Quinoa
Quinoa is the seed of Chenopodium quinoa, a broadleaf plant of the Andean highlands grown at altitude for thousands of years and now planted on every continent. It is not a grass, so it is a pseudocereal rather than a true cereal, and it carries no gluten. The seed is a small flat disc, white, red or black depending on the variety, coated in bitter saponins that are washed or abraded off before sale. It is cooked whole as a grain, milled into flour, puffed, flaked and used in cereals, snacks, pasta, infant food and pet food.
Listed quinoa markets
Each line is a grade at a delivery point. Open one for its full specification and terms.
Grades
Quinoa is graded on physical purity and seed size, on saponin removal, and on the analytical figures a food manufacturer contracts against.
Physical purity and condition
12 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Colour typeWhite, red, black or tricolour blend, declared | A contract term. Blends are specified by the percentage of each colour. |
| Seed diameterRetained on stated sieve apertures, in millimetres | Large, medium and small bands are set by aperture, not by name. |
| 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. |
Saponin removal
5 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Processing routeWashed, dry polished, or dual processed, declared | Determines residual saponin, moisture history and the microbiological profile. |
| Foam heightMillimetres of foam after a standard shake of a stated mass in a stated volume of water, held for a stated time | The routine trade test for residual saponin. |
| Residual saponinPercentage by mass | Determined by spectrophotometry or by HPLC where a numerical limit is contracted. |
| TasteAbsence of bitterness on a prepared sample | The confirmatory check behind the foam test. |
| Pericarp removalPercentage of seed with pericarp abraded | Assessed under magnification on dry polished material. |
Analytical requirements
11 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| SaponinPercentage by mass | Carried into the certificate of analysis where the buyer contracts a numerical limit rather than a foam height. |
| 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 |
| Ecuador | South America | Origin |
| Chile | South America | Origin and destination |
| Argentina | South America | Origin and destination |
| Colombia | South America | Origin and destination |
| Brazil | South America | Origin and destination |
| United States | North America | Origin and destination |
| Canada | North America | Origin and destination |
| Mexico | North America | Destination |
| United Kingdom | Europe | Destination |
| Netherlands | Europe | Destination |
| Germany | Europe | Destination |
| France | Europe | Destination |
| Italy | Europe | Destination |
| Spain | Europe | Origin and destination |
| Belgium | Europe | Destination |
| Denmark | Europe | Destination |
| Sweden | Europe | Destination |
| Poland | Europe | Destination |
| Turkiye | Middle East | Origin and destination |
| Israel | Middle East | Destination |
| United Arab Emirates | Middle East | Origin and destination |
| Saudi Arabia | Middle East | Destination |
| India | South Asia | Origin and destination |
| China | East Asia | Origin and destination |
| Japan | East Asia | Destination |
| South Korea | East Asia | Destination |
| Taiwan | East Asia | Destination |
| Singapore | Southeast Asia | Origin and destination |
| Malaysia | Southeast Asia | Destination |
| Australia | Oceania | Origin and destination |
| New Zealand | Oceania | Destination |
| South Africa | Africa | Destination |
| Kenya | Africa | Destination |
| Egypt | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peru | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Apr to Jul, arrival Jun to SepPuno, Ayacucho, Arequipa and the coastal valleys. Coastal plantings add a second smaller window. | ||||||
| Bolivia | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Apr to Jun, arrival Jun to SepThe southern Altiplano around the salt flats, home of the large grained Real type. | ||||||
| Ecuador | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Jun to Aug, arrival Aug to OctHighland provinces harvest mid year. | |||||||
| United States | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Aug to Oct, arrival Sep to DecColorado, Washington and the northern plains. | |||||||
| Canada | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Aug to Oct, arrival Sep to DecPrairie plantings harvest late summer into autumn. | |||||||
| China | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Aug to Oct, arrival Oct to DecQinghai, Shanxi and Inner Mongolia. | |||||||
| India | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Feb to Apr, arrival Apr to JunRajasthan, Gujarat and the Deccan plateau harvest at the end of the rabi season. | |||||||
| Australia | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest Nov to Jan, arrival Jan to MarWestern Australia and Tasmania harvest through the southern summer. |
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 quinoa. 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 heading1008.50 Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa)
- 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 quinoa does SIP Global trade?
We quote 34 published grades of quinoa, including Colour type - White, red, black or tricolour blend, declared, Seed diameter - Retained on stated sieve apertures, in millimetres, 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 quinoa graded?
Quinoa is graded on physical purity and seed size, on saponin removal, and on the analytical figures a food manufacturer contracts against. Grading runs on 4 systems: Physical purity and condition, Saponin removal, Analytical requirements and Production and certification claims.
Where does SIP Global trade quinoa?
We trade quinoa in Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Chile, Argentina, Colombia, Brazil and United States and 28 further markets. Origins and destinations outside this list trade on request. We are not limited to the locations shown.
When is quinoa harvested and when does it arrive?
Typical windows are Peru: harvest apr to jul, arrival jun to sep; Bolivia: harvest apr to jun, arrival jun to sep; Ecuador: harvest jun to aug, arrival aug to oct; United States: harvest aug to oct, arrival sep to dec; Canada: harvest aug to oct, arrival sep to dec. 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 quinoa?
Quinoa is normally classified under HS 1008.50 (quinoa (chenopodium quinoa)). 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 quinoa?
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 quinoa 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.