Senna export from India is a long established trade, and India is the main source of the senna leaves and pods sold around the world. The leaf grows in the dry south and west of the country, is processed into whole leaf, cut leaf, powder and pods, and ships to tea brands, herbal medicine makers and pharmaceutical companies in Europe, the Americas, the Middle East and Asia.
Where Indian senna grows
Senna likes heat, sun and very little rain, which is why it does well in two parts of India. The older growing area is around Tirunelveli in Tamil Nadu, which gave the trade its best known name, Tinnevelly senna. Over time, large areas of Rajasthan and Gujarat have also come under the crop, because their dry climate suits it just as well. Buyers abroad still often call any Indian senna Tinnevelly senna, even when the leaf was grown in Rajasthan.
The plant is picked more than once in a season, and the leaves are dried in the shade so they keep their green colour. Pods are collected as they mature. After drying, the material is cleaned, graded and either packed whole or cut and milled to the form the buyer needs.
Who buys Indian senna abroad
| Buyer | What they buy | What they need |
|---|---|---|
| Pharmaceutical companies | Leaf and pods to pharmacopoeia grades | BP, USP or EP grade, full test reports |
| Herbal tea brands | Cut leaf for tea bags and loose tea | Consistent cut and a clean brew |
| Herbal medicine makers | Leaf powder and pods | Steady strength, lot by lot |
| Traders and repackers | Whole leaf and pods in bulk | Good price, reliable supply |
Each of these buyers reads a senna quote differently. A pharmaceutical buyer looks first at the grade and the test report, a tea brand at the cut and the colour, and a trader at the price per kg and how reliably the next shipment will match the last.
What a senna export shipment includes
- Commercial invoice and packing list, with the product described exactly as it is.
- Certificate of origin, which many buyers need to claim a lower import duty.
- Lab report for the lot, covering strength, moisture and contaminants.
- Phytosanitary certificate, where the destination country asks for one.
- Bill of lading, and an insurance certificate when the terms are CIF.
Reading senna export data
Many people searching for senna export are looking at trade data, to see who ships how much and where. Those figures are useful for understanding the size of the market, but they cannot tell you much about any one supplier’s quality. A buyer choosing a supplier learns far more from a sample, a lab report and a short call than from a table of shipment volumes, because two exporters with similar volumes can ship very different leaf.
Exporting from India: the timeline
Most senna orders follow the same path. You send the form, the grade and the destination, and receive a quote with a free sample. Once the sample is approved, the lot is reserved, tested and packed, and the papers are prepared while the goods move to port. From Mundra port in Gujarat, sea freight reaches the Gulf in about a week and Europe or the US in a few weeks, depending on the route.
Buying senna for export from a manufacturer
A.R.T International processes senna leaves and senna pods in Sojat, Rajasthan, and exports them from Mundra port. We supply whole leaf, coarse cut, fine cut, powder and pods, in BP, USP and EP grades for pharmaceutical buyers, from 100 kg, with a lab report on every lot. We quote FOB Mundra or CIF in US dollars within 24 hours, with the export papers your country needs. Our senna buying page compares the forms side by side.
Frequently asked questions
Where is senna grown in India?
Mainly around Tirunelveli in Tamil Nadu, and in the dry regions of Rajasthan and Gujarat. Indian senna is sold abroad as Tinnevelly senna.
Which countries buy senna from India?
Buyers in Europe, the Americas, the Middle East and Asia, mainly pharmaceutical companies, tea brands and herbal medicine makers.
What documents come with a senna export?
Commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin, lab report and, where needed, a phytosanitary certificate. We quote them with the price.
Do you supply pharmacopoeia grade senna?
Yes. We supply senna to BP, USP and EP grades, with test reports for each lot.
What is the minimum order for senna export?
100 kg of leaves or pods. A free sample goes out before the first order.
Specs change with the crop, the season and the grade. Ask our export desk for a current lab report, the minimum order and a price to your port, and we will come back within 24 hours.