Baru
The baru nut is the seed of Dipteryx alata, a leguminous tree of the Brazilian Cerrado savanna. The fruit is a hard woody pod containing a single almond shaped seed, gathered from wild and semi managed stands by rural collectors and cooperatives during the dry season. The raw seed contains trypsin inhibitors and is not eaten raw, so roasting is a required processing step rather than a style choice, and virtually all traded product is roasted kernel. The roasted kernel is firm, high in protein and unsaturated fat, and tastes between a peanut and a cashew. It is sold as a snack nut, in nut mixes, bars and plant protein products, and is pressed for baru oil used in food and cosmetics. Because collection comes from standing native forest, the trade is closely tied to sustainable sourcing and traceability programmes in the Cerrado.
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Listed baru markets
Each line is a grade at a delivery point. Open one for its full specification and terms.
Price guarantee on baru
If a move in the baru price would hurt you, fix the price now. We agree it today for the months you name, and it holds whatever the market does in between.
| Buying | You use or resell baru and need to know your cost. We fix your purchase price for the quantity and months you name. |
|---|---|
| Selling | You grow, produce or hold baru and need to know your revenue. We fix your sale price ahead of production or shipment. |
| Settlement | Against delivery of the baru. |
A price is fixed only once a trader confirms it in writing. Request a fixed price.
Caps and floors on baru
A fixed price binds buyer and seller. A cap or a floor is a guaranteed price on one side only. You pay a fee up front for it, and it is a right, not an obligation: you use it only if the market moves against you.
| Cap | For buyers. A guaranteed maximum price for baru. If the market is above the cap when you buy, you pay the cap. If it is below, you buy at the market price and let the cap lapse. |
|---|---|
| Floor | For sellers. A guaranteed minimum price for baru. If the market is below the floor when you sell, you receive the floor. If it is above, you sell at the market price and let the floor lapse. |
| Fee | Agreed and paid up front. It is the whole cost of the cap or floor, and it is not refunded if the cap or floor goes unused. |
A cap or a floor is in place only once a trader confirms it in writing. Request a cap or a floor.
Grades
There is no international grade standard for baru. Contracts are written against roast state, kernel integrity, size by count, moisture and defect tolerance, with the assay set out explicitly on each contract.
Roast state
4 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Roasted kernelFully heat treated | Kernel roasted to inactivate trypsin inhibitors. The contract states the roast profile or the endpoint colour and requires it to be certified. |
| Light roastColour endpoint declared | A shorter roast to a paler colour, used where the kernel goes into a further cooked application. |
| Dark roastColour endpoint declared | A longer roast to a deeper colour and stronger flavour. |
| Raw kernelNot heat treated | Unroasted kernel supplied only to processors who will roast or press it. Not for direct consumption. |
Kernel integrity
4 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| WholeIntact | A complete kernel. The contract states the minimum percentage of wholes. |
| Broken and splitFractured | Kernel broken but not reduced to fragments. |
| PiecesSized on a stated aperture | Fragments screened to a stated particle size range, for bars and cereal. |
| Flour and mealPassing a stated aperture | Ground kernel or press cake, specified by the sieve aperture the material passes and by residual fat. |
Size by count
4 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| LargeCount per kilogram | The lowest count band, meaning the largest kernels. The contract states the numeric range. |
| MediumCount per kilogram | The middle band, the most widely traded presentation. |
| SmallCount per kilogram | A higher count band, meaning smaller kernels. |
| UnsizedNo count declared | Kernel sold on quality alone, normal for pressing and flour lots. |
Moisture and defects
6 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| MoisturePercentage by weight | Roasted kernel is dried to a low moisture level so that it stays crisp and does not mould. The contract states the maximum. |
| RancidityPercentage by count | The kernel is high in unsaturated 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 | Pod fragments, shell, dust and foreign matter are capped by weight. |
| AflatoxinMicrograms per kilogram | Where the destination market regulates aflatoxin in tree nuts, the contract states the limit and the sampling plan. |
| TraceabilityCollection area declared | Because supply is wild collected, contracts commonly require the collection region and the cooperative of origin to be declared on each lot. |
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 |
| Bolivia | South America | Origin |
| Paraguay | South America | Origin |
| United States | North America | Destination |
| Canada | North America | Destination |
| United Kingdom | Europe | Destination |
| Germany | Europe | Destination |
| Netherlands | Europe | Destination |
| France | Europe | Destination |
| Portugal | Europe | Destination |
| Spain | Europe | Destination |
| Italy | Europe | Destination |
| Australia | Oceania | Destination |
| Japan | East Asia | Destination |
| South Korea | East Asia | Destination |
| United Arab Emirates | Middle East | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brazil | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Aug to Oct, arrival Nov to FebCerrado collection through the dry season across Goias, Minas Gerais, Mato Grosso and Tocantins. Roasting and shipment follow from the last quarter. | |||||
| Bolivia | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Aug to Oct, arrival Nov to JanChiquitania collection on the same dry season pattern, in smaller volume. | ||||||
| Paraguay | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Aug to Oct, arrival Nov to JanNorthern Chaco and eastern region collection through the dry season. |
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 baru. 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 heading0802.99 Other nuts, fresh or dried, shelled or peeled
- 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 baru does SIP Global trade?
We quote 18 published grades of baru, including Roasted kernel - Fully heat treated, Light roast - Colour endpoint declared, Dark roast - Colour endpoint declared, Raw kernel - Not heat treated, Whole - Intact and Broken and split - Fractured. Every grade is tied to a delivery point and a settlement route. Grades outside the published list are priced on request.
How is baru graded?
There is no international grade standard for baru. Contracts are written against roast state, kernel integrity, size by count, moisture and defect tolerance, with the assay set out explicitly on each contract. Grading runs on 4 systems: Roast state, Kernel integrity, Size by count and Moisture and defects.
Where does SIP Global trade baru?
We trade baru in Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany and Netherlands and 8 further markets. Origins and destinations outside this list trade on request. We are not limited to the locations shown.
When is baru harvested and when does it arrive?
Typical windows are Brazil: harvest aug to oct, arrival nov to feb; Bolivia: harvest aug to oct, arrival nov to jan; Paraguay: harvest aug to oct, arrival nov to jan. 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 baru?
Baru is normally classified under HS 0802.99 (other nuts, fresh or dried, shelled or peeled). 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.
Can I fix a baru price ahead?
Yes. SIP Global fixes a baru price ahead for buyers and for sellers, as a price guarantee. Send the grade, the quantity and the months you need covered. We settle against delivery, and a price is fixed only once a trader confirms it in writing.
How do I get a price for baru?
Send the grade, the origin and the delivery window to SIP Global. That is enough for a trader to come back with a level and a settlement route. 3 listed baru markets are published on this page, each with its full specification and terms. We buy and sell the physical cargo, 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 Comtrade (opens in new tab)Official international trade statistics by HS code
- ITC Trade Map (opens in new tab)Bilateral trade flows and tariff data
- FAOSTAT (opens in new tab)FAO production and trade series for agricultural commodities