Everything to Learn About Guar Gum and Its Export Procedure

Guar gum is a highly versatile natural product with extensive applications in the food, pharmaceutical, and industrial sectors. India is the world's largest producer and exporter of guar gum, making it an important commodity in international trade. The natural polymer is used as a thickener to make water more thick.

Guar is mainly grown in India, Sudan, Pakistan, and some parts of the USA, etc. In India almost 80% of the total guar production is done, which is almost 1 to 1.6 million tons of guar annually. From Rajasthan, only 70% of the total production is done in India. The guar gum is mainly exported to the USA and European countries further.

The property of scoffing water is further used to modify products in various industries that are:

• Food Products
• Mining Industry
• Agricultural Industry
• Industrial Applications

The guar gum is one of the biggest agricultural items of export in India. It is used in items like the well-known basmati rice and non-basmati rice. It has very major uses in today’s world in various industries like Textile Printing Thickeners, Water based Paints, Oil and Gas Well Drilling and Fracturing, Building and Construction, Food ingredients, Cosmetics and Personal Care, etc.

Guar Gum

Guar gum is a natural thickener also known as guaran, is a water-soluble polysaccharide obtained from the seeds of the guar plant. It is mainly used as a thickener, blender, and balancer in various industries. Pharmaceutical industry also takes guar gum in use. The guar crop is a leguminous plant that grows mainly in sandy soils and requires irregular rainfall with a lot of sunlight.

Guar gum is also known as galactomannan. Guar gum is obtained from guar beans, which is basically a type of crop. Guar gum is a natural thickener that is made from the nutrient-rich parts of the guar beans. The guar seeds are extracted, polished, and screened during the process of obtaining the guar gum. This is further used in food, cosmetics, and other industries. It is typically produced as a pale, off-white powder from an unrefined to fine texture. The protein and the shell of the extracted seeds are further fed to the animals.

Guar gum has a high molecular weight, as it is a type of carbohydrate that is composed of sugar molecules. The two major components mannose and galactose are linked together in a 2:1 ratio. In the process of producing the guar gum, first, the outer layer of the seeds is removed, then they are grinded and lastly, the material is filtered.  The final product is a powder, usually pale and off white, that has a different texture, depending on the thickness levels and the intensity of the use. It is mainly used as a thickener and stabilizer in food, cosmetics, and other industries.

Origin and Production

• Guar gum is derived from the seeds of the guar plant (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba), primarily grown in India and Pakistan.
• India accounts for nearly 80% of global guar gum production, with Rajasthan, Haryana, Gujarat, and Punjab being the key producing states.

Types of Guar Gum

1. Food-Grade Guar Gum: Used in food processing as a thickening, stabilizing, and binding agent.
2. Industrial-Grade Guar Gum: Used in oil drilling, textile, paper, and explosives manufacturing.
3. Pharmaceutical-Grade Guar Gum: Used in medicines, cosmetics, and personal care products.

The Main Properties of Guar Gum

• It has a film forming property
• It is easily solubility in both cold and hot water
• It has the resistance ability towards oils, solvents, and greases
• It can act as a very good thickening agent
• It has a very good water binding capacity
• It is very stable in solutions which have a high range of pH values from 2-10
• It has a very high amount of density
• It is also functional at low temperatures
• In various food formulations it is compatible with many other hydrocolloids used in the formulations
• It is very versatile, which comes from its free hydroxy groups, which can be modified to create derivatives suited for various specific uses.

Derivatized Guar

Derivatized Guar is basically the guar gum that has been modified with chemically. After the process, the properties and applications of the guar are improved like stability, solubility, viscosity, etc. The Guar refined splits can be chemically modified to any quality to increase the performance. This derivatized guar is mainly used in the Industrial Applications like:

1. Application in Oil Field
2. Personal care and Cosmetics
3. Textile Industry
4. Construction
5. Paint Industry

Uses of Guar Gum

The guar gum is traditionally used in the food industry as a preservative. There are different percentages set for the allowable concentration in different food applications in the U.S. In Europe, guar gum is labeled as E412,

The main factor of so much usage and exports are mainly for Industrial Applications.

Demand of Guar Gum

Nowadays the demand for guar has increased to a significant amount in the oil field business. The demand has increased for both natural and derivatized guar. This increase in the demand is due to the significant increase in the area of activity called the Hydraulic Fracturing (HF). Hydraulic Fracturing (HF) is the method of extracting oil and gas from deep inside the ground. This process involves injecting a mixture of water, sand, and chemicals into the surface of the ground to create cracks in the rocks that allow oil or gas to flow out of the ground more easily and conveniently.

In recent times, the increase of Hydraulic fracturing activities has significantly increased, which led to the increase in the demand for the guar as it is used as a natural thickening agent and the modified form of the guar is also increased. In the hydraulic fracturing (HF) process, the guar or the Poly Acryl Amide (PAM) is mainly used to make the fluid thicker, so that the fluid can carry sand into the cracks and keep the cracks open. Almost 60% of the hydraulic fracturing jobs use the PAM and 40% of the jobs depend on guar. This is the main reason that makes the guar an important material in the oil and gas industry.

Procedure to Export Guar Gum from India

In the process of exporting guar gum, you have to follow various key steps to ensure compliance with the government regulations to operate the business legally. These steps are mentioned below:

1. Aquire the Importer Exporter Code (IEC):

To export anything you have to first acquire an IEC from the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT). The Importer Exporter Code (IEC) is a mandatory code for the individuals who are in the import and export business in India. That is why you have to obtain the IEC before involving with any export activities of guar gum.

     2. Registration & Compliance

1. Business Registration: Obtain a GST Registration, Import Export Code (IEC) from the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT).
2. FSSAI Certification: Required for food-grade guar gum.
3. APEDA Registration: The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) governs guar gum exports from India.
4. Other Certifications (as per destination country):

• ISO Certification (for quality assurance)
• US FDA Approval (for exports to the USA)
• HACCP Certification (for food safety compliance)
•  

      3. Prepare the Necessary Documentation

There are different types of documents required, the essential export documents are mentioned below:

• Shipping Bill or Bill of Export:

This is the initial document of the customs clearance, you have to provide these documents that’s why you should keep the bill copy with you after you receive it. This is when you are exporting the assignment through the ship.

• Airway Bill or Bill of landing:

You have to keep the initial document during the customs clearance, you have to provide these documents. This will be the document for proof of shipment. This document is necessary when your assignment is sent through the airway.

• Export Documentation (in short)

• Commercial Invoice & Packing List
• Bill of Lading / Airway Bill
• Certificate of Origin
• Phytosanitary Certificate (for agricultural products)
• Lab Testing Reports (quality and chemical composition)

If any other documents are demanded by Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), you have to submit them.

    4. Packaging & Labeling

• Guar gum is usually exported in multi-layered paper bags, HDPE bags, or fiber drums (25 kg, 50 kg, or bulk quantities).
• Labels must include product name, grade, batch number, net weight, expiry date, and country of origin.

   5. Customs Clearance & Logistics

• Hire a Customs Clearing Agent (CHA) for smooth clearance.
• Select the best shipping mode: Sea Freight (bulk exports) or Air Freight (urgent shipments).
• Major export destinations include the USA, China, Germany, Russia, and Canada.

  6. Comply with the Export Policy:

You have to keep yourself updated with all the latest policies related to the guar gum as mentioned above in point number-2, to make sure you follow all the new guidelines or restrictions in the export policy of guar gum.

If you maintain these steps and maintain all the accurate records, then you can easily export guar gum from India whit compliance with government regulations.

Key Export Markets for Guar Gum

• USA: Major consumer for oil drilling and food industries.
• China: Used in paper and textile industries.
• Germany & Europe: Consumed in food processing and pharmaceuticals.
• Middle East: Used in oil drilling operations.

Challenges in Guar Gum Export

•  Price Volatility: Prices fluctuate based on demand from the oil & gas industry.
•  Quality Compliance: Strict regulations in Europe and the USA require high-quality standards.
• Export Tariffs & Trade Policies: Changes in international trade laws can impact exports.

Supply, Demand, and Future Trends In Guar 

We have discussed the increase in the demand for guar in the oil field application has grown over time, and India has significantly increased the supply of guar. It is crucial to keep the prices reasonable, as the oil companies will go for the options which is cost-effective for them. Many Indian manufacturers still don’t know the manufacturing process of guar which is known as derivatized guar. This modified product has a higher value than the usual guar. This advanced process is essential for India to learn as it can generate more income from the raw materials and stay competitive in the global market.

How can Online Legal India Help You

Online Legal India has professionals who can assist you throughout the process of your application for the Importer Exporter Code (IEC). They have years of experience which can help you get good guidance while you file for the IEC code. Their experts will take care of your filing, while you can have your peace of mind. They will handle your documents carefully and will make sure they don’t have any errors in them which can cause delay or cancellation of your application. In this process, your personal information and documents will be safe. They can also guide you and make you understand the process of exporting more clearly. Visit Online Legal India today.

Conclusion

Guar gum is a versatile product, which has an application range from food to a vital role in industries involved in Hydraulic fracturing. India has been prominence as a major supplier of guar gum in recent times. The challenge is to maintain quality, competitive pricing and compliance with the export regulations is very important to understand and take care of. One more important task is to look after the European standardization (EU) for securing the official certificate and earning safely through the proper way. To enhance the earnings Indian manufacturers should look towards advanced processes like derivatization of guar and producing high-quality HVG. Lastly the exporters should be very careful while filing for Importer Exporter Code (IEC). Contact online legal India and get assisted.