Classification
Product TypeProcessed Food
Product FormDried (Shelf-Stable)
Industry PositionPackaged Staple / Convenience Food
Market
Vermicelli (thin noodle products made from wheat, rice, or starch) is widely traded as a shelf-stable packaged food, often reported in customs statistics within HS 1902 (pasta/noodles), including HS 190230 “Other pasta, nes”. 2023 UN Comtrade data (via the World Bank’s WITS interface) shows large export flows for HS 190230 from China, Thailand, Vietnam, and Italy, reflecting both Asian noodle manufacturing hubs and established pasta producers. Major import markets for HS 190230 include the United States, Germany, the Netherlands, Japan, and Korea, Rep., supported by retail, convenience, and foodservice demand. Because vermicelli is dry and lightweight, it is well-suited to containerized trade, but competitiveness is sensitive to grain/starch input costs and food safety/compliance expectations.
Major Producing Countries- 중국Major manufacturing base; large exports reported for HS 190230 “Other pasta, nes” (UN Comtrade via WITS).
- 태국Major exporter for HS 190230 “Other pasta, nes” (UN Comtrade via WITS), consistent with significant noodle manufacturing capacity.
- 베트남Significant exporter for HS 190230 “Other pasta, nes” (UN Comtrade via WITS), including rice-noodle style products in regional and OECD-bound trade.
- 이탈리아Major pasta producer; exports reported for HS 190230 “Other pasta, nes” (UN Comtrade via WITS).
Major Exporting Countries- 중국2023 exports of HS 190230 “Other pasta, nes”: USD 898,542.47K; 526,981,000 kg (UN Comtrade via WITS).
- 태국2023 exports of HS 190230 “Other pasta, nes”: USD 419,124.65K; 135,207,000 kg (UN Comtrade via WITS).
- 베트남2023 exports of HS 190230 “Other pasta, nes”: USD 268,081.99K; 90,831,200 kg (UN Comtrade via WITS).
- 이탈리아2023 exports of HS 190230 “Other pasta, nes”: USD 238,366.24K; 88,348,500 kg (UN Comtrade via WITS).
Major Importing Countries- 미국2023 imports of HS 190230 “Other pasta, nes”: USD 454,096.07K; 124,323,000 kg (UN Comtrade via WITS).
- 독일2023 imports of HS 190230 “Other pasta, nes”: USD 306,569.86K; 107,387,000 kg (UN Comtrade via WITS).
- 네덜란드2023 imports of HS 190230 “Other pasta, nes”: USD 256,411.32K; 81,609,800 kg (UN Comtrade via WITS).
- 일본2023 imports of HS 190230 “Other pasta, nes”: USD 84,140.54K; 27,135,000 kg (UN Comtrade via WITS).
- 대한민국2023 imports of HS 190230 “Other pasta, nes”: USD 39,251.60K; 8,989,140 kg (UN Comtrade via WITS).
Specification
Major VarietiesRice vermicelli, Wheat vermicelli, Mung bean (glass/cellophane) vermicelli
Physical Attributes- Thin, fragile dried strands; breakage rate is a common buyer/receiver quality concern
- Color and translucency vary by base material (e.g., opaque white rice vermicelli vs. translucent glass vermicelli)
Compositional Metrics- Moisture / water activity control is critical for shelf stability and to prevent mold or insect activity
- Strand thickness uniformity and cooking/rehydration time consistency are common buyer specifications
Grades- Buyer specifications commonly focus on strand uniformity, breakage limits, foreign matter limits, and microbiological criteria aligned to Codex hygiene guidance
Packaging- Retail packs (plastic pouches; carton outers) and foodservice/bulk packs (multi-kg inner bags with corrugated cases)
- Moisture-barrier packaging is used to protect against humidity uptake during distribution
ProcessingDesigned for rapid rehydration in hot water (instant/quick-cook formats) or brief boiling/soaking (traditional dried formats)
Supply Chain
Value Chain- Raw material intake (wheat flour / rice flour / starch) -> mixing -> extrusion or sheeting -> steaming/gelatinization (material-dependent) -> drying -> cutting -> packaging -> containerized distribution
Demand Drivers- Convenience meal preparation and pantry-stable staples in retail and e-commerce
- Use as a base ingredient in ready-to-eat/instant bowls, soups, and quick stir-fry kits across global markets
Temperature- Typically shipped and stored at ambient temperatures; moisture and pest control are more critical than refrigeration
- Avoid high humidity and temperature excursions that can increase breakage and raise infestation/mold risk
Atmosphere Control- Controlled-atmosphere logistics is generally not required; barrier packaging and dry-container practices are commonly used to manage moisture risk
Shelf Life- Shelf stability is driven by low moisture and packaging integrity; humidity uptake and pest activity are key failure modes in distribution
Risks
Input Commodity Supply Shock HighVermicelli production costs and availability are highly exposed to wheat, rice, and starch supply shocks (weather variability, logistics disruptions, and policy interventions in staple grain markets). Sudden increases in input costs or constraints on grain/starch availability can rapidly compress margins, change origin competitiveness, and disrupt contract pricing for international buyers.Use multi-origin sourcing, index-linked pricing where appropriate, and maintain approved alternates for base materials (wheat/rice/starch) while validating product performance and labeling impacts.
Food Safety MediumAs a low-moisture food, vermicelli and its seasoning components can carry pathogens that survive for long periods; contamination events can trigger recalls and border rejections even when products are shelf-stable.Apply Codex-aligned hygienic design and environmental monitoring, control post-process contamination, and verify supplier preventive controls for low-moisture ingredients.
Regulatory Compliance MediumImport market compliance depends on accurate ingredient/allergen declarations and additive use within applicable limits (which differ by jurisdiction). Vermicelli products can be affected by gluten/allergen labeling, country-of-origin rules, and additive permissions—especially for flavored or instant formats.Maintain robust label control and specification governance; validate additive compliance using Codex GSFA as a baseline and verify market-specific requirements per destination.
Logistics MediumHumidity ingress, poor container conditions, and long storage can cause quality degradation (breakage, off-odors), mold risk in compromised packs, or insect infestation, leading to claims and rejections.Use moisture-barrier packaging, dry-container loading practices, desiccants where appropriate, and inbound QC focused on packaging integrity and breakage.
Sustainability- Upstream agricultural footprint of rice/wheat/starch inputs (water, fertilizer, and emissions intensity varies by origin and farming practice)
- Single-use plastic reduction and packaging recyclability expectations in import markets
FAQ
How is vermicelli typically captured in global trade statistics?Vermicelli is often reported within broader pasta/noodle HS groupings (HS 1902). A commonly used HS6 line in UN Comtrade via the World Bank’s WITS interface is HS 190230 “Other pasta, nes,” which captures many noodle and pasta formats rather than vermicelli alone.
Which countries are notable exporters of HS 190230 “Other pasta, nes” relevant to vermicelli trade?In 2023 UN Comtrade data accessed through WITS, major export flows for HS 190230 include China (USD 898,542.47K), Thailand (USD 419,124.65K), Vietnam (USD 268,081.99K), and Italy (USD 238,366.24K).
Why can food safety still be a concern for dried vermicelli products?Codex guidance for low-moisture foods notes that pathogens of concern (including Salmonella) may not grow at low water activity but can remain viable for long periods, making contamination events and recalls possible even for shelf-stable products if hygiene and post-process controls fail.