India Alfalfa Meal and Pellets Importer Companies 2016

HS Code: 121410 (Lucerne / Alfalfa Meal and Pellets)  |  Period: 2016  |  Country: India  |  Companies Listed: 4

HS Code 121410 - Alfalfa (Lucerne) Meal and Pellets

HS Code 121410 is the internationally standardised 6-digit Harmonized System subheading that covers "Lucerne (alfalfa) meal and pellets." This classification falls under Chapter 12 of the Harmonized System, which encompasses oil seeds and oleaginous fruits, miscellaneous grains, seeds and fruit, industrial or medicinal plants, straw and fodder. Alfalfa meal and pellets are produced from the alfalfa plant (Medicago sativa), which is widely recognised as one of the most nutritious forage crops in the world. The meal is produced by grinding dried alfalfa into a fine powder, whilst pellets are manufactured by compressing the ground meal under high pressure into cylindrical or spherical forms, typically 6-8mm in diameter, which improves handling, storage stability, and transport efficiency.

Alfalfa meal and pellets are characterised by their high crude protein content, which typically ranges from 15 percent to 22 percent depending on the cutting stage, processing method, and leaf-to-stem ratio. They also contain significant levels of digestible fibre, calcium, phosphorus, vitamins (particularly A, D, E, and K), and minerals. These nutritional properties make alfalfa products a highly valued ingredient in animal feed formulations for dairy cattle, beef cattle, horses, poultry, and rabbits. In the context of India, where the dairy industry is the largest in the world by volume (accounting for over 22 percent of global milk production) and the poultry industry is experiencing rapid growth, the demand for protein-rich feed ingredients such as alfalfa meal is substantial and continuously expanding. India's import of alfalfa meal and pellets under HS 121410 peaked at approximately 57,450 metric tonnes in 2017, demonstrating the significant scale of this trade flow during the period surrounding 2016.

Indian Companies Importing Alfalfa Meal and Pellets in 2016

The following four companies were identified in Indian customs import records as having imported alfalfa (lucerne) meal and pellets classified under HS Code 121410 during the 2016 fiscal year. It is important to note that the import of alfalfa meal by companies primarily engaged in spice extraction, natural ingredients, and edible oil processing may reflect the use of alfalfa-derived compounds or the co-processing of agricultural commodities rather than direct animal feed applications. The diversity of importing entities underscores the versatile applications and supply chain complexity of this commodity within the Indian agro-processing sector.

1. Pranav Agro Industries (Pune, Maharashtra)

Pranav Agro Industries is a prominent Indian agro-processing company operating as part of the Pranav Group, with its corporate office located at Nav Maharashtra House, 43 Shaniwar Peth, Opposite Shaniwar Wada, Pune 411030, Maharashtra. Established in 1999, the company has built a strong reputation over more than two decades as a manufacturer, exporter, and importer of edible oils, non-edible oils, oleochemicals, deoiled cakes, cattle feed, and pulses. The company is registered with the Registrar of Companies under the category of manufacture of vegetable and animal oils and fats, and its registered office is located in Sangli, Maharashtra. According to available financial data, Pranav Agro Industries Limited generated revenue in the range of INR 100 crore to INR 500 crore (approximately USD 12-60 million) for the financial year ending March 31, 2016, positioning it as a mid-to-large-scale player in the Indian agro-processing industry.

The company's involvement in the import of alfalfa meal and pellets (HS 121410) is consistent with its established business operations in cattle feed manufacturing and edible oil processing. Alfalfa meal, as a protein-rich deoiled cake or meal product, fits naturally within Pranav Agro's product portfolio, which includes deoiled cakes from various oilseeds and compound cattle feed formulations. The company's toll manufacturing operations for edible and non-edible oils further indicate its capacity to handle large volumes of agricultural commodities, making alfalfa import a logical extension of its supply chain operations. Pranav Agro Industries is associated with Krishna Valley Agro (India) Limited, suggesting operational synergies between these entities in the agro-commodity import and processing space.

2. Akay Flavours and Aromatics Pvt. Ltd. (Dubai UAE / Indian Operations)

Akay Flavours and Aromatics Pvt. Ltd. is a leading manufacturer and exporter of natural ingredients, specialising in spice extracts, oleoresins, essential oils, natural colours, and nutraceutical ingredients. The company was incorporated as a private limited company on April 15, 1995, under the Indian Companies Act 1956, and has since grown into a globally recognised player in the natural ingredients market. Akay is now part of the Oterra Group (formerly Naturex), one of the world's largest natural ingredient companies. The company's registered office for the Akay Group is located at Office 104, Plot No. 258-615, Al Quoz 3rd, P.B. 17870, Dubai, UAE, with Indian manufacturing and processing operations spanning multiple facilities across the southern state of Kerala.

Akay's import of alfalfa meal and pellets under HS 121410 in 2016 may appear unusual for a company primarily focused on spice extraction, but it reflects the interconnected nature of the global agricultural commodity trade. Companies engaged in large-scale extraction and processing of natural products often import or trade in a range of agricultural commodities beyond their core product lines, leveraging existing supply chain infrastructure, customs brokerage relationships, and logistics networks. Additionally, alfalfa contains bioactive compounds, including saponins, phytoestrogens, and antioxidants, which have potential applications in nutraceutical and functional food ingredients, a segment in which Akay has established expertise. The company's full-range manufacturing capabilities encompass whole and ground sterilised spices, oleoresins, essential oils, and natural colour extracts, serving the food and beverage, pharmaceutical, personal care, and animal nutrition industries worldwide.

3. Kancor Ingredients Limited (Ernakulam, Kerala)

Kancor Ingredients Limited is a pioneering Indian company in the field of global spice extraction, with a heritage that spans over five decades since its original establishment. The company operates from its headquarters located at Building No. 814/C, Near Suburban Club, Seaport-Airport Road, Thrikkakara P.O., Ernakulam 682 021, Kerala, India. Kancor has since been integrated into the Mane Kancor joint venture (a partnership between India's Kancor and France-based Mane SA), creating one of the world's largest and most technologically advanced natural ingredients manufacturing platforms. The company specialises in the production of oleoresins, essential oils, spice extracts, natural colours, and functional food ingredients that serve the global food and beverage, flavour, fragrance, pharmaceutical, and nutraceutical industries.

Kancor's inclusion in the 2016 alfalfa meal and pellets import records reflects a similar pattern to Akay Flavours: a spice extraction and natural ingredients company importing agricultural commodities that may serve multiple purposes within their processing ecosystem. Kerala, where Kancor is based, is India's primary spice-producing state, often referred to as the "Spice Garden of India." The state's extensive agricultural infrastructure and port facilities (including the Kochi port) facilitate both the export of spice products and the import of complementary agricultural commodities. Kancor's product portfolio includes innovative solutions such as clean label ingredients, standardised extracts, and customised spice blends that cater to the evolving demands of the global food industry. The company's manufacturing facilities across India incorporate state-of-the-art extraction technologies, including supercritical CO2 extraction, steam distillation, and solvent extraction.

4. Krishna Valley Agro (India) Limited (Pune, Maharashtra)

Krishna Valley Agro (India) Limited is a Pune-based agro-processing company listed at the same Nav Maharashtra House address as Pranav Agro Industries (43 Shaniwar Peth, Pune 411030, Maharashtra), indicating a close corporate relationship or shared management between the two entities. The company operates in the agricultural inputs and animal feed sector, with its modern operations conducted through Krishna Valley Agrotech LLP (KVAT), which was established in 2015 with a primary focus on the agrisector through organic solutions and niche industries including equine nutrition, laboratory animal feed, feed additives, and biotechnology. The Managing Director of Krishna Valley Agrotech LLP, Sameer Chotai, brings over 20 years of experience in organic farming, animal feed, and feed additives to the enterprise.

Krishna Valley Agro's import of alfalfa meal and pellets is the most directly aligned with the conventional use of this product, given the company's core business in animal feed manufacturing and agri-inputs. Alfalfa meal and pellets, with their high protein content (15-22 percent crude protein) and excellent digestibility, represent a premium feed ingredient for dairy cattle, poultry, and equine feed formulations. The company's focus on niche segments such as equine nutrition and laboratory animal feed suggests that the imported alfalfa may have been directed towards specialised, higher-value feed applications rather than bulk commodity cattle feed. KVAT's product range includes laboratory animal feed, feed additives, animal health care products, and bio-technology solutions, positioning the company as a diversified agri-inputs provider with a growing emphasis on specialty and organic feed products.

India's Alfalfa and Animal Feed Market Context

India's position as the world's largest milk producer, with annual output exceeding 220 million metric tonnes, creates an enormous and sustained demand for high-quality animal feed ingredients. The Indian compound feed market was valued at approximately USD 14.5 billion in 2025 and is projected to grow to USD 15.43 billion in 2026, with forecasts suggesting it will reach approximately USD 19.64 billion by 2031 at a compound annual growth rate of 6.1 percent. The broader Indian animal feed market, encompassing compound feed, roughage, concentrates, and feed supplements, was valued at INR 1,186.3 billion (approximately USD 14.2 billion) in 2025, with growth projected at a CAGR of 6.6 percent through 2034. The cattle feed segment specifically was estimated at USD 6.45 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 9.83 billion by 2035.

Despite India's vast agricultural base, domestic production of alfalfa is insufficient to meet the growing demand from the dairy, poultry, and equine industries, necessitating imports. India's import volumes of alfalfa meal and pellets (HS 12141000) reached an all-time high of approximately 57,450 metric tonnes in 2017, the year immediately following the 2016 import period documented on this page. The primary sources of India's alfalfa imports have historically included the United States (the world's largest alfalfa producer and exporter), Australia, Canada, and some African countries. The United States alone exported USD 41 million worth of alfalfa meal and pellets globally in 2023, under HS Code 121410. India's relatively modest direct import of alfalfa products (approximately USD 14,200 from India as a reported trading partner in World Bank WITS data) reflects the fact that much of the alfalfa demand in India is met through domestic production, with imports serving as a supplementary source for high-protein feed formulations.

Global Alfalfa Market Overview

The global alfalfa market, encompassing hay, meal, pellets, and cubes, was valued at approximately USD 29.27 billion in 2025 and is projected to grow from USD 31.24 billion in 2026 to USD 53.46 billion by 2034, reflecting a strong and sustained demand trajectory. The global alfalfa pellets market specifically was valued at USD 1.8 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 3.1 billion by 2034. Meanwhile, the broader alfalfa hay market was estimated at USD 88.1 billion in 2024, with projections suggesting it will reach USD 151.9 billion by 2034 at a CAGR of 5.6 percent. These figures underscore the enormous scale and economic significance of the global alfalfa industry, which is driven primarily by the expanding global dairy and livestock sectors, increasing meat consumption in developing economies, and the growing recognition of alfalfa as a sustainable, high-protein feed ingredient.

The largest alfalfa-producing countries globally are the United States, Spain, Argentina, France, and Canada. The United States alone accounts for a significant share of global production, with the western states of California, Idaho, and Arizona being the primary producing regions. International trade in alfalfa products (particularly hay, meal, and pellets) has been growing steadily, with China, Japan, South Korea, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia being the largest import markets. India, while not among the top five global importers of alfalfa products, represents a growing market due to its expanding dairy and poultry industries and the increasing professionalisation of animal nutrition practices among Indian livestock farmers.

Company Comparison and Import Patterns

Frequently Asked Questions

What is HS Code 121410?

HS Code 121410 is the 6-digit international Harmonized System subheading for "Lucerne (alfalfa) meal and pellets." It falls under Chapter 12 (Oil Seeds, Miscellaneous Grains, Seeds and Fruit, Industrial or Medicinal Plants, Straw and Fodder) of the HS nomenclature. This code covers alfalfa that has been processed into meal (ground form) or pellets (compressed cylindrical or spherical forms), typically used as high-protein animal feed ingredient. The 8-digit Indian HSN code equivalent is 12141000.

Why would spice extraction companies import alfalfa meal?

Companies like Akay Flavours and Kancor Ingredients, primarily engaged in spice extraction and natural ingredients manufacturing, may import alfalfa meal for several reasons: (1) leveraging existing agricultural commodity import infrastructure and logistics networks to diversify their commodity trading activities; (2) extracting bioactive compounds from alfalfa, including saponins, phytoestrogens, and antioxidants, for use in nutraceutical and functional food ingredients; and (3) supplying alfalfa-based products to their animal nutrition industry clients as part of a broader natural ingredients portfolio.

How large is India's animal feed market?

India's compound feed market was valued at approximately USD 14.5 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 19.64 billion by 2031 at a CAGR of 6.1 percent. The cattle feed segment specifically was estimated at USD 6.45 billion in 2024. The broader animal feed market, including roughage and feed supplements, was valued at INR 1,186.3 billion (approximately USD 14.2 billion) in 2025. India is the world's largest milk producer, with over 220 million metric tonnes of annual output, which drives substantial and sustained demand for protein-rich feed ingredients including alfalfa meal and pellets.

What is the global alfalfa market size?

The global alfalfa market was valued at approximately USD 29.27 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 53.46 billion by 2034. The alfalfa pellets market specifically was valued at USD 1.8 billion in 2025, projected to reach USD 3.1 billion by 2034. The United States is the world's largest alfalfa producer and exporter, with global exports under HS 121410 exceeding USD 453 million in 2023. India's import of alfalfa meal and pellets peaked at approximately 57,450 metric tonnes in 2017.