Acai
Acai is the small, dark purple fruit of the palm Euterpe oleracea, native to floodplain (varzea) forests of the Amazon estuary. The fruit is roughly 80 percent inedible seed by mass, so it is not shipped whole for long distances; instead the pulp is mechanically separated from the seed with water, filtered and sold fresh, frozen or freeze-dried into powder. The pulp is deep purple from a dense anthocyanin content and carries a high fat fraction relative to most fruit pulps, giving it a thick, creamy texture once thawed. It is consumed as a chilled bowl or smoothie base and used as an ingredient in juice blends, dietary supplements and nutraceutical formulations.
Listed acai markets
Each line is a grade at a delivery point. Open one for its full specification and terms.
Grades
Acai pulp is graded on total solids content measured by gravimetric drying of a homogenised sample, which is the primary commercial figure because it tracks how much seed-free fruit mass is in the pulp versus added water. A secondary, buyer-driven check is anthocyanin content by HPLC, run because total solids alone does not detect starch or synthetic-colourant dilution that can be added to fake the visual density of a genuine high-solids lot.
Total solids content
4 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Grosso / Especial (Type A)Grosso, Especial or Type A pulp | Total solids at or above 14 percent by mass, the densest and highest commercial grade |
| Medio / Regular (Type B)Medio, Regular or Type B pulp | Total solids from 11 up to 14 percent by mass |
| Fino / Popular (Type C)Fino, Popular or Type C pulp | Total solids from 8 up to 11 percent by mass |
| Acai (plain, unclassified)Base standard applying to any pulp sold under the name acai | Minimum 8 percent total solids by mass; below this floor the product must be labelled and sold as an acai-based drink or beverage, not as acai pulp |
Complementary physicochemical parameters
3 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| pH rangeHydrogen-ion concentration of the pulp | 4.0 to 6.2 |
| Total acidityTitratable acidity expressed as citric acid | Minimum approximately 0.27 g/100g on Fino, rising through Medio to approximately 0.45 g/100g on Grosso |
| Total lipidsFat content of the strained pulp | Approximately 20 to 60 g/100g, reflecting the naturally high fat fraction of the fruit |
Anthocyanin content and adulteration screen
2 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| UnadulteratedAnthocyanin profile, starch identity and total solids all consistent with genuine pulp | Passes the HPLC anthocyanin check and the starch-identity/colourant screen at the declared total-solids grade |
| Diluted / adulteratedAnthocyanin profile, starch identity or declared total solids inconsistent with genuine pulp | Fails the identity or anthocyanin check; rejected or repriced as an off-spec lot |
Microbiological and parasitological safety
2 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| PassedClear of insect fragments, T. cruzi DNA and microbiological indicators above the applicable limit | Meets RDC 218/2005 hygienic-sanitary requirements and the buyer's microbiological specification |
| FailedInsect fragments, T. cruzi DNA or a microbiological indicator found above the applicable limit | Rejected; not releasable regardless of total-solids or anthocyanin result |
Grades outside this list trade on request. Send us the contract specification you work to and we will price against it.
Locations
| Country | Region | We trade it as |
|---|---|---|
| Brazil | South America | Origin |
| United States | North America | Destination |
| Canada | North America | Destination |
| Germany | Europe | Destination |
| France | Europe | Destination |
| Netherlands | Europe | Destination |
| United Kingdom | Europe | Destination |
| Australia | Oceania | Destination |
| Japan | Asia | Destination |
Origins and destinations outside this list trade on request. We are not limited to the locations shown here.
Timing
Harvest is when the ripe fruit bunch (cacho) is cut from the palm and taken the same or next day to a beating/pulping unit, because unrefrigerated fresh fruit spoils within about 24 hours; the pulp is then flash-frozen or freeze-dried at or near the point of harvest. Arrival is when a frozen or freeze-dried shipment typically lands in a consuming market, after processing, inspection and the ocean or air voyage.
HarvestArrival
| Origin | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | Window |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brazil | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest Aug to Dec, arrival Sep to FebEstuarine Para and Amazonas varzea, principal origin; the main harvest (safra) runs roughly August through December, when about 90 percent of the traditional-variety crop is cut, with a lighter counter-season (entressafra) production the rest of the year from managed groves and irrigation. Fruit is beaten and strained into pulp at origin within about 24 hours of cutting, then frozen and moved by river to Belem for cold-chain export. |
Windows outside this pattern trade on request, including carry, forward positions and stock already sitting in a destination cold-storage warehouse.
Common questions
What grades of acai does SIP Global trade?
We quote 11 published grades of acai, including Grosso / Especial (Type A) - Grosso, Especial or Type A pulp, Medio / Regular (Type B) - Medio, Regular or Type B pulp, Fino / Popular (Type C) - Fino, Popular or Type C pulp, Acai (plain, unclassified) - Base standard applying to any pulp sold under the name acai, pH range - Hydrogen-ion concentration of the pulp and Total acidity - Titratable acidity expressed as citric acid. Every grade is tied to a delivery point and a settlement route. Grades outside the published list are priced on request.
How is acai graded?
Acai pulp is graded on total solids content measured by gravimetric drying of a homogenised sample, which is the primary commercial figure because it tracks how much seed-free fruit mass is in the pulp versus added water. A secondary, buyer-driven check is anthocyanin content by HPLC, run because total solids alone does not detect starch or synthetic-colourant dilution that can be added to fake the visual density of a genuine high-solids lot. Grading runs on 4 systems: Total solids content, Complementary physicochemical parameters, Anthocyanin content and adulteration screen and Microbiological and parasitological safety.
Where does SIP Global trade acai?
We trade acai in Brazil, United States, Canada, Germany, France, Netherlands, United Kingdom and Australia and 1 further markets. Origins and destinations outside this list trade on request. We are not limited to the locations shown.
When is acai harvested and when does it arrive?
Typical windows are Brazil: harvest aug to dec, arrival sep to feb. Harvest is when the lot is taken at origin, arrival is when a shipment from that origin lands in a consuming market. Windows outside this pattern, including carry, trade on request.
How do I get a price for acai?
Send the grade, the origin and the delivery window to the SIP Global desk. That is enough for a trader to come back with a level and a settlement route. 1 listed acai market is published on this page, each with its full specification and terms. We take both sides, physical and financial, prompt to long dated.
Standards and data sources
The grading language on this sheet follows published standards. Trade volumes and tariff lines are public record. Verify anything here against the source.
- UN ComtradeOfficial international trade statistics by HS code
- ITC Trade MapBilateral trade flows and tariff data
- FAOSTATFAO production and trade series for agricultural commodities
Price this with our desk
Grade, origin and window if you have them. If what you are carrying does not fit the sheet above, describe it in your own words and a trader will take it from there.