Paprika (Spain, China, Peru)

Powder and pods by ASTA colour, Pimentón de la Vera PDO

Paprika is bought on colour. The ASTA colour value is the contract number, and commercial grades run from around ASTA 80 to ASTA 200 and above, with ASTA 120–160 the most widely traded band for food manufacturing; higher colour goes to oleoresin and meat processors, lower colour to blending. Three origins lead the trade. China ships dried pods and powder from Xinjiang and elsewhere at the widest range of colour classes, and UN Comtrade 2024 put Chinese exports of crushed or ground Capsicum (HS 0904.22) at 270,882 MT at USD 2,558/MT. Peru is a large exporter of dried whole Capsicum (HS 0904.21): 39,032 MT at USD 3,934/MT in 2024. Spain exported 83,257 MT of ground Capsicum at USD 3,811/MT, a figure that includes processing of imported pods as well as Spanish crop. Note that these HS lines cover all dried Capsicum, chilli as well as paprika.

Spain's protected product is Pimentón de la Vera, a PDO registered in 2007 for northern Cáceres in Extremadura. It is ground from the Jaranda, Jariza, Jeromín, Bola and Ocal varieties, dried slowly over oak smoke, and sold as dulce (sweet), agridulce (bittersweet) and picante (hot), with water content limited to 14%; only material certified by the regulatory council can carry the name. Food safety is the other half of the contract. The EU limits dried chillies and paprika to 5 µg/kg aflatoxin B1, 10 µg/kg total aflatoxins and 20 µg/kg ochratoxin A, and Sudan dyes (Sudan I to IV) are illegal colourants for which EU official controls set a 0.5 mg/kg analytical threshold, so an EU paprika contract should call for Sudan dye analysis, aflatoxin and OTA on the loaded lot. Pesticide residues run to Regulation (EC) 396/2005; EU lots move ETO-free and US lots to EPA tolerances under 40 CFR 180. CBIL is a commodity brokerage company and brokers paprika to seasoning, snack and meat-processing manufacturers, oleoresin extractors, spice grinders and retail packers, against a certificate of analysis, phytosanitary certificate and certificate of origin, in 25 kg multi-wall paper or PP bags and lined cartons, container-load, on FOB, CFR and CIF terms. Price is set per lot on ASTA, form and origin; send the ASTA floor, heat, mesh and destination with your RFQ.

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.