Why US Importers Source Direct from Pakistan
Every gram of genuine Himalayan pink salt on Earth comes from one place: the Salt Range of Punjab, Pakistan, where the Khewra mine has been worked continuously for centuries. Yet a large share of the pink salt sold to US distributors passes through third-country middlemen, repackers and trading houses that add 30-60% to the landed cost without adding any value. Buying directly from a Pakistani exporter removes those layers entirely.
Kohenoor International sources at the mine, processes and packs in Pakistan, and loads your container at Karachi Port. That means one supplier, one quality standard and one accountable partner from the salt seam to your warehouse door.
- Factory-direct pricing: No repacker margins, no trader markups. Our FOB Karachi rates let US wholesalers and brand owners protect margin even after ocean freight and duty.
- Verified origin: Certificate of Origin issued in Pakistan for every shipment, so your "Himalayan salt" claim is backed by real provenance documentation — increasingly important as US retailers audit supply chains.
- Consistent grading: The same crusher, sieving lines and optical inspection handle every order, so grain size, color range and moisture stay consistent container after container.
- Lab-tested every shipment: A Certificate of Analysis covering NaCl content, moisture, heavy metals and microbiological parameters is issued for each lot before it ships.
- Food-grade compliance: We support FDA Prior Notice filing and supply from an FDA facility-registered supply chain, with ISO 9001:2015 and HACCP-certified processes behind every food-grade lot.
- Export experience since 1957: Nearly seven decades of export documentation, container loading and dispute-free deliveries to 70+ countries.
Product Forms for the US Market
We supply the full range of Himalayan salt forms US buyers ask for — from food-service grinder salt to spa-channel bath blends and retail salt lamps. All forms carry HS Code 2501.00 and can be combined in a single mixed container.
| Product Form | Typical Specification | Primary US Application | Standard Packing |
|---|
| Fine Grain (Food Grade) | 0.3 – 0.8 mm, 84+ trace minerals | Table salt, seasoning blends, food processing | 25 KG bags; retail pouches & jars available |
| Coarse Grain (Food Grade) | 1 – 3 mm / 2 – 5 mm (grinder grade) | Grinder refills, brining, gourmet retail | 25 KG bags; grinder bottles for private label |
| Rock Chunks | 3 – 8 cm natural pieces | Repacking, decor, DIY grinding, halotherapy | 25 KG bags or jumbo bags |
| Salt Lamps | Natural & carved shapes, 2 – 15 KG | Home decor retail, e-commerce, gift channel | Individual color boxes, palletized cartons |
| Cooking Plates & Tiles | Hand-cut slabs, 4×8″ to 12×8×2″ | Restaurant grilling, BBQ retail, salt rooms | Shrink-wrapped, foam-protected cartons |
| Lick Blocks | Pressed & natural, 2 – 25 KG | Horses, cattle, deer feed & ranch supply | Shrink-wrapped, palletized |
| Bath Salt | Fine to coarse, cosmetic grade | Spa products, bath soaks, scrub manufacturing | 25 KG bags; private label pouches & jars |
FDA & Food-Grade Compliance for US Buyers
Salt imported into the United States for human consumption is regulated by the US Food and Drug Administration. Importers new to the category often underestimate the paperwork; we make it routine. Kohenoor International supplies food-grade Himalayan salt from an FDA facility-registered supply chain and prepares the documentation your customs broker needs before the vessel sails.
- FDA facility registration: Food-grade lots are handled through facilities registered with the FDA under the Bioterrorism Act, a prerequisite for lawful food imports into the USA.
- FDA Prior Notice: We coordinate with your broker so Prior Notice is filed correctly for every food shipment before arrival — no port holds, no surprises.
- Certificate of Analysis: Each lot is lab-tested for NaCl purity, moisture, insolubles, heavy metals (lead, arsenic, cadmium, mercury) and microbiology, with the CoA sent to you before shipment.
- HACCP & ISO 9001:2015: Processing, sieving and packing run under HACCP food-safety controls within an ISO 9001:2015-certified quality system.
- Labeling support: For private label programs we print US-compliant retail labels — ingredient statement, net weight in oz/lb, country of origin marking and your UPC barcode.
Logistics: FOB Karachi to US Ports in 25-35 Days
Kohenoor International loads 20ft and 40ft containers at Karachi Port (KICT/SAPT) with weekly sailings to both US coasts and the Gulf. A 20ft container carries approximately 25-27 MT of bagged salt; mixed containers combining bagged salt, lamps and lick blocks are our specialty for first-time US importers building a full product line in one shipment.
Los Angeles / Long Beach
West Coast Gateway
Transit: ~28-35 days · Trans-Pacific routing
The primary entry point for West Coast distributors, Amazon FBA prep centers and the large California spa and wellness market. Direct and transshipment services via Singapore or Colombo.
Best for: CA, WA, OR, NV, AZ distribution
New York / New Jersey
East Coast Gateway
Transit: ~27-33 days · via Suez Canal
Serves the Northeast retail corridor and the dense food-import broker network of the NY/NJ port complex. Often the fastest routing from Karachi via Mediterranean transshipment hubs.
Best for: Northeast & Mid-Atlantic buyers
Houston
Gulf Coast Gateway
Transit: ~29-35 days · via Suez Canal
Ideal for Texas and central US distribution, including the ranch-supply channel for salt lick blocks and the growing Sun Belt retail market.
Best for: TX, OK, and central US networks
Documents Provided with Every US Shipment
- Certificate of Analysis (CoA) — lab-tested, issued per lot before shipment
- Certificate of Origin — chamber-attested, confirming Pakistani origin
- Bill of Lading — original or telex release per your preference
- Commercial invoice & packing list — matched to your purchase order
- FDA Prior Notice confirmation — coordinated with your customs broker for food-grade shipments
We quote FOB Karachi as standard, with CIF or CFR to your nominated US port available on request. Incoterms, insurance and freight options are confirmed on the proforma invoice so there are no hidden costs.
Applications Across the US Market
Food & Gourmet
Food Grade Fine & Coarse
Seasoning brands, spice blenders, meat processors and grocery private label programs use our fine and coarse food-grade salt. The natural pink color and mineral story command premium shelf positioning against ordinary sea salt.
Grinder-grade 2-5 mm is the fastest-moving US retail SKU
Spa & Wellness
Bath Salt & Halotherapy
Cosmetic-grade bath salt for soak blends, scrubs and floatation centers, plus rock chunks and bricks for salt rooms and halotherapy studios — one of the fastest-growing wellness niches in North America.
Custom grain sizes and private label pouches available
Salt Lamps & Decor
Retail & E-commerce
Natural and carved lamps from 2 to 15 KG, tealight holders and decorative chunks. We pack in branded color boxes with cord sets sourced to your specification for the US gift and home-decor channel.
Mixed lamp + salt containers reduce per-unit freight
Animal Licks
Equine, Ranch & Wildlife
Natural mineral lick blocks from 2 to 25 KG for horses, cattle and deer. The US equine and hunting-supply channels value the 84+ trace mineral profile and rope-hung natural blocks.
Palletized, shrink-wrapped for farm-store distribution
Private Label & Retail Packing for US Brands
Many of our US customers never sell a 25 KG bag — they sell their own brand. Our packing lines produce retail-ready formats under your label: grinder bottles (110 g – 400 g), stand-up pouches, PET and glass jars, shakers and bulk foodservice tubs. We handle artwork adaptation, US nutrition and ingredient labeling, UPC barcoding and carton markings, then ship floor-ready cases so your product goes from container to shelf without a repacking step.
For salt lamps, private label means your brand on the gift box, insert card and hang tag. MOQ for private label programs is negotiable within the standard 1 FCL mixed-container minimum, making it practical to launch a multi-SKU line in a single shipment.
Why Kohenoor International
Kohenoor International is a family-run export house based in Hyderabad, Sindh, Pakistan, trading internationally since 1957. Across nearly seven decades we have grown to 60+ products shipped to 70+ countries — and Himalayan pink salt is one of our flagship lines.
- Since 1957: Three generations of export experience and long-term customer relationships measured in decades, not shipments.
- ISO 9001:2015 certified: Documented quality management across sourcing, processing, packing and dispatch.
- HACCP certified: Food-safety hazard controls on every food-grade salt line.
- 70+ countries served: Established routines for US, EU, UK, GCC and Asian import requirements.
- Institutional memberships: Hyderabad Chamber of Commerce, Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) and the International Seed Federation (ISF).
- Responsive communication: Direct WhatsApp and email contact with the export team — quotes within 24 hours, shipment updates at every milestone.
Frequently Asked Questions — Himalayan Salt Wholesale USA
What is the minimum order quantity for wholesale Himalayan salt to the USA?
Our standard MOQ is 20 metric tons for bulk single-form orders, or one full container load (FCL) of mixed products — for example, a 20ft container combining food-grade fine grain, coarse grain, salt lamps and lick blocks. A 20ft container holds approximately 25-27 MT of salt in 25 KG bags. Trial orders and pre-shipment samples can be arranged for first-time US buyers.
How long does shipping take from Pakistan to the USA?
Transit time is approximately 25-35 days FOB Karachi depending on the destination port and routing: Los Angeles and Long Beach typically 28-35 days, New York/New Jersey 27-33 days via the Suez Canal, and Houston 29-35 days. We ship via major carriers including Maersk, MSC and CMA CGM, and can quote CIF or CFR to your preferred US port.
What documents do you provide for US customs and FDA clearance?
Every shipment includes a lab-tested Certificate of Analysis (CoA), Certificate of Origin, Bill of Lading, commercial invoice and packing list. For food-grade shipments we support FDA Prior Notice filing and supply from an FDA facility-registered supply chain, so your customs broker has everything needed for smooth entry. Additional buyer-specific documentation is available on request.
Do you offer private label and retail-ready packaging for the US market?
Yes. Alongside standard 25 KG export bags, we produce retail-ready private label packaging: grinder bottles, stand-up pouches, jars and shakers printed with your brand, UPC barcode and US nutrition labeling. Salt lamps can be packed in branded color boxes with UL/ETL-listed cord sets sourced to your specification.
What payment terms does Kohenoor International accept for US orders?
We work with T/T bank transfer (typically an advance deposit with the balance against Bill of Lading copy) and irrevocable Letter of Credit at sight from recognized banks. Terms are agreed clearly on the proforma invoice before production, and repeat US customers can discuss more flexible structures.
