Is Vilora Impex a registered Indian rice exporter?

Yes. Vilora Impex is an Indian trading house registered in Rajkot, Gujarat, with FSSAI, APEDA, ISO 22000, Spices Board of India, and IEC (Importer-Exporter Code from DGFT). Every shipment ships with phytosanitary, FSSAI, certificate of origin, and lab/COA paperwork within 48 hours of sail.

What is the minimum order quantity (MOQ) for rice export from India?

Our standard MOQ is one 20ft FCL container (approximately 25 metric tonnes of rice, or 18–22 MT for dry fruit). We also accept LCL consolidated shipments on a case-by-case basis for new buyers and sample-trial orders.

Which Indian rice varieties does Vilora Impex export?

We export the full premium long-grain range — 1121 Basmati (Sella, Steam, Raw), 1509 Basmati, Sona Masuri, IR64 (parboiled and raw), and Idli rice. All lots are sortex-cleaned to buyer-specified grading (5%–25% broken), bagged in 5 / 10 / 25 / 50 kg PP, BOPP, jute or private-label packaging.

Which ports does Vilora Impex ship from?

We stuff and ship containers from Mundra Port and Kandla Port in Gujarat, with onward routing to 12+ destination ports across the Gulf (Jebel Ali, Dammam, Doha, Salalah, Sohar), the Levant (Aqaba, Beirut), East Africa (Mombasa, Dar es Salaam), the Maldives (Malé), and Southeast Asia (Singapore, Port Klang).

What payment terms do you offer?

Standard terms are 30% advance and 70% against the scan copy of the Bill of Lading, or an irrevocable Letter of Credit at sight from a reputed bank. We also accept TT / wire transfer in USD, AED and EUR. Incoterms supported: FOB Mundra/Kandla, CIF, and CFR.

How long is the lead time from order confirmation to shipment?

After spec sign-off and sample approval, typical lead time is 10–14 days to container stuffing at port, plus the steamer lay-time. Documentation (phyto, FSSAI, COO, BL) is couriered within 48 hours of sail. Live arrival tracking is shared with the buyer until sign-off at port of arrival.

Can you offer private label or buyer-branded packaging?

Yes. We offer private-label and contract-manufacturing packaging in 5 kg, 10 kg, 25 kg and 50 kg sizes, including BOPP printed bags, woven PP, jute, and retail cartons. Artwork can be supplied by the buyer or co-developed with our packaging desk.

How can a buyer verify Vilora Impex's credentials?

Each credential (IEC on DGFT, FSSAI on FoSCoS, APEDA, GSTIN) can be verified directly on the relevant Government of India registry — links are provided on our provenance page. Request the actual numbers via the inquiry desk; we share them on signed buyer request, not publicly, to prevent misuse.

Do you ship spice and dry fruit alongside rice?

Yes. Alongside rice we export Indian spices (chilli, turmeric, cumin, coriander, fennel, cardamom, garam masala blends), dry fruit and nuts (cashew W180–W400, almond, raisin, fig), pulses (toor, chana, moong), and seasonal fresh produce (Kesar, Alphonso and Banganapalli mangoes) on cold-chain.

Where is Vilora Impex based?

Vilora Impex is headquartered in Rajkot, Gujarat, India. Origin sourcing covers Gujarat, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kashmir and Rajasthan, with consolidation at Mundra Port and Kandla Port for export.

Importing Indian Rice into Saudi Arabia: A Buyer's Guide

Saudi Arabia is among the world's top Indian basmati importers — Dammam handles most rice volume. Here's SFDA, halal, SASO labelling and the documentation packet for first-time importers.

By D. Anadkat · 2026-05-17 · 7 min read · Category: Country Guides

Saudi Arabia is consistently among the top three importers of Indian basmati rice — driven by per-capita consumption levels (Saudis eat more basmati per person than almost anyone else in the world), a religious-cuisine pattern that calls for premium long-grain rice at major holidays, and a retail trade structured around major supermarket chains and government feeding programs. Importing rice into Saudi is straightforward when the documentation discipline is right.

Regulatory framework

The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) is the primary regulator for food imports. SFDA requires: an SFDA importer registration for the importing company, product-level registration for retail SKUs (private-label and branded packs), halal certification from a Saudi-accepted body, and compliance with SASO (Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization) for labelling and product spec.

For bulk distributor or wholesale supply (25/50 kg sacks not destined directly for retail), SFDA registration is still required for the importer but per-SKU registration may not be. Always confirm with your Saudi customs broker.

Halal certification — Saudi spec

Saudi Arabia accepts halal certificates from a limited list of SFDA-recognised bodies. In India, the commonly recognised bodies are Halal India Pvt Ltd, Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind Halal Trust, and the Halal Council of India. Always confirm with your Saudi importer which body their SFDA registration aligns with before requesting the halal certificate.

SASO labelling requirements

Saudi retail labelling: bilingual (English + Arabic), production and expiry dates in DD/MM/YYYY, country of origin, importer name and Saudi address, SFDA-compliant nutritional facts panel (specific Saudi format), allergen declaration, halal symbol from accepted body, net weight in metric (grams or kilograms), barcode (GTIN), and SASO conformity mark where applicable.

Saudi labelling rules are notably stricter than UAE/GCC general rules. Allow extra time in the artwork-approval phase for Saudi private-label launches.

Logistics — Dammam

Mundra Port → King Abdulaziz Port (Dammam) sea transit: 9–12 days. Maersk, MSC, CMA CGM and Hapag-Lloyd all run direct services. Dammam handles the eastern Saudi distribution; Jeddah serves the western coast and is the secondary basmati gateway. Royal Saudi customs at Dammam is fast for clean documentation — typically 2–4 days to release.

Documentation packet for Saudi clearance

Phytosanitary certificate.
Certificate of Origin (general non-preferential — Saudi-India trade not under a CEPA-equivalent at present).
Halal certificate from SFDA-accepted body.
Original Bill of Lading.
Commercial invoice with full HS code.
Packing list.
Independent lab COA (microbial spec, aflatoxin for premium retail).
SFDA product registration certificate (held by importer, referenced in customs declaration).
Saudi importer's SAGIA / Ministry of Commerce trade license.

Special considerations

Ramadan and Hajj season drive sharp demand spikes — plan inventory 60–90 days ahead.
Bulk government feeding programs (Hajj preparation, school feeding) tender separately — registration with Tadawul Trade requires pre-qualification.
Saudi consumers strongly prefer 1121 Sella (golden parboiled) over Steam or Raw. Plan SKU mix accordingly.

Frequently asked

Do I need a Saudi VAT number?: Saudi Arabia applies 15% VAT on imported goods. Your Saudi importer needs a VAT registration; as a foreign supplier you don't directly need one. The VAT is invoiced and remitted by the importer.
How does SFDA product registration work?: Your Saudi importer submits the product registration to SFDA with: product specification, label artwork, lab analysis report, halal certificate, and proof of GMP/HACCP at the manufacturer. Initial registration takes 4–8 weeks; renewals are faster. Plan registration before the first shipment.
What's the lead time end-to-end?: From PI signed: 10–14 days to container stuffing at Mundra + 9–12 days sea transit + 2–4 days Dammam clearance + 1–2 days inland delivery = 22–32 days to importer's warehouse in Riyadh or Jeddah.

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