Cinnamon
Cinnamon is the dried inner bark of trees in the genus Cinnamomum. True cinnamon, Cinnamomum verum, is peeled from young coppiced shoots and rolled into fine multi layered quills. Cassia is the thicker, harder bark of Cinnamomum cassia, Cinnamomum burmannii and Cinnamomum loureiroi, cut into single curled quills or broken pieces. Both are used whole and ground in baking, confectionery, beverages, curry and spice blends, in meat curing and pickling, and are distilled for bark oil and leaf oil used in flavour, fragrance and oral care manufacture.
Listed cinnamon markets
Each line is a grade at a delivery point. Open one for its full specification and terms.
Grades
Cinnamon and cassia are graded on species, on quill diameter and length, on the count of quills per unit weight, on volatile oil and coumarin content, and on cleanliness.
Species and botanical identity
6 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Cinnamomum verumTrue cinnamon, also traded as Ceylon cinnamon | Thin, pale, multi layered quill made from the peeled inner bark of coppiced shoots. Very low coumarin. |
| Cinnamomum cassiaChinese cassia | Thick, hard, single layer bark. High cinnamaldehyde and materially higher coumarin. |
| Cinnamomum burmanniiIndonesian cassia, traded as korintje | Thick bark, the largest volume cassia in world trade. |
| Cinnamomum loureiroiVietnamese cassia, traded as Saigon cassia | Highest cinnamaldehyde of the commercial species. |
| Species verificationChromatographic profile or DNA barcoding | Used where a buyer must document the species for a regulated coumarin claim. |
| CoumarinMilligrams per kilogram | Determined by chromatography. Regulated in several destination markets, and the single reason species must be contracted explicitly. |
Quill form and size
9 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Quill outside diameterMillimetres | The primary size measure for verum. The finest grades sit at the smallest diameter. |
| Quills per kilogramCount | A count of quills making up a stated mass. A higher count means thinner bark and finer work. |
| Quill lengthCentimetres | Cut to the buyer stated length, commonly a fixed cut for retail packs. |
| QuillingsBroken pieces of quill | Fragments and trimmings from quill making, sold for grinding. |
| FeatheringsInner bark shavings and small shoots | A by product fraction, sold for grinding and distillation. |
| ChipsUnpeeled bark chips | Sold for oil distillation and oleoresin extraction. |
| Cassia brokenSplit or broken bark pieces | Sized over a stated sieve aperture in millimetres. |
| Bark thicknessMillimetres | The governing size term for cassia. |
| GroundMilled to a stated mesh | Mesh aperture named on the contract, with the sieve analysis reported. |
Analytical requirements
10 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Volatile oilMinimum millilitres per 100 grams | Determined by ISO 6571. The measure of aroma strength. |
| CinnamaldehydePercentage of the volatile oil | Determined by gas chromatography. The dominant aroma compound and the figure an extraction buyer pays on. |
| EugenolPercentage of the volatile oil | Higher in verum than in cassia and part of what separates them on the nose. |
| MoistureMaximum percentage by mass | Determined by ISO 939. |
| Total ashMaximum percentage by mass | Determined by ISO 928. |
| Acid insoluble ashMaximum percentage by mass | Determined by ISO 930. |
| Crude fibreMaximum percentage by mass | A check on adulteration of ground cinnamon with outer bark or spent material. |
| Lead and heavy metalsMilligrams per kilogram | Bark accumulates heavy metals, so this is a routine arrival term. |
| Microbiological limitsColony forming units per gram, and absence of Salmonella in a stated mass | Contracted to destination market limits. |
| Pesticide residuesMilligrams per kilogram | Tested against destination market maximum residue limits. |
ASTA cleanliness specifications
7 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Whole insects, deadCount per stated sample mass | Counted after sieving and inspection. |
| Excreta, mammalianMilligrams per stated sample mass | Determined by flotation and microscopy. |
| Excreta, otherMilligrams per stated sample mass | Determined by flotation and microscopy. |
| MouldPercentage by mass | Visibly mouldy pieces, weighed after separation. |
| Insect defiled or infestedPercentage by mass | Pieces showing insect damage, weighed after separation. |
| Extraneous foreign matterPercentage by mass | Stones, dirt, wire, string and any plant material other than the named spice. |
| TreatmentDeclared | Steam sterilised, ethylene oxide treated, irradiated or untreated. Declared on the contract, because destination markets differ on what they permit. |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Sri Lanka | South Asia | Origin |
| Indonesia | Southeast Asia | Origin |
| Vietnam | Southeast Asia | Origin |
| China | East Asia | Origin and destination |
| India | South Asia | Origin and destination |
| Madagascar | Africa | Origin |
| Seychelles | Africa | Origin |
| Bangladesh | South Asia | Destination |
| United States | North America | Destination |
| Canada | North America | Destination |
| Mexico | North America | Destination |
| Germany | Europe | Destination |
| Netherlands | Europe | Destination |
| United Kingdom | Europe | Destination |
| France | Europe | Destination |
| Spain | Europe | Destination |
| Poland | Europe | Destination |
| Turkiye | Middle East | Destination |
| United Arab Emirates | Middle East | Origin and destination |
| Saudi Arabia | Middle East | Destination |
| Egypt | Africa | Destination |
| Iran | Middle East | Destination |
| Pakistan | South Asia | Destination |
| Japan | East Asia | Destination |
| South Korea | East Asia | Destination |
| Singapore | Southeast Asia | Origin and destination |
| Malaysia | Southeast Asia | Destination |
| Peru | South America | Destination |
| Brazil | South America | Destination |
| Australia | Oceania | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sri Lanka | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Harvest May to Nov, arrival Jul to JanGalle, Matara and Ratnapura peel through the year with the main flush in the wet months from May to November. Quills ship out of Colombo. | |||
| Indonesia | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Apr to Sep, arrival Jul to DecKerinci in West Sumatra and Jambi harvest korintje cassia through the drier months. | |||
| Vietnam | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Mar to Oct, arrival May to DecYen Bai, Quang Nam and Quang Ngai peel in two flushes, spring and autumn. | ||
| China | Harvest | Harvest | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Apr to Oct, arrival Jun to DecGuangxi and Guangdong peel cassia in a spring and an autumn flush. | |||
| India | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest May to Aug, arrival Jul to OctKerala and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands peel through the monsoon months. | ||||||
| Madagascar | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Apr to Aug, arrival Jul to NovEastern coastal districts peel from April to August. | ||||
| Seychelles | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest May to Sep, arrival Aug to DecBark and leaf harvested from May to September. |
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 cinnamon. 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 heading0906.11 Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum), neither crushed nor ground
0906.19 Other cinnamon and cinnamon-tree flowers, neither crushed nor ground
0906.20 Cinnamon, crushed or ground - PackingJute or PP woven bags of 25 kg to 50 kg for whole spice, multiwall paper sacks for ground, and foil-lined or vacuum cartons for volatile and high value grades. Food grade liner, fumigation or steam sterilisation certificate where the destination requires it.
- Container loading20ft: 12 t to 18 t depending on bulk density. 40ft is normally volume limited before it reaches its weight limit. Ground and low density spice ships light and prices on cubic, not tonnage.
- Contract and arbitrationASTA cleanliness specifications for United States trade on Association of Food Industries contracts with AFI arbitration in New York. European trade on European Spice Association quality minima and the terms of the importing association, arbitration under ICC rules or the seat named in the contract.
- Destination limitsEU: aflatoxin B1 and total limits under Regulation 2023/915, ochratoxin A limits, pesticide MRLs under Regulation 396/2005, and Salmonella absence in 25 g. Ethylene oxide is not authorised in the EU and remains the most common rejection cause on spice. US: FDA FSMA preventive controls and ASTA cleanliness, with standing import alerts for Salmonella on several origins.
Common questions
What grades of cinnamon does SIP Global trade?
We quote 32 published grades of cinnamon, including Cinnamomum verum - True cinnamon, also traded as Ceylon cinnamon, Cinnamomum cassia - Chinese cassia, Cinnamomum burmannii - Indonesian cassia, traded as korintje, Cinnamomum loureiroi - Vietnamese cassia, traded as Saigon cassia, Species verification - Chromatographic profile or DNA barcoding and Coumarin - Milligrams per kilogram. Every grade is tied to a delivery point and a settlement route. Grades outside the published list are priced on request.
How is cinnamon graded?
Cinnamon and cassia are graded on species, on quill diameter and length, on the count of quills per unit weight, on volatile oil and coumarin content, and on cleanliness. Grading runs on 4 systems: Species and botanical identity, Quill form and size, Analytical requirements and ASTA cleanliness specifications.
Where does SIP Global trade cinnamon?
We trade cinnamon in Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Vietnam, China, India, Madagascar, Seychelles and Bangladesh and 22 further markets. Origins and destinations outside this list trade on request. We are not limited to the locations shown.
When is cinnamon harvested and when does it arrive?
Typical windows are Sri Lanka: harvest may to nov, arrival jul to jan; Indonesia: harvest apr to sep, arrival jul to dec; Vietnam: harvest mar to oct, arrival may to dec; China: harvest apr to oct, arrival jun to dec; India: harvest may to aug, arrival jul to oct. 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 cinnamon?
Cinnamon is normally classified under HS 0906.11 (cinnamon (cinnamomum zeylanicum), neither crushed nor ground), HS 0906.19 (other cinnamon and cinnamon-tree flowers, neither crushed nor ground) and HS 0906.20 (cinnamon, crushed or ground). 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 cinnamon?
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. 2 listed cinnamon markets are 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.
- ISOInternational Organization for Standardization
- ASTAAmerican Spice Trade Association cleanliness specifications
- 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.