Ginger
Dried ginger is the cured rhizome of Zingiber officinale, a herbaceous perennial grown across the wet tropics. The rhizome is lifted at maturity, washed, peeled or left unpeeled, and sun or mechanically dried to a hard, fibrous piece traded as splits, slices or whole hands, or milled to powder. It is used in baking, confectionery, beverages, pickles, curry blends and processed food manufacture, is distilled and solvent extracted for oil and oleoresin, and is a long standing raw material in traditional medicine and the nutraceutical trade.
Listed ginger markets
Each line is a grade at a delivery point. Open one for its full specification and terms.
Grades
Dried ginger is graded on volatile oil and pungency, on peeling and presentation, on fibre and ash, and on cleanliness against the ASTA specification.
Presentation and physical condition
9 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Peeled, scraped or roughDeclared | Fully peeled, partially scraped, or left with the skin on. Peeling raises appearance and lowers oil retention. |
| Whole hands, splits or slicesDeclared | The physical presentation contracted for. |
| Bleached or unbleachedDeclared | Lime treated material is traded to some markets and refused by others, so it is stated on the contract. |
| Piece sizeMillimetres, or over a stated sieve aperture | Contracted where a buyer needs uniformity for milling or retail pack. |
| Bulk densityGrams per litre | A weighed volume poured into a standard measure. |
| Broken and finesMaximum percentage by mass | Weighed after separation over a stated aperture. |
| Mouldy and insect damaged piecesMaximum percentage by mass | Weighed after hand separation. |
| Extraneous matterMaximum percentage by mass | Determined per ISO 927. |
| Powder meshSieve aperture, with the sieve analysis reported | Named on the contract where the lot is milled. |
Analytical requirements
12 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Volatile oilMinimum millilitres per 100 grams | Determined by ISO 6571. The aroma fraction. |
| Gingerols and shogaolsPercentage by mass | Determined by high performance liquid chromatography. The pungency compounds. Drying converts gingerols to shogaols, so the ratio also reports how the lot was cured. |
| Cold water extractMinimum percentage by mass | A long standing measure of extractable matter. |
| Crude fibreMaximum percentage by mass | The measure that separates low fibre material for beverage and confectionery use from high fibre material for grinding. |
| 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. |
| Water soluble ashMinimum percentage by mass | A check on ash of soil origin against ash native to the rhizome. |
| Calcium as calcium oxideMaximum percentage by mass | The measure that detects excessive lime treatment. |
| Sulphur dioxideMilligrams per kilogram | Declared and limited where the lot has been sulphited. |
| 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, including the fully NPOP-certified organic state of Sikkim (IN-SK) |
| China | East Asia | Origin and destination |
| Nigeria | Africa | Origin |
| Nepal | South Asia | Origin |
| Thailand | Southeast Asia | Origin and destination |
| Indonesia | Southeast Asia | Origin and destination |
| Vietnam | Southeast Asia | Origin and destination |
| Philippines | Southeast Asia | Origin |
| Bangladesh | South Asia | Origin and destination |
| Sri Lanka | South Asia | Origin and destination |
| Myanmar | Southeast Asia | Origin |
| Peru | South America | Origin |
| Brazil | South America | Origin and destination |
| Costa Rica | Central America | Origin |
| Jamaica | Caribbean | Origin |
| Australia | Oceania | Origin and destination |
| Fiji | Oceania | Origin |
| Sierra Leone | Africa | Origin |
| Cameroon | Africa | Origin |
| Ethiopia | Africa | Origin |
| United Arab Emirates | Middle East | Origin and destination |
| Saudi Arabia | Middle East | Destination |
| Pakistan | South Asia | Destination |
| Morocco | Africa | Destination |
| Netherlands | Europe | Destination |
| Germany | Europe | Destination |
| United Kingdom | Europe | Destination |
| France | Europe | Destination |
| Spain | Europe | Destination |
| Poland | Europe | Destination |
| United States | North America | Destination |
| Canada | North America | Destination |
| Mexico | North America | Destination |
| Japan | East Asia | Destination |
| South Korea | East Asia | 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 | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest Dec to Mar, arrival Feb to MayKerala, Karnataka and the northeast lift from December into March. | ||||||
| China | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest Oct to Dec, arrival Dec to FebShandong, Yunnan and Guizhou lift in the autumn. | |||||||
| India | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest Oct to Dec, arrival Dec to FebSikkim lifts October into December, later than the mainland Kerala/Karnataka crop; state-wide NPOP organic certification since 2016 is the origin's distinguishing feature, not a timing difference. | |||||||
| Nigeria | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest Nov to Feb, arrival Jan to AprKaduna state lifts from November into February. | ||||||
| Nepal | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest Nov to Jan, arrival Jan to MarLifted from November to January. | |||||||
| Thailand | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest Nov to Feb, arrival Jan to AprLifted from November into February. | ||||||
| Indonesia | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest May to Aug, arrival Jul to OctLifted mid year. | ||||||
| Peru | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Apr to Aug, arrival Jul to NovLifted from April to August. | ||||
| Brazil | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Apr to Jul, arrival Jun to SepEspirito Santo and Santa Catarina lift from April to July. |
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 ginger. 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 heading0910.11 Ginger, neither crushed nor ground
0910.12 Ginger, 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 ginger does SIP Global trade?
We quote 28 published grades of ginger, including Peeled, scraped or rough - Declared, Whole hands, splits or slices - Declared, Bleached or unbleached - Declared, Piece size - Millimetres, or over a stated sieve aperture, Bulk density - Grams per litre and Broken and fines - 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 ginger graded?
Dried ginger is graded on volatile oil and pungency, on peeling and presentation, on fibre and ash, and on cleanliness against the ASTA specification. Grading runs on 3 systems: Presentation and physical condition, Analytical requirements and ASTA cleanliness specifications.
Where does SIP Global trade ginger?
We trade ginger in India, China, Nigeria, Nepal, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam and Philippines and 27 further markets. Origins and destinations outside this list trade on request. We are not limited to the locations shown.
When is ginger harvested and when does it arrive?
Typical windows are India: harvest dec to mar, arrival feb to may; China: harvest oct to dec, arrival dec to feb; India: harvest oct to dec, arrival dec to feb; Nigeria: harvest nov to feb, arrival jan to apr; Nepal: 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 ginger?
Ginger is normally classified under HS 0910.11 (ginger, neither crushed nor ground) and HS 0910.12 (ginger, 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 ginger?
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 ginger 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
- 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.