Instant Noodles (Fried and Air-Dried; Pillow Packs, Cups and Bowls; Halal)

Fried and air-dried instant noodles in pillow packs and cups, with halal seasoning, by the carton

Instant noodles fall under HS 1902.30, other pasta, and the Codex standard CXS 249-2006 defines them as noodles made from wheat flour, rice flour, other flours or starches, pregelatinised and dehydrated either by frying or by another method, packed with seasoning or with seasoning already on the noodle. The two styles carry different limits: moisture of not more than 10% for fried noodles and 14% for non-fried, and an acid value of not more than 2 mg KOH/g of oil for fried noodles, which is the rancidity check on the frying fat. UN Comtrade 2024 export declarations under HS 1902.30 total USD 5.75 billion and about 2.26 million MT across 122 reporters: the Republic of Korea USD 1.36 billion and 352,900 MT, China USD 982 million and 576,400 MT, Thailand USD 452 million, Indonesia USD 441 million and 211,800 MT, Malaysia USD 105 million and 48,400 MT and Türkiye USD 66 million and 80,400 MT. Viet Nam is a large producer, but its 2024 declarations are not in the Comtrade preview, and Nigerian factories serve mainly their home market, with 2024 exports of USD 0.1 million.

For a halal market the noodle block is rarely the problem; the seasoning sachet and the oil are. Seasonings can contain meat derivatives, animal fats and enzymes of animal origin, the ingredients the SFDA halal circular names, so a halal line needs the seasoning and the frying or flavour oil certified halal, with no pork and no animal-fat flavouring unless it is halal-certified. Saudi Arabia requires a certificate from a body recognised by the SFDA Saudi Halal Center for food containing animal fats or meat derivatives in any proportion. CBIL is a commodity brokerage company and brokers generic instant noodles from factories in Indonesia, China, the Republic of Korea, Viet Nam, Thailand, Malaysia, Nigeria and Türkiye, against the health certificate, the factory's certificate of analysis, a certificate of origin, the halal certificate and label artwork checked before printing. Ethylene oxide is on the test list: in 2021 and 2022 EU RASFF notifications led to withdrawals of instant noodle lots in which ethylene oxide was found, some at 5.0 and 7.4 mg/kg against a 0.05 mg/kg EU limit. EU labels emphasise gluten and any soy, sesame, crustacean or other Annex II allergen in the sachet under Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, and Gulf labels follow GSO 9 in Arabic. Minimum orders are confirmed per product and pack. Cartons ship in 20-ft or 40-ft dry containers on FOB, CFR and CIF terms. Send the style, pack, flavour, halal requirement, 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.