MOQ tiers
| Tier | Quantity | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Trial | 2 MT LCL | — |
| Standard FCL | 1 × 20'FCL ≈ 18–20 MT | — |
| Programme | 5–25 × 20'FCL / year | — |
Fennel Seeds Exporter & Wholesale Supplier — 35+ Origins, 80+ Destinations
Kehkashan exports fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) seeds from origin partners in India, Egypt, Pakistan, and Türkiye — supplied in bulk FCL or LCL with FOB Jebel Ali, CFR, or CIF terms to bakery formulators, GCC mukhwas packers, and herbal-tea blenders across 80+ destinations.
- 35+ origins
- 80+ destinations
- ISTA / OECD certified
- LC at sight (USD/EUR)
Reference image. Sample lots and product-specific photography available on RFQ.
Quick facts
- Scientific name
- Foeniculum vulgare
- Also known as
- Saunf, الشمر, фенхель
- HS code
- —
- Common varieties
- Lucknow 36, GF-1, GF-2, Rajendra Saurabh
- Origins available
- India, Turkey, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria
- MOQ
- 1 × 20'FCL
- Pack sizes
- 25 kg PP bag, 50 kg jute bag
- Specs
- Purity: 99%, Moisture: < 10%, Volatile oil: ~2%
- Lead time
- 14–21 days from PO confirmation
- Incoterms
- FOB Jebel Ali · CFR · CIF · DAP
- Payment terms
- LC at sight · TT · DP
Specification & container math
FOB pricing bands (RFQ)
| Grade | Indicative range |
|---|---|
| Indian Lucknow 36 / GF-1 (commercial) | RFQ — entry tier |
| Egyptian / Moroccan European-style | RFQ — mid tier |
| Confectionery-grade (extra-large, sweet) | RFQ — premium tier |
Lead times — top destinations
| Discharge port | Transit | Incoterm |
|---|---|---|
| Karachi (Pakistan, FOB) | 0 days | FOB |
| Jebel Ali (UAE) | 4–6 days | CFR / CIF |
| Jeddah Islamic Port (KSA) | 8–12 days | CFR / CIF |
| Dammam (KSA) | 7–10 days | CFR / CIF |
| Mombasa (Kenya) | 14–20 days | CFR / CIF |
- Packaging formats
- 25 kg PP bag · 50 kg jute bag
- Container capacity
- 20'FCL: 18–20 MT (low-density)
Documentation set per shipment
Every container leaves UAE Free Zone with the document pack below. Additional certificates (Halal, SASO conformity, BRC, organic, FairWild, etc.) are added on request before vessel loading.
- Bill of Lading (BL) — original 3/3 set
- Commercial Invoice — UAE Free Zone issued
- Packing List with lot / batch codes
- Certificate of Origin (CoO) — Dubai Chamber attested
- Phytosanitary Certificate — origin NPPO
- EU Aflatoxin test (B1 + total) per EC 1881/2006
- Steam-treatment / ETO-free declaration
- Pesticide-residue panel (where requested)
- Halal Certificate (where requested)
- Fumigation Certificate
Procurement-team questions
Answers to the questions buyers ask us most often during RFQ and trial-shipment evaluation.
- Confectionery grade vs spice grade — what is the difference?
- Confectionery grade (used in Indian / Gulf mukhwas mouth-fresheners) is large-seed, bright-green color, sweet anethole-dominant aroma, 4.5+ mm sieve. Spice grade is smaller seed, mixed color, used in masala blends and herbal teas. Confectionery commands a 30–50% premium. Specify on PO; mis-grading is a known buyer complaint and we re-grade at Jebel Ali on request.
- What is the volatile oil content benchmark?
- Indian Lucknow 36 typically tests 1.8–2.4% volatile oil (mostly anethole + estragole + fenchone). Egyptian / Moroccan European-style tests 2.2–3.0%. Volatile oil > 2% qualifies for European Pharmacopoeia herbal-tea use; > 1.5% for general culinary. Specify on COA. Lower volatile oil indicates over-aged seed or improper drying.
- Estragole — is it a regulatory concern?
- Yes for EU buyers. Estragole is classified as a possible carcinogen by EFSA; the EU Herbal Medicinal Products regulation limits estragole intake from herbal teas. Bitter fennel (Foeniculum vulgare var. vulgare) has higher estragole than sweet fennel (F. vulgare var. dulce). We supply EU buyers preferentially with sweet-fennel cultivars and provide GC analysis for estragole on request.
- How are fennel seeds processed at origin?
- Origin processing: harvest at full seed maturity, mechanical thresh, clean by aspiration + sieve grading, sun-dry to < 10% moisture, sortex-clean for color, fumigate against Tribolium / weevil, and pack 25 kg PP or 50 kg jute. Premium confectionery grade gets an additional hand-pick step at the cooperative for color uniformity. We document the chain in the COA.
- Can you supply organic fennel?
- Yes — Egyptian and Moroccan ECOCERT organic-certified fennel is available at 30–40% premium. Indian NPOP organic-certified fennel is available at 20–25% premium. Premium reflects segregated cooperative-grown crop, longer cycle, and Free Zone bonded handling. MOQ 3 MT LCL minimum for organic-certified lots.
Related buyer guides & trade briefs
Long-form guides written by the Kehkashan trade desk for buyers and procurement teams scoping origin trade-offs, variety codes, and documentation flows.
trade brief
Wholesale Fennel Seeds: Sweet vs Bitter, Anethole Spec
Sweet Lucknow vs bitter pharma-grade fennel — India, Egypt, Pakistan, Turkiye origins. Anethole titration, EU-compliant. FOB Jebel Ali, reply in 1 working day.
11 min readRead the guide →
Related origins, markets, and products
Top destinations
Related products
From the trade desk
Quote a 20'FCL of alfalfa today
RFQ response within 24 hours. FOB Jebel Ali, CFR, CIF, or DAP. LC at sight, TT, or DP.
Dispatch from Jebel Ali. Lead time 14–21 days. RFQ within 24h.