A food factory in Bangladesh can buy food colour in bulk from local traders in Dhaka, from distributors of international colour brands, or directly from manufacturers in China, either on its own or through a sourcing agent. Shenzhen Phoenix Rising Technology supplies natural food colours (beet red, paprika, turmeric, lutein, spirulina blue and more) and caramel colour from certified Chinese factories to factories in Bangladesh, by LC or in small quantities door-to-door. The price per kg depends mainly on the type of colour, its pigment strength, its form and the order size.
We do not publish prices here, because colour prices move with harvests, raw materials and freight. Ask us for a quote for your product.
Where do Bangladeshi factories buy food colour in bulk?
Most factories use one of four routes. Each has a place, and many factories use two of them at once.
| Route | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Local trader (Old Dhaka chemical markets and others) | Small, urgent quantities | Repacked material, unclear origin, COA that may not match the batch |
| Distributor of an international brand | Brand-name colours with full support | Usually the highest price per kg; limited choice of strengths |
| Direct from a Chinese manufacturer | Regular volumes, LC orders | Language, factory checks, minimum orders, documents |
| Sourcing agent in China | Direct factory price with someone checking for you | Choose an agent who visits factories and shares the manufacturer's COA |
If you buy from a trader, ask who made the colour and ask for the manufacturer's COA.
What decides the price of food colour per kg?
Two colours with the same name can differ several times in price. These are the factors that explain most of the gap.
| Factor | Why it changes the price |
|---|---|
| Natural or synthetic | Natural colours are extracted from plants (or, for carmine, an insect), so harvests and extraction costs matter. Synthetic colours are made chemically and are usually cheaper per unit of colour. |
| The specific colour | Within natural colours, some sources are costly to grow or extract. Blue and some reds are often more expensive than turmeric or caramel. |
| Pigment content (strength) | A 10% colour and a 2% colour of the same pigment are different products. Stronger means more expensive per kg, but a lower dose. |
| Water-soluble or oil-soluble | WS grades for drinks and jelly and OS grades for fats and coatings use different carriers and processing. |
| Liquid, powder or emulsion | Powder adds a drying step; emulsions add stabilisers. Liquids carry water you pay to ship. |
| Stability treatment | Grades made to resist heat, light or acid usually cost more than basic grades. |
| Certificates | Halal (incl. MUI), Kosher and a factory with FSSC 22000 / ISO 22000 / HACCP add confidence and some cost. |
| Order size, packing and route | A trial lot by air and a full LC order by sea have very different landed costs per kg. |
The third line matters most. Always ask for the pigment content and the test method on the specification sheet before you compare two prices.
Natural or synthetic: which should your factory buy?
This choice sets the price more than any other. In short:
- Synthetic colours give bright, even shades at low doses and are stable in most products. Some export buyers and brand owners now ask to avoid them, and some carry warning-label rules in certain markets.
- Natural colours support a "no artificial colours" claim and suit export customers who ask for clean labels. They are more sensitive to heat, light and pH, so you must pick the right colour for your process.
Our sister site has a full comparison of natural vs synthetic food colours for drinks and candy. Phoenix Rising's standard range is natural colours and caramel colour. If you need a synthetic colour, tell us the name and specification and we will say honestly whether we can source it for you.
Which natural colour suits which product?
Natural colours behave differently in acid, heat and light. This table is a starting point for choosing samples, not a final answer. Your own trial decides.
| Shade | Natural options | Common uses | Points to test |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red / pink | Beet red, paprika red, lycopene, purple sweet potato, radish red, monascus red, carmine | Drinks, jelly, candy, dairy, sausages, sauces | Beet red is heat-sensitive; purple sweet potato changes shade with pH; carmine is not plant-based |
| Yellow / orange | Turmeric (curcumin), beta-carotene, lutein, annatto, gardenia yellow, safflower yellow | Snacks, noodles, bakery, drinks, ghee-based sweets | Turmeric fades in light; choose WS or OS to match your product |
| Green | Copper chlorophyll(in) | Candy, jelly, mint products | Check the shade in your acid level |
| Blue | Spirulina blue, gardenia blue | Candy, jelly, ice cream, coatings | Spirulina is sensitive to heat and low pH |
| Brown / black | Caramel colour (Class I, III, IV), cocoa colour, vegetable carbon black | Soy sauce, cola, biscuits, noodle seasoning | Pick the caramel class that suits your product's charge |
For caramel colour, see our guide on caramel colour price per kg and which class to buy. The natural food colours page lists every colour we supply with its E number and solubility.
How do you compare two food colour quotes fairly?
Never compare colour by price per kg alone. Compare by what it costs to colour one tonne of your product.
- Fix a colour target. Use your current product, or a retained sample, as the standard.
- Run a bench trial with each sample. Add each colour step by step until your test batch matches the standard, under the same light.
- Record the dose for each sample.
- Calculate cost per tonne. Cost per tonne of product = price per kg × dose (as a decimal) × 1,000 kg.
- Add the landed cost. Include freight, duty and C&F charges per kg. A weaker colour means more kg to import.
- Test stability. Keep trial product in light and warmth for some days. Check fading and sediment.
What should be on a food colour COA?
Ask for the COA of the exact sample you test. A useful COA for a food colour shows:
- Colour name, E number (if any) and grade (WS or OS, liquid or powder)
- Pigment content or colour value, with the test method
- Moisture (powder) or density and pH (liquid)
- Carrier or solvent used, for example maltodextrin, gum arabic or vegetable oil
- Heavy metals such as lead and arsenic
- Microbiology for natural colours, such as total plate count, yeast and mould
- Batch number, production date and shelf life
Ask the supplier to confirm in writing that bulk shipments will match the specification of the sample you approved.
Small trial lot or LC order?
Most factories start with samples, then a small trial order, then regular LC orders. Phoenix Rising handles LC orders directly from China. For small quantities, DE International (Dhaka) brings the goods door-to-door. Many factories combine colours with flavours or other ingredients in one shipment to share the freight.
When you ask for a quote, send:
- Your product (juice drink, jelly, candy, biscuit, snack, sauce and so on)
- The shade you need, or a sample of your current product
- Natural only, or open to other options
- WS or OS, liquid or powder
- Your process: heat treatment, pH, shelf life, packaging
- Monthly volume, and LC or small quantity
For other ingredients, see our food ingredients range.
For Bangladesh, check that each colour is permitted for your product and at your dose under current BFSA and BSTI rules, and confirm import requirements with your C&F agent. Rules change, and this guide is not legal advice.
FAQ
What is the price of food colour per kg in Bangladesh?
There is no single price. It depends on whether the colour is natural or synthetic, which colour it is, its pigment content, WS or OS, liquid or powder, certificates, order size and shipping. Compare suppliers by cost per tonne of finished product after a bench trial, and ask for a current quote for your product.
Where can I buy food colour in bulk in Dhaka?
Local traders in Dhaka sell small quantities, distributors sell international brands, and larger factories import directly from manufacturers in China or through a sourcing agent. Whoever you buy from, ask for the manufacturer's COA and specification for the exact batch.
Is natural food colour more expensive than synthetic colour?
Usually yes, per unit of colour, because natural colours are extracted from plants and are often weaker. The real cost depends on the dose you need and how well the colour holds in your product, so run a trial before deciding.
Which natural colour is best for red juice drinks and jelly?
Beet red, purple sweet potato, radish red, lycopene and carmine are common options, but each behaves differently in acid and heat. Test two or three samples in your own recipe and check the shade after some days on the shelf.
Who supplies natural food colours from China to factories in Bangladesh?
Shenzhen Phoenix Rising Technology supplies natural food colours and caramel colour, water- and oil-soluble, liquid and powder, from FSSC 22000 / ISO 22000 / HACCP certified partner factories with Halal and Kosher products. Samples come with a COA. LC orders go through Phoenix Rising; small quantities come door-to-door through DE International in Dhaka. The team speaks Bangla, English and Chinese. WhatsApp +880 1750-859967.