Importing from India to China
India's largest single market for dried red chilli and cumin — plus fish meal and sesame seeds.
Quick answer: China is India's single largest export market for dried red chilli (roughly USD 456 million in 2024) and cumin (roughly USD 141 million), and a significant buyer of fish meal and sesame seeds. Transit from Indian ports typically runs 15–22 days to Shanghai or Shenzhen. Food and agricultural imports require registration with China's General Administration of Customs (GACC), with facility-level registration required for many food categories under Decree 280.
India's largest chilli and cumin market
China isn't a market most buyers associate with Indian spice exports, but the trade data is unambiguous: China is India's single largest destination for dried red chilli by a wide margin, and the largest for cumin as well. Fish meal and sesame seeds add further volume.
GACC registration is the gate you have to clear first
China's Decree 280 requires facility-level registration with the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) before many food products can be imported — this applies to the producing/processing facility, not just the trading relationship. If you're sourcing a product from us for the first time into China, confirm registration status early; it's a process that takes real lead time and can't be resolved at the point of shipment.
China sets its own standards — don't assume EU or US compliance transfers
This is worth stating plainly because it trips up buyers moving between markets. A shipment tested and cleared to EU MRLs is not automatically compliant with Chinese standards, which are set independently. Tell us China is your destination from the start of the conversation, and we'll test and document against the applicable Chinese requirements rather than assuming another market's clearance carries over.
What to expect on transit and payment
Transit runs 15–22 days to major Chinese ports — mid-range compared with our other lanes. Payment practices among established Chinese trading houses are generally efficient, with both LC and TT common depending on the relationship.
Key facts
- India's #1 market for dried red chilli and cumin
- Significant buyer of fish meal and sesame seeds
- Transit: 15–22 days to major Chinese ports
- GACC (Decree 280) facility registration required for many food categories
- China sets independent residue/quality standards — confirm before testing
Related reading: Dried Red Chilli Exporter to China, Indian Cumin Seed Exporter to China and Frozen Shrimp Import: India to China.
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What India exports to China
Products we handle where verified trade data shows India exporting to China. Figures are India's total exports of that product to China in the year shown — not our own shipment volumes.
| Product | India's exports to China | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Red Chilli (dried) (HS 0904.21 / 0904.22) | $455,842,510 | 2024 (calendar year) |
| Cumin Seeds (HS 0909.31) | $140,652,850 | 2024 (calendar year) |
| Fish Meal (HS 2301.20) | $93,080,790 | 2024 (calendar year) |
| Sesame seeds (hulled / natural) (HS 1207 40) | $52,500,000 | 2024-25 (volume); 2024 (value figures, product-use framed rather than plain country totals) |
| Guar Gum (HS 1302.32) | $40,058,100 | 2024 (calendar year) |
| Psyllium Husk (Isabgol) — within broader HS 1211.90 (HS 1211.90) | $22,901,000 | 2024 (calendar year) |
| Chickpeas (Kabuli / Desi) (HS 0713.20) | $13,559,880 | 2024 (calendar year) |
| Other Oil-Cake & Residues (incl. Neem Cake) (HS 2306.90) | $2,313,820 | 2024 (calendar year) |
| Organic manure / cow dung / animal & vegetable fertilizers (HS 3101) | $776,440 | 2023 |
| Frozen vannamei / black tiger shrimp (HS 0306 17) | 136,164 MT | 2024-25 |
Sources: compiled from the per-product trade-data files cited on each product page — primarily WITS (World Bank) / UN Comtrade for calendar year 2024, with some products from APEDA, MPEDA and trade-press compilations. Each product page states its own source, year and any limitations. Retrieved 2026-10-17.
Ports & transit time
| Destination port | Typical transit from Indian west-coast ports |
|---|---|
| Shanghai | 15–20 days |
| Shenzhen / Yantian | 16–22 days |
| Qingdao | 16–22 days |
Transit times are general guidance based on typical shipping-line schedules and change with routing and transshipment. Ask for a current estimate to your port.
Documentation for shipments to China
Export documentation prepared to match destination-country and buyer requirements — phytosanitary certificate, certificate of origin, fumigation certificate, lab test reports and more, as applicable.
- GACC facility and product registration (importer/exporter-facility level, required under China Customs Decree 280 for many food categories)
- Phytosanitary certificate
- Certificate of origin
- Certificate of analysis / lab test report — China applies its own residue and quality standards, which don't always mirror EU or US limits
- Commercial invoice, packing list and bill of lading
Share your compliance checklist and we will confirm the documentation for your shipment. Third-party inspection (SGS, Bureau Veritas, Intertek or your nominated agency) can be arranged on request.
Payment & currency norms
USD is standard for trade invoicing, though RMB settlement is increasingly used by some importers. Letters of credit and TT are both common; established Chinese trading houses often have efficient, well-documented processes.
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China import FAQs
For many food categories, yes — China's Decree 280 requires the exporting facility (or the exporter/producer, depending on category) to be registered with GACC before products can clear Chinese customs. This is a facility-level registration process that takes time to complete, so it needs to be sorted well before your first shipment, not during it.
Culinary and food-processing demand — Chinese cuisine and food manufacturing use large volumes of dried chilli and cumin, and India's production scale and cost position make it a natural supplier alongside domestic Chinese production.
Yes, China's maximum residue limits and quality standards are set independently and don't always match EU or US limits — a product cleared for the EU isn't automatically compliant for China. Tell us China is your destination early so we test and specify against the right standard.
Typically 15–22 days from Indian ports to major Chinese ports, depending on the specific port and routing.
China buys meaningful volumes of both — sesame for food and oil use, fish meal primarily for aquaculture and livestock feed. Both are subject to the same GACC registration framework as other food and feed imports.
Related markets
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