Apricot Kernel
The apricot kernel is the seed found inside the stone of Prunus armeniaca, recovered as a by product of apricot drying and canning. It comes in two commercially distinct types. Sweet kernels, from cultivars bred for low amygdalin, taste and behave much like almond and are used in marzipan and persipan, bakery, confectionery, nut mixes and cosmetics. Bitter kernels carry high amygdalin, which releases hydrocyanic acid when the kernel is chewed or wetted, and are used only in tightly controlled applications such as flavouring, amaretto style liqueur, and pressing for oil where the cake is separated from the oil. Cold pressed apricot kernel oil is a significant outlet in its own right for cosmetics and food. The two types are never interchangeable and the distinction is the first thing a contract must fix.
Listed apricot kernel markets
Each line is a grade at a delivery point. Open one for its full specification and terms.
Grades
Apricot kernel is graded first on type, which is determined by amygdalin and hydrocyanic acid assay rather than by taste, then on size by count, moisture, and defect tolerance.
Type by amygdalin assay
4 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Sweet kernelLow amygdalin | Kernel from a sweet cultivar, assayed low in amygdalin and cleared for direct food use. The contract states the maximum hydrocyanic acid in milligrams per kilogram and the test method. |
| Bitter kernelHigh amygdalin | Kernel high in amygdalin, restricted to processing outlets. Direct retail sale as a food is limited or prohibited in many markets. |
| Hydrocyanic acidMilligrams per kilogram | The regulated figure. The contract states the limit and the sampling and assay protocol, which follow the rules of the destination market. |
| Debittered kernelProcessed to reduce amygdalin | Bitter kernel treated by soaking, blanching or steaming to reduce amygdalin. The contract states the residual limit and requires a certificate of analysis on each lot. |
Size by count
5 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Extra largeCount per 100 grams | The lowest count band, meaning the largest kernels. The contract states the numeric range. |
| LargeCount per 100 grams | The next band down in size. |
| MediumCount per 100 grams | The most widely traded band for marzipan and bakery. |
| SmallCount per 100 grams | A high count band, meaning small kernels, typically directed to pressing. |
| MixedNo count declared | Unsized kernel sold on quality alone, normal for oil pressing lots. |
Form and presentation
5 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Natural kernelSkin on | Raw kernel with the brown seed coat intact. |
| Blanched kernelSkin removed | Kernel heated and slipped to remove the seed coat. The contract states the maximum percentage of kernels retaining skin. |
| WholeIntact | A complete kernel. The contract states the minimum percentage of wholes. |
| Split and brokenSeparated or fractured | Kernel split along the cotyledon or broken, sold at a discount. |
| Slivered, diced and mealSized on a stated aperture | Cut or ground kernel screened to a stated particle size range. |
Moisture and defects
5 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| MoisturePercentage by weight | Kernel is dried so that it can be stored without mould or rancidity. The contract states the maximum. |
| RancidityPercentage by count | The kernel is high in oil. Rancid kernel is capped separately and is the main storage risk. |
| Mould and insect damagePercentage by count | Mouldy, decayed and insect damaged kernels are each capped. |
| Foreign matter and shellPercentage by weight | Stone fragments, shell, dust and foreign matter are capped by weight. |
| Oil contentPercentage by weight | For pressing lots the contract states the minimum oil content and the extraction method, cold pressed or expeller. |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Uzbekistan | Central Asia | Origin |
| Turkiye | Europe | Origin and destination |
| Tajikistan | Central Asia | Origin |
| Kyrgyzstan | Central Asia | Origin |
| Afghanistan | Central Asia | Origin |
| Iran | Middle East | Origin and destination |
| China | East Asia | Origin and destination |
| Pakistan | South Asia | Origin and destination |
| Morocco | North Africa | Origin and destination |
| Spain | Europe | Origin and destination |
| Italy | Europe | Origin and destination |
| France | Europe | Origin and destination |
| Germany | Europe | Destination |
| Netherlands | Europe | Destination |
| Poland | Europe | Destination |
| Russia | Europe | Destination |
| United States | North America | Destination |
| United Kingdom | Europe | Destination |
| India | South Asia | Destination |
| South Korea | East Asia | Destination |
| Japan | East Asia | Destination |
| United Arab Emirates | Middle East | Origin and destination |
Origins and destinations outside this list trade on request. We are not limited to the locations shown here.
Timing
Harvest is when the crop is taken at origin. Arrival is when a shipment from that origin typically lands in a consuming market. The gap between them is processing, grading and the voyage.
HarvestArrival
| Origin | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | Window |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Uzbekistan | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest | Arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Jun to Aug, arrival Sep to NovFergana Valley and Samarkand apricot harvest from June. Kernels are recovered as the fruit is dried and shipped from the autumn. | ||||||
| Turkiye | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest | Arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Jun to Aug, arrival Sep to NovMalatya harvest from late June, the largest source of both dried apricot and kernel. | ||||||
| Tajikistan | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest | Arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Jun to Aug, arrival Sep to NovSughd and the Zeravshan valley harvest from June. | ||||||
| Kyrgyzstan | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest | Arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Jun to Aug, arrival Sep to NovBatken harvest from June. | ||||||
| Afghanistan | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest | Arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Jun to Aug, arrival Sep to NovNorthern and central provinces harvest from June, exported largely through Pakistan and the Gulf. | ||||||
| Iran | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest | Arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest May to Jul, arrival Aug to OctHarvest from May in the northwest and central provinces. | ||||||
| China | Harvest | Harvest | Arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Jun to Jul, arrival Aug to OctXinjiang and Hebei harvest from June, with a large domestic pressing industry. | |||||||
| Morocco | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest | Arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest May to Jul, arrival Aug to OctHarvest from May, mainly feeding the canning trade with kernel as a by product. |
Windows outside this pattern trade on request, including carry, forward positions and stock already sitting in a destination warehouse.
Customs, packing and contract terms
Indicative terms for apricot kernel. Tariff classification is the importer’s responsibility and limits change, so confirm both against the destination customs authority and the current regulation before you fix a contract.
- HS heading1212.99 Fruit stones and kernels, of a kind used primarily for human consumption
- PackingIn shell in jute or PP woven bags of 25 kg to 50 kg. Kernels vacuum packed in cartons or tins of 10 kg to 25 kg, nitrogen flushed for high oil content nuts. Moisture at pack is the specification that decides shelf life.
- Container loading20ft: 14 t to 19 t. In shell is weight limited, kernel is volume limited. Reefer at 5 to 10 degrees Celsius for long transits on high oil kernels.
- Contract and arbitrationINC quality standards with the Dried Fruit and Edible Nut trade contract in Europe, arbitration in London, and Association of Food Industries contracts with AFI arbitration for United States trade.
- Destination limitsEU aflatoxin limits under Regulation 2023/915, being 2 ug/kg B1 and 4 ug/kg total for ready to eat nuts and higher where the lot is to be sorted before consumption. Salmonella controls, and increased official controls under Regulation 2019/1793 for several origins. US FDA action level of 20 ug/kg total aflatoxin.
Common questions
What grades of apricot kernel does SIP Global trade?
We quote 19 published grades of apricot kernel, including Sweet kernel - Low amygdalin, Bitter kernel - High amygdalin, Hydrocyanic acid - Milligrams per kilogram, Debittered kernel - Processed to reduce amygdalin, Extra large - Count per 100 grams and Large - Count per 100 grams. Every grade is tied to a delivery point and a settlement route. Grades outside the published list are priced on request.
How is apricot kernel graded?
Apricot kernel is graded first on type, which is determined by amygdalin and hydrocyanic acid assay rather than by taste, then on size by count, moisture, and defect tolerance. Grading runs on 4 systems: Type by amygdalin assay, Size by count, Form and presentation and Moisture and defects.
Where does SIP Global trade apricot kernel?
We trade apricot kernel in Uzbekistan, Turkiye, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan, Iran, China and Pakistan and 14 further markets. Origins and destinations outside this list trade on request. We are not limited to the locations shown.
When is apricot kernel harvested and when does it arrive?
Typical windows are Uzbekistan: harvest jun to aug, arrival sep to nov; Turkiye: harvest jun to aug, arrival sep to nov; Tajikistan: harvest jun to aug, arrival sep to nov; Kyrgyzstan: harvest jun to aug, arrival sep to nov; Afghanistan: harvest jun to aug, arrival sep to nov. 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.
What is the HS code for apricot kernel?
Apricot kernel is normally classified under HS 1212.99 (fruit stones and kernels, of a kind used primarily for human consumption). The heading follows the form the goods are in at the border, and national tariffs extend it beyond six digits, so confirm the full line with the destination customs authority before you fix a contract.
How do I get a price for apricot kernel?
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 apricot kernel 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.