Chia
Chia is the seed of Salvia hispanica, an annual of the mint family native to central Mexico and Guatemala and now grown commercially across South America, Australia and parts of Asia and Africa. The seed is a small oval, black or white, mottled in appearance, and it forms a thick gel when wet because of the soluble fibre in its hull. It carries no gluten. Chia is eaten whole in drinks, puddings, breads, cereals and bars, milled into flour and meal, and cold pressed for an oil that is unusually high in alpha linolenic acid and is used in food supplements and cosmetics.
Listed chia markets
Each line is a grade at a delivery point. Open one for its full specification and terms.
Grades
Chia is graded on physical purity, on the black or white colour separation, and on the oil and moisture figures that govern how long it keeps.
Physical purity and condition
12 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Colour typeBlack, white, or a declared blend | White seed carries a premium and is separated optically. Mixed lots are contracted as a stated percentage. |
| Optical sortDeclared, with the number of passes stated | Colour sorting is the step that produces a true white or a true black lot. |
| 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. |
Oil and stability
7 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Crude fatPercentage by mass, dry basis | Determined by solvent extraction. |
| Alpha linolenic acidPercentage of total fatty acids | Determined by gas chromatography of the fatty acid methyl esters. |
| Fatty acid profileFull profile as percentages of total fatty acids | Determined by gas chromatography. Also the authenticity check against cheaper substitute seed. |
| Peroxide valueMilliequivalents of active oxygen per kilogram of oil | The primary rancidity measure at the point of delivery. |
| Free fatty acidsPercentage as oleic acid | Determined by titration. |
| Anisidine valueDetermined on the extracted oil | Measures secondary oxidation that peroxide value alone will miss on an older lot. |
| Water activityMeasured on a calibrated instrument | The mould and shelf life measure alongside moisture. |
Functional properties
4 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Water holding capacityGrams of water per gram of seed, under a stated method | The measure of gel strength. |
| Total dietary fibrePercentage by mass, dry basis | Determined by enzymatic gravimetric method. |
| Soluble and insoluble fibre splitPercentages by mass | Reported separately, because the soluble fraction is what forms the gel. |
| Mucilage yieldPercentage by mass under a stated extraction | Contracted where the mucilage itself is the product. |
Analytical requirements
10 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Paraguay | South America | Origin |
| Argentina | South America | Origin |
| Bolivia | South America | Origin |
| Mexico | North America | Origin and destination |
| Guatemala | Central America | Origin |
| Nicaragua | Central America | Origin |
| Ecuador | South America | Origin |
| Peru | South America | Origin |
| Colombia | South America | Origin and destination |
| Brazil | South America | Origin and destination |
| United States | North America | Destination |
| Canada | North America | Destination |
| Australia | Oceania | Origin and destination |
| India | South Asia | Origin and destination |
| China | East Asia | Origin and destination |
| Japan | East Asia | Destination |
| South Korea | East Asia | Destination |
| Singapore | Southeast Asia | Origin and destination |
| Malaysia | Southeast Asia | Destination |
| Indonesia | Southeast Asia | Destination |
| Vietnam | Southeast Asia | Destination |
| Thailand | Southeast Asia | Destination |
| Netherlands | Europe | Destination |
| Germany | Europe | Destination |
| United Kingdom | Europe | Destination |
| France | Europe | Destination |
| Spain | Europe | Destination |
| Italy | Europe | Destination |
| Poland | Europe | Destination |
| Belgium | Europe | Destination |
| Turkiye | Middle East | Origin and destination |
| United Arab Emirates | Middle East | Origin and destination |
| Saudi Arabia | Middle East | Destination |
| Israel | Middle East | Destination |
| South Africa | Africa | Destination |
| Egypt | Africa | Destination |
| Kenya | Africa | Destination |
| New Zealand | Oceania | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paraguay | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Apr to Jun, arrival Jun to AugThe largest commercial origin. Harvest runs through the southern autumn. | |||||||
| Argentina | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Apr to Jun, arrival Jun to AugSalta, Jujuy and Tucuman in the northwest. | |||||||
| Bolivia | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Apr to Jun, arrival Jun to AugSanta Cruz department. | |||||||
| Mexico | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest Nov to Jan, arrival Jan to MarJalisco, Puebla and Michoacan, the botanical home of the crop. | |||||||
| Guatemala | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest Nov to Jan, arrival Jan to MarHighland and Pacific slope plantings. | |||||||
| Nicaragua | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest Nov to Jan, arrival Jan to MarNorthern departments. | |||||||
| Australia | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest May to Jul, arrival Jul to SepThe Ord River irrigation area in the far north, harvested in the dry season. | |||||||
| India | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Feb to Apr, arrival Apr to JunMadhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Karnataka harvest at the end of the rabi season. | |||||||
| Peru | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest May to Jul, arrival Jul to SepCoastal irrigated valleys. | |||||||
| Ecuador | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Jun to Aug, arrival Aug to OctCoastal and inter Andean plantings. |
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 chia. 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 heading1207.99 Other oil seeds and oleaginous fruits, including chia
- 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 chia does SIP Global trade?
We quote 38 published grades of chia, including Colour type - Black, white, or a declared blend, Optical sort - Declared, with the number of passes stated, 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 chia graded?
Chia is graded on physical purity, on the black or white colour separation, and on the oil and moisture figures that govern how long it keeps. Grading runs on 5 systems: Physical purity and condition, Oil and stability, Functional properties, Analytical requirements and Production and certification claims.
Where does SIP Global trade chia?
We trade chia in Paraguay, Argentina, Bolivia, Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Ecuador and Peru and 30 further markets. Origins and destinations outside this list trade on request. We are not limited to the locations shown.
When is chia harvested and when does it arrive?
Typical windows are Paraguay: harvest apr to jun, arrival jun to aug; Argentina: harvest apr to jun, arrival jun to aug; Bolivia: harvest apr to jun, arrival jun to aug; Mexico: harvest nov to jan, arrival jan to mar; Guatemala: harvest nov to jan, arrival jan to mar. 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 chia?
Chia is normally classified under HS 1207.99 (other oil seeds and oleaginous fruits, including chia). 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 chia?
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. 1 listed chia market is 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.