Chili
Dried chillies are the mature fruit of cultivated Capsicum species, principally Capsicum annuum, dried whole with or without the stalk and traded whole, crushed, flaked or milled. The same botanical family gives both the pungent chilli traded for heat and the sweet paprika and oleoresin material traded for colour. The fruit is used in cooking across almost every cuisine, in sauce, snack, meat and instant noodle manufacture, and is extracted for capsicum oleoresin used as a natural red colourant and pungency source in food, feed and cosmetics.
Listed chili markets
Each line is a grade at a delivery point. Open one for its full specification and terms.
Grades
Chilli and paprika are graded on capsaicinoid pungency, on extractable colour, on variety and presentation, and on aflatoxin and cleanliness limits.
Pungency and colour
6 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Capsaicinoid contentMilligrams per kilogram, by high performance liquid chromatography | The direct chemical measurement of pungency. The sum of capsaicin, dihydrocapsaicin and the minor capsaicinoids. |
| Scoville heat unitsCalculated from the capsaicinoid result | The conventional trade expression of the same measurement, converted from the chromatographic figure rather than tasted. |
| Extractable colourASTA colour value, by spectrophotometry of an acetone extract | The measure paprika and colour grade material is bought and sold on. |
| Surface colourCIELAB coordinates on a stated instrument | Contracted where appearance in a retail pack matters as well as extractable colour. |
| Capsanthin and capsorubinPercentage of total carotenoids | The specific carotenoids that carry the red. Determined by chromatography for oleoresin feedstock. |
| Sweet, mild or hotDeclared, and evidenced by the capsaicinoid result | The commercial category, always backed by the analytical figure rather than a description. |
Variety, form and physical condition
10 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| VarietyDeclared botanical variety or recognised trade name | Named on the contract. Verified on arrival by pod shape, colour and the analytical profile. |
| Stalk on or stalk removedDeclared | Stemless material commands a premium and is contracted explicitly. |
| Pod lengthMillimetres | Measured on a drawn sample where the buyer specifies uniformity. |
| Whole, crushed, flaked or groundDeclared, with mesh aperture where milled | The presentation, with the sieve analysis reported for milled lots. |
| Broken podsMaximum percentage by mass | Weighed after hand separation. |
| Discoloured and blemished podsMaximum percentage by mass | Weighed after hand separation. |
| Mouldy podsMaximum percentage by mass | The defect that drives the aflatoxin result. |
| Loose seedMaximum percentage by mass | Weighed after sieving. |
| Extraneous matterMaximum percentage by mass | Determined per ISO 927. |
| Seed and placenta content of ground materialPercentage by mass | A check on whether pungency has been raised by grinding in the pungent internal tissue. |
Analytical requirements
9 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| MoistureMaximum percentage by mass | Determined by ISO 939. |
| Total ashMaximum percentage by mass | Determined by ISO 928. |
| Acid insoluble ashMaximum percentage by mass | Determined by ISO 930. |
| Non volatile ether extractPercentage by mass | The oleoresin fraction. |
| AflatoxinsMicrograms per kilogram | B1 and the sum of B1, B2, G1 and G2. Tested against destination market limits. |
| Ochratoxin AMicrograms per kilogram | Tested against destination market limits. |
| Sudan dyes and unauthorised colourantsAbsence, by chromatography | A recognised adulteration route for red spice, so it is tested explicitly and contracted as absent. |
| 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. |
ASTA cleanliness specifications
7 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Whole insects, deadCount per stated sample mass | Counted after sieving and inspection. |
| Excreta, mammalianMilligrams per stated sample mass | Determined by flotation and microscopy. |
| Excreta, otherMilligrams per stated sample mass | Determined by flotation and microscopy. |
| MouldPercentage by mass | Visibly mouldy pieces, weighed after separation. |
| Insect defiled or infestedPercentage by mass | Pieces showing insect damage, weighed after separation. |
| Extraneous foreign matterPercentage by mass | Stones, dirt, wire, string and any plant material other than the named spice. |
| TreatmentDeclared | Steam sterilised, ethylene oxide treated, irradiated or untreated. Declared on the contract, 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 |
|---|---|---|
| India | South Asia | Origin and destination |
| China | East Asia | Origin and destination |
| Peru | South America | Origin |
| Spain | Europe | Origin and destination |
| Mexico | North America | Origin and destination |
| United States | North America | Origin and destination |
| Thailand | Southeast Asia | Origin and destination |
| Vietnam | Southeast Asia | Origin and destination |
| Indonesia | Southeast Asia | Origin and destination |
| Bangladesh | South Asia | Origin and destination |
| Pakistan | South Asia | Origin and destination |
| Sri Lanka | South Asia | Destination |
| Myanmar | Southeast Asia | Origin |
| Turkiye | Middle East | Origin and destination |
| Egypt | Africa | Origin and destination |
| Morocco | Africa | Origin |
| Ethiopia | Africa | Origin |
| Nigeria | Africa | Origin |
| Ghana | Africa | Origin |
| Uganda | Africa | Origin |
| Zimbabwe | Africa | Origin |
| South Africa | Africa | Origin and destination |
| Brazil | South America | Origin and destination |
| Chile | South America | Origin |
| Hungary | Europe | Origin and destination |
| Netherlands | Europe | Destination |
| Germany | Europe | Destination |
| United Kingdom | Europe | Destination |
| France | Europe | Destination |
| Italy | Europe | Destination |
| Poland | Europe | Destination |
| United Arab Emirates | Middle East | Origin and destination |
| Saudi Arabia | Middle East | Destination |
| Malaysia | Southeast Asia | Destination |
| South Korea | East Asia | Origin and destination |
| Japan | East Asia | Destination |
| Canada | North America | Destination |
| Australia | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| India | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest Dec to Apr, arrival Feb to JunAndhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh harvest from December into April, with Guntur the reference market. | |||||
| China | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Harvest Aug to Nov, arrival Oct to JanXinjiang, Henan, Hebei and Yunnan harvest from August to November. | ||||||
| Peru | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Apr to Sep, arrival Jul to DecThe coastal valleys harvest from April into September, supplying paprika and capsicum oleoresin feedstock. | |||
| Spain | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Harvest Aug to Nov, arrival Sep to DecExtremadura and Murcia harvest from August to November. | |||||||
| Mexico | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest Sep to Jan, arrival Nov to MarZacatecas, Chihuahua and Sinaloa harvest from September into January. | |||||
| Turkiye | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Harvest Aug to Oct, arrival Sep to NovSanliurfa, Gaziantep and Kahramanmaras harvest from August to October. | ||||||||
| Zimbabwe | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Mar to Jun, arrival Jun to SepHarvest from March to June. | |||||
| Thailand | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest Nov to Feb, arrival Jan to AprHarvest from November into February. |
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 chili. 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 heading0904.21 Dried fruits of Capsicum, neither crushed nor ground
0904.22 Fruits of Capsicum, crushed or ground - PackingJute or PP woven bags of 25 kg to 50 kg for whole spice, multiwall paper sacks for ground, and foil-lined or vacuum cartons for volatile and high value grades. Food grade liner, fumigation or steam sterilisation certificate where the destination requires it.
- Container loading20ft: 12 t to 18 t depending on bulk density. 40ft is normally volume limited before it reaches its weight limit. Ground and low density spice ships light and prices on cubic, not tonnage.
- Contract and arbitrationASTA cleanliness specifications for United States trade on Association of Food Industries contracts with AFI arbitration in New York. European trade on European Spice Association quality minima and the terms of the importing association, arbitration under ICC rules or the seat named in the contract.
- Destination limitsEU: aflatoxin B1 and total limits under Regulation 2023/915, ochratoxin A limits, pesticide MRLs under Regulation 396/2005, and Salmonella absence in 25 g. Ethylene oxide is not authorised in the EU and remains the most common rejection cause on spice. US: FDA FSMA preventive controls and ASTA cleanliness, with standing import alerts for Salmonella on several origins.
Common questions
What grades of chili does SIP Global trade?
We quote 32 published grades of chili, including Capsaicinoid content - Milligrams per kilogram, by high performance liquid chromatography, Scoville heat units - Calculated from the capsaicinoid result, Extractable colour - ASTA colour value, by spectrophotometry of an acetone extract, Surface colour - CIELAB coordinates on a stated instrument, Capsanthin and capsorubin - Percentage of total carotenoids and Sweet, mild or hot - Declared, and evidenced by the capsaicinoid result. Every grade is tied to a delivery point and a settlement route. Grades outside the published list are priced on request.
How is chili graded?
Chilli and paprika are graded on capsaicinoid pungency, on extractable colour, on variety and presentation, and on aflatoxin and cleanliness limits. Grading runs on 4 systems: Pungency and colour, Variety, form and physical condition, Analytical requirements and ASTA cleanliness specifications.
Where does SIP Global trade chili?
We trade chili in India, China, Peru, Spain, Mexico, United States, Thailand and Vietnam and 30 further markets. Origins and destinations outside this list trade on request. We are not limited to the locations shown.
When is chili harvested and when does it arrive?
Typical windows are India: harvest dec to apr, arrival feb to jun; China: harvest aug to nov, arrival oct to jan; Peru: harvest apr to sep, arrival jul to dec; Spain: harvest aug to nov, arrival sep to dec; Mexico: harvest sep to jan, arrival nov 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 chili?
Chili is normally classified under HS 0904.21 (dried fruits of capsicum, neither crushed nor ground) and HS 0904.22 (fruits of capsicum, crushed or ground). 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 chili?
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 chili 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
- ASTAAmerican Spice Trade Association cleanliness specifications
- 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.