How Export-Quality Makhana Is Defined (And Where Shipments Often Fail)

Exporting makhana is not just about sourcing a good batch once. The real challenge lies in meeting consistent, buyer-defined quality standards over time.

This post explains how export-quality makhana is typically evaluated and why many shipments fail despite looking acceptable at origin.

1. Export Quality Is Buyer-Specific, Not Universal

Unlike domestic trade, export quality is rarely a generic standard. Buyers define acceptance based on:

• Size range and uniformity

• Colour and visual cleanliness

• Moisture tolerance

• Breakage percentage

• Foreign matter limits

Two buyers in different countries may reject or accept the same batch for entirely different reasons.

2. The Importance of Pre-Shipment Consistency

Most export rejections don’t happen because the product is “bad,” but because it is inconsistent.

Common inconsistencies include:

• Mixed grades within a single shipment

• Moisture variation across bags

• Uneven popping or density

• Inconsistent cleaning between lots

These issues often originate during grading or storage rather than sourcing.

3. Documentation vs Physical Reality

A frequent failure point is mismatch between:

• What documents claim

• What the physical cargo contains

Lab reports, packing lists, and invoices must reflect actual batch characteristics, not ideal targets. Even small deviations can raise red flags at inspection.

4. Where Shipments Commonly Fail

Based on operational experience, failures typically occur at:

• Loading (poor bag sealing or mixing batches)

• Transit (moisture absorption due to humidity)

• Inspection (unclear specs or buyer expectations)

• First shipment trials (tight tolerance, zero history)

These failures are expensive not only financially, but reputationally.

5. Why Export Quality Is a Process, Not a Certificate

Certifications help, but they do not replace:

• Clear buyer specifications

• Controlled grading and storage

• Traceable batches

• Honest communication

Export quality is maintained through process discipline, not paperwork alone.

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This article is part of our ongoing documentation on makhana sourcing, quality control, and export trade practices.

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