Harmal seed (Peganum harmala) goes by many names — Esfand in Iran, Üzerlik in Turkey, Harmal in Arabic, Syrian Rue in English. Markets are pharma extraction (β-carboline alkaloid source for harmaline/harmine), traditional Unani and Ayurvedic medicine, ritual purification incense across Iran/Turkey/Caucasus, and natural-dye production. This guide is for serious commercial buyers — extraction houses, traditional medicine wholesalers, and incense importers.
1. Why Pakistani Harmal is the regional supply backbone
- Volume: Pakistani harvest is large enough to supply container loads year-round, unlike smaller-volume origins
- Alkaloid content: Pakistani Harmal tests at 2.5–5% total β-carboline alkaloids — pharma-grade
- Clean grading: 99% purity standard with machine-cleaning and color-sorting
- Geography: Direct shipping access to Iran (Bandar Abbas), Turkey (Mersin/Istanbul), and the broader Middle East
2. Current FOB Karachi price bands (April 2026)
3. Grades and applications
Standard 99% Purity
Machine-cleaned, color-sorted whole seeds. ≤ 8% moisture. For traditional medicine wholesalers, ritual incense importers, and natural-dye producers.
Pharma Grade
Contract specifications including specific alkaloid content guarantees, residue testing, and chain-of-custody documentation. For β-carboline extraction houses producing harmaline or harmine.
Bulk Industrial
For large-volume natural-dye, ritual incense, and lower-spec medicine markets. Higher tolerance for foreign matter.
4. Customs & documentation
Harmal seed enters under HS code 1211.90 in most jurisdictions. Required:
- Phytosanitary Certificate
- Certificate of Origin
- Lab COA: purity, moisture, alkaloid content (for pharma grade)
- Commercial Invoice + Packing List
- For pharma extraction houses: GMP statement + manufacturer-of-origin declaration
Important: Some destination jurisdictions (selected EU member states, US specific cases) classify harmaline-containing materials as scheduled. Confirm with your local customs and pharma regulator before contracting.
5. MOQ and packaging
Standard MOQ 1 × 20ft FCL ≈ 18 MT. Packaging: 25/50 kg PP-woven food-grade bags or vacuum-sealed cartons for pharma-grade. We can ship to Bandar Abbas (Iran), Mersin (Turkey), Jeddah (Saudi), Jebel Ali (UAE).
Need a current quote?
WhatsApp our export team — quote within 24 hours with PI, lab COA, and shipping options.
FAQ — Buyer Questions
Detail: Harmaline + harmine combined typically tests 2.5–5% by HPLC. Pharma-grade contracts specify minimum alkaloid percentage with 3rd-party lab COA per shipment.