Couscous (Fine, Medium and Coarse Durum Semolina Couscous)

Durum semolina couscous in fine, medium and coarse grain, by the bag and the container

Couscous has its own tariff line, HS 1902.40, and its own Codex standard, CXS 202-1995, which defines it as a product prepared from durum wheat semolina whose particles are agglomerated with water and then given a physical and thermal treatment. Moisture is limited to 13.5%. Grain size follows the semolina: coarse semolina has a particle diameter of 475 to 700 microns, medium 183 to 475 microns and fine 130 to 183 microns. A product made from another cereal may still be called couscous only if the name is followed by the cereal used, such as barley couscous. UN Comtrade 2024 export declarations under HS 1902.40 total USD 232 million and about 162,000 MT across 79 reporters: Italy USD 67 million and 49,700 MT, Morocco USD 59 million and 50,000 MT, France USD 33 million and 19,500 MT, Tunisia USD 18 million and 10,400 MT, Canada USD 8.9 million and Türkiye USD 7.7 million and 10,100 MT. Algeria and Egypt produce couscous mainly for home consumption, with 2024 export declarations under this line close to zero.

The buyer is an importer-distributor, a wholesaler, a food-service distributor or a private-label desk, buying a stated grain, pack and label. CBIL is a commodity brokerage company and brokers generic couscous from factories in Tunisia, Morocco, France, Algeria, Egypt, Türkiye and Italy, against the competent-authority health certificate, the factory's certificate of analysis, a certificate of origin and, for halal markets, a halal certificate. Couscous is a durum wheat product, so gluten is emphasised on EU labels under Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, and for the EU the ochratoxin A maximum under Regulation (EU) 2023/915 is 3.0 µg/kg for products derived from unprocessed cereals, with the glyphosate MRL for wheat at 10 mg/kg. Gulf labels follow GSO 9 in Arabic with production and expiry dates on the original label. Minimum orders are confirmed per product and pack. Bags and cartons ship palletised or floor-loaded in 20-ft or 40-ft dry containers on FOB, CFR and CIF terms. Send the grain size, pack, label market and discharge port, and the enquiry is screened and worked against it.

Excluded origins are not offered, including product re-exported, blended or re-processed through a third country. Every lot moves with a certificate of origin naming the producing plant, mine or grower country, and nothing is quoted before the seller and loading point are known.