, each with its full specification and terms. We take both sides, physical and financial, prompt to long dated.
Standards and data sources
The grading language on this sheet follows published standards. Trade volumes and tariff lines are public record. Verify anything here against the source.
- ISOInternational Organization for Standardization
- Codex AlimentariusFAO and WHO food standards
- UN ComtradeOfficial international trade statistics by HS code
- ITC Trade MapBilateral trade flows and tariff data
- FAOSTATFAO production and trade series for agricultural commodities
Price this with our desk
Grade, origin and window if you have them. If what you are carrying does not fit the sheet above, describe it in your own words and a trader will take it from there.