Quinoa Market Data, Quality Standards and Trade

Editorial evidence reviewedReviewed 2026-09-11Release 2026-09-19-batch-230

Market value

$600M

Producing countries tracked

8

Grading systems

1

Active supply risks

3

Trade corridors

3

Latest reviewed evidence

The figures below are current requirements from the FAO/WHO Codex Standard for Quinoa CXS 333-2019, amended in 2020. The standard defines processed-quinoa identity and quality boundaries; it does not establish current harvest availability, certify a lot or provide a live delivered quinoa price.

Processed quinoa moisture maximum

13

percent by mass · CXS 333-2019, amended 2020

Organic extraneous matter maximum

0.1

percent · CXS 333-2019, amended 2020

Inorganic extraneous matter maximum

0.1

percent · CXS 333-2019, amended 2020

Broken grains maximum

3

percent · CXS 333-2019, amended 2020

Protein minimum

10

percent on a dry-matter basis · CXS 333-2019, amended 2020

Saponin maximum

0.12

percent · CXS 333-2019, amended 2020

Processed quinoa is a defined grain, not flour or planting seed

CXS 333-2019 defines quinoa as grain from Chenopodium quinoa Willd. and processed quinoa as grain that has been cleaned, had its saponin-containing pericarp removed and been sorted by colour and size. The standard covers food grain packaged or in bulk, but excludes seed for propagation and derived products such as flour and flakes. Atlas retains intended use, whole-grain identity, processing condition, colour and size basis before comparing quality, crop, price or trade records.

Moisture and extraneous matter remain separate controls

The current Codex standard caps moisture at 13 percent by mass and notes that some destinations may require lower limits because of climate, transport duration and storage. It separately caps organic extraneous matter, including husks, stem parts, animal-origin impurities, other seeds and leaves, at 0.1 percent and inorganic extraneous matter, including stones, at 0.1 percent. Atlas keeps each result, definition, sample, method, laboratory and test date distinct.

Defect, protein and saponin results describe different risks

CXS 333-2019 caps broken grains at 3 percent, damaged grains at 2.5 percent, germinated grains at 0.5 percent, coated grains at 0.3 percent and immature grains at 0.9 percent. It also requires at least 10 percent protein on a dry-matter basis and caps saponin at 0.12 percent. Atlas does not collapse these into one grade score: physical defects, nutritional composition and residual saponin retain their own measurement basis and evidence.

A quality standard is not a delivered physical price

Codex requirements establish identity and quality boundaries, not current availability or price. A delivered quinoa price still requires a defined processed-grain condition, colour and size basis, current permitted physical observations, origin and harvest, analytical and defect results, lot quantity, package, currency, Incoterm, destination, delivery window, freight, storage conditions and information vintage. Atlas keeps any physical-price output unsupported when those fields or usage rights are missing.

Questions procurement teams ask

Does the Codex quinoa standard cover flour and flakes?

No. CXS 333-2019 covers quinoa grain for human consumption, packaged or in bulk, and explicitly excludes derived products such as flour and flakes as well as seed for propagation.

What is processed quinoa under Codex?

It is Chenopodium quinoa Willd. grain that has been cleaned, had the saponin-containing pericarp removed and been sorted by colour and size.

What are the Codex moisture and saponin limits for quinoa?

Moisture is capped at 13 percent by mass, although some destinations may require less, and saponin is capped at 0.12 percent. The sample, method and test date remain attached to each result.

Which fields make physical quinoa offers comparable?

Whole-grain and processed condition, variety where known, colour, size and sorting basis, pericarp removal, moisture, organic and inorganic matter, each grain-defect class, protein and saponin basis, safety evidence, origin and harvest, processing and packing dates, lot, package, quantity, currency, Incoterm, destination, delivery window and evidence date.