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Indian Sella Basmati Rice

Premium Indian sella basmati rice — 1121, 1509, 1718 varieties · Golden, White & Creamy grades · 8.30 mm length, 4.2+ L/B ratio. Indian sella basmati rice (parboiled long-grain). Premium 1121, 1509, 1718 varieties in Golden Sella, White Sella, and Creamy Sella grades. Length 8.30 mm, L/B ratio 4.2+, 89% head rice, mild aroma. RFC or palletised dry container loading from JNPT, Mundra, Kandla.

1121 Golden / White / Creamy Sella · 1509 & 1718 SellaYear-RoundHS 10063020
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Indian Sella Basmati Rice
The category

Why Indian sella basmati rice for export

India produces over 70% of the world's basmati rice, and sella (parboiled) basmati is the highest-volume export form. The parboiling process — soaking, steaming, and drying paddy before milling — hardens the grain, reduces breakage, and creates the long, slender, separated grains that GCC, Middle Eastern and African retail buyers demand.

Three primary varieties dominate Indian sella export: 1121 (the longest grain at 8.30+ mm, the global benchmark for premium basmati and the standard reference variety), 1509 (shorter cropping cycle, slightly shorter grain at 8.00 mm, value-grade for high-volume contracts), and 1718 (8.30 mm grain like 1121 but higher yield per acre, popular for private-label retail). Each is available in Golden Sella (steamed, golden colour, longer cook time, lower stickiness), White Sella (par-boiled, cream-white, intermediate texture), and Creamy Sella (closer to raw basmati appearance, premium grade).

ZoeM sources from miller networks across the GI-protected basmati belt — Amritsar (Punjab), Karnal (Haryana), and western UP — with FSSAI-licensed mills handling parboiling, drying, milling, polishing, and grading. Every shipment is NABL-tested for moisture (<13%), broken grains (<1%), foreign matter, white bellies, and the soft-grain count. Container loading 22–25 MT in 25-kg PP bags, jute bags, or custom retail packs from 1–10 kg.

Variety guide

Compare varieties & grades

We supply the variety and grade most appropriate to your target market and end use. Below is a side-by-side comparison.

Premium grade

1121 Golden / White / Creamy Sella

The flagship Indian basmati variety. 8.30 mm grain length, 4.2+ L/B ratio, mild aroma. Available in Golden Sella, White Sella, and Creamy Sella forms.

  • Grain length 8.30 mm typical (premium 8.40 mm+)
  • Width 1.80 mm
  • L/B ratio 4.2 minimum
  • Head rice 89%+ (whole grain after milling)
  • Moisture <13%
  • Broken <1% (max 2% for value grade)
  • Best for GCC retail, premium private label, foodservice
  • Top markets Saudi Arabia, UAE, Iran, Iraq, Yemen, UK, USA
Volume grades

1509 & 1718 Sella

1509: shorter cropping cycle, 8.00 mm grain, value pricing. 1718: 8.30 mm grain like 1121 but higher yield, ideal for private label.

  • 1509 grain length 8.00 mm typical
  • 1718 grain length 8.30 mm typical
  • L/B ratio (both) 4.0+
  • Head rice 88%+
  • Best for High-volume contracts, retail private label
Origin

Where ZoeM sources from

Primary regions: Punjab · Haryana · Uttar Pradesh. Full sourcing footprint: Punjab (Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Gurdaspur), Haryana (Karnal, Kurukshetra, Kaithal), Uttar Pradesh (western belt), Uttarakhand, Jammu — India's GI-protected basmati growing region.

Season: Harvest Oct–Dec; parboiled and aged through the year for stable export supply.

We work with farmer producer organisations (FPOs), cooperatives and direct grower networks in each region. Pre-shipment grading and quality control happens at FSSAI-licensed packhouses and processing facilities close to the source farms, minimising post-harvest delay.

Specifications

Trade specifications

Standard export specifications. Custom grading available on confirmed orders.

HS Code10063020 (Long-grain basmati rice, parboiled)
Botanical NameOryza sativa L. (Basmati Group)
Origin RegionGI-protected basmati belt — Punjab, Haryana, UP, Uttarakhand, J&K
Varieties1121, 1509, 1718 (other varieties on confirmed orders)
Forms AvailableGolden Sella (steamed/parboiled) · White Sella · Creamy Sella · Raw (on request) · Steam
Grain Length8.30 mm (1121/1718) · 8.00 mm (1509)
L/B Ratio4.0–4.2+ minimum
Head Rice88–95% (variety/grade dependent)
Moisture<13%
Broken<1% premium · <2% standard · custom on request
Purity95%+ varietal purity
Damaged/Discoloured<0.2%
Foreign matterNIL
Black / red grainNIL
White belliesNIL
Soft-grain value<25 maximum
AromaMild (characteristic basmati)
AgingMinimum 12 months aged on request (premium)
Packaging5 / 10 / 20 / 25 kg PP or jute bags · 1–10 kg retail packs · private-label printing available
Container loadingApprox. 22–25 MT per 40' container (palletised dry)
Shelf life24 months from milling in cool dry storage
Shipping portsMundra, JNPT, Kandla, Chennai
Quality assurance

Certifications & quality control

Every shipment is certified, lab-tested, and traceable to its source. This is non-negotiable for our buyers and forms the spine of our supplier relationships.

APEDAAgricultural & Processed Food Export Authority — Government of India
FSSAIFood Safety & Standards Authority of India license
GAPGood Agricultural Practices — farm-level certification
MSME / UdyamIndian Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises
IECImporter-Exporter Code — DGFT
NABL Lab TestingPre-shipment testing at NABL-accredited Indian labs

Pre-shipment lab testing — every shipment ships with a NABL-accredited lab report covering relevant quality and safety parameters for the product type (moisture, residues, microbiological, density, colour, etc.). The report travels with the shipment documentation.

Phytosanitary & fumigation — we arrange Indian Plant Quarantine Department phytosanitary certificates and any required pre-shipment fumigation per the importing country’s regulations.

Traceability — we record source farm, packhouse, processing date and container number for every shipment.

Buyer questions

Frequently asked questions

What is sella rice?
Sella is parboiled basmati rice — paddy is soaked, steamed and dried before milling. This hardens the grain, reduces breakage during milling, locks in nutrients, and produces the long, slender, separated grains that GCC and Middle Eastern retail buyers prefer. Three primary forms: Golden Sella (deepest steaming, golden colour), White Sella (lighter parboiling, cream-white), Creamy Sella (closest to raw appearance, premium).
Which variety should I import?
1121 is the premium global benchmark — 8.30 mm grain, highest L/B ratio, top GCC retail demand. 1718 offers the same grain length at slightly better yield/price — strong for private label. 1509 is shorter grain (8.00 mm) at value pricing — best for high-volume retail. Many buyers blend across varieties depending on destination market.
What are the typical export-grade specifications?
Length 8.30 mm (1121/1718), L/B ratio 4.2+, head rice 89%+, moisture <13%, broken <1% premium / <2% standard, purity 95%+. Foreign matter, black grains, red grains and white bellies are all NIL. Each shipment comes with a NABL-accredited lab report.
Do you offer aged basmati?
Yes. Aged basmati (minimum 12 months from milling) is available on premium orders. Aging develops aroma, reduces moisture, and improves cooking elongation. Adds 4–8% to price; lead time extends 7 days.
What packaging is available?
25 kg PP bags (bulk export standard), jute bags (Middle East preference), and retail packs from 1 kg to 10 kg in custom branded film bags or boxes. Private-label printing available on confirmed orders. Minimum private-label run is 5 MT per SKU.
Container loading — how many MT?
Approximately 22–25 MT per 40' container, palletised dry. Loaded ex-mill from Punjab/Haryana, dispatched to JNPT, Mundra, Kandla or Chennai for FOB shipment.
What testing is included?
NABL-accredited lab tests for moisture, broken %, foreign matter, damaged/discoloured grain, white bellies, soft-grain count, and pesticide residues against EU and USA MRL lists. Reports travel with shipment documents.
Payment terms?
Standard 30% T/T advance + 70% against B/L, or 100% LC at sight from a first-class bank. D/P possible for established buyers with credit history.
Can you supply organic basmati?
Yes, organic-certified sella basmati is available on dedicated orders. Requires USDA Organic / EU Organic certification documentation; price premium typically 25–40%.