Why peanut is the most regulated thing we ship, how a clean lot is actually produced, and what to insist on before you place an order.
Of everything we export, groundnut is the category where one number decides whether your cargo clears or gets turned back at the port — aflatoxin. If you take away only one thing from this piece, let it be this: agree the aflatoxin limit for your destination in writing, and make every lot prove it.
Where Indian peanut comes from
The bulk of export-grade groundnut comes out of Saurashtra and Junagadh in Gujarat, with Bold (Runner), Java and TJ (Spanish) the varieties you will hear about most. Bold gives the large, premium kernel that snacking and peanut-butter buyers like; Java is round and sweet for confectionery; TJ runs higher oil. Counts are quoted per ounce — 38/42, 40/50, 50/60 and so on — so a smaller count number means a bigger kernel.
Why aflatoxin matters so much
Aflatoxin is a mould toxin that develops when the crop is stressed, badly dried or poorly stored. Different markets set different limits — the EU is strict on both B1 and total aflatoxin for direct consumption, while other markets allow somewhat higher for further processing. The point is that the limit is your buyer's, not ours, so it has to be set before sourcing, then tested against on every lot at an accredited laboratory.
How a clean lot is actually made
A good groundnut lot is not lucky, it is processed. At our partner facilities each inbound lot is screened on intake, colour-sorted on optical sortex to throw out discoloured and mouldy kernels, blanched or split if you need it, then vacuum or nitrogen-flush packed to hold freshness. None of this is exotic — but skipping any step is how aflatoxin slips through.
- Aflatoxin limit agreed for your market, tested per lot (accredited lab)
- Variety and count (e.g. Bold 40/50) confirmed against sample
- Moisture below ~8% and oil/FFA where relevant
- Sortex purity and freedom from foreign matter
- Vacuum / nitrogen packing for kernels that travel well
What to insist on before you order
Ask for the destination aflatoxin limit on the contract, a pre-shipment sample from the lot, and the lab CoA with the cargo. As an APEDA-registered exporter we follow the groundnut export protocol the Indian side requires and assemble the document set your importing country asks for. Peanut is unforgiving — but with the limit fixed and the testing honest, it is also one of the most rewarding lines to trade.
Tip: If a quote for peanut looks unusually cheap, ask what aflatoxin limit it is priced to. Material priced for a lenient market will not pass a strict one — and you find out at your own port, not the supplier's.
Frequently asked questions
Which aflatoxin limit do you work to?
We work to your destination market limit, since EU, GCC and others differ. Each lot is tested at an accredited partner lab and shipped with a CoA showing the aflatoxin result against the agreed contract spec.
What counts and varieties are available?
Saurashtra and Junagadh Bold, Java and TJ types in counts such as 38/42 and others on request. We confirm the count, screen and admixture on the CoA per lot.
How is the cargo processed and packed to protect quality?
Kernels are colour sortex cleaned, and we offer vacuum or nitrogen flush packing to hold quality on longer sea legs. We follow the APEDA groundnut protocol throughout under our oversight at the partner facility.
Can you do an LCL trial before we commit to containers?
Yes, trial quantities on LCL are fine for first orders so you can test against your own incoming checks before scaling to FCL.
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