Sea Cucumber
Sea cucumber is a bottom dwelling echinoderm harvested by hand, by free diving and by shallow water dredge across tropical and temperate coasts, then gutted, boiled, salted and dried into beche-de-mer, a hard product that keeps for years without refrigeration. It is rehydrated over several days and braised into banquet dishes across Greater China and Southeast Asia, where it has been a high value trade good for centuries, and it is also processed into collagen and nutraceutical extracts. Wild stocks are managed or closed in many fisheries and a growing share of supply now comes from sea ranching and pond culture, so species, legality and provenance carry as much weight in a contract as the physical grade.
Listed sea cucumber markets
Each line is a grade at a delivery point. Open one for its full specification and terms.
Grades
Sea cucumber is contracted on the species, on the processing route, on the size expressed as pieces per kilogram, and on the moisture and salt content that decide how much of the shipped weight is product.
Species identity and product form
6 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| SpeciesDeclared, by scientific name | Holothuria scabra, Holothuria fuscogilva, Thelenota ananas, Actinopyga species, Apostichopus japonicus and Isostichopus species. Species is the primary price term and each one has its own market name in the consuming trade. |
| Wild or culturedDeclared | Wild caught, sea ranched or pond cultured. Cultured product is more uniform and wild product from a named fishery carries the premium in some species. |
| Processing routeDeclared | Gutted, boiled, salted and sun dried is the classical beche-de-mer route. Smoked, pressure cooked, freeze dried and salted wet product are separate contract forms with their own moisture terms. |
| SaltingDeclared | Salted or unsalted through processing. Salt is carried in the finished product and it is a weight term as well as a preservation term. |
| Skin conditionDeclared | Skin on, or descaled and skinned. Several species are traded both ways and the buyer specifies which. |
| Convention listingDeclared, with the permit where applicable | Several teatfish species are listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species and they move only with an export permit. The listing status and the permit number are contract terms. |
Size and physical grading
8 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Piece countCount per kilogram | The commercial size grade. Counted on a weighed sample and cross checked against the consignment weight. Fewer pieces per kilogram means larger animals and a higher price. |
| Piece weightGrams per piece | Weighed individually on a drawn sample where the contract grades by piece rather than by count. |
| Body wall thicknessMillimetres | Measured with a gauge on a cut cross section from a drawn sample. Thickness is what the end user eats and it separates a first grade from a second grade within the same size band. |
| LengthCentimetres | Measured on the dried animal, used as a presentation term on the premium species. |
| Shape and straightnessDeclared, against an agreed retained sample | Even, straight, well formed animals present better after rehydration. Twisted, collapsed and hollow pieces are downgraded. |
| ColourDeclared, against an agreed retained sample | Colour follows the species and the processing. Excessive blackening indicates over smoking or scorching on the drying rack. |
| Broken and damaged piecesPercentage by mass, maximum | Split bodies, cut walls and pieces missing an end, separated and weighed on a drawn sample. |
| Gutting completenessPercentage by count with viscera remaining, maximum | Retained viscera rot inside the dried animal and they are a rejection defect rather than a discount. |
Composition and laboratory analysis
7 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| MoisturePercentage by mass, maximum | Determined by oven drying. It is the dominant commercial term because the product is sold dry by weight and it rehydrates readily in a humid hold. |
| Salt contentPercentage by mass, as sodium chloride | Determined by titration. Salt added beyond what the process needs is added weight and it is capped in the contract. |
| AshPercentage by mass | Captures both the salt and any sand or lime picked up in processing and drying. |
| Sand and grit contentPercentage by mass, maximum | Determined by washing a drawn sample. Bottom dwelling animals carry sediment and incomplete washing is the most common quality complaint. |
| Crude proteinPercentage by mass | Determined by the Kjeldahl or Dumas method on a stated moisture basis. |
| Rehydration ratioTimes the dry weight, by mass after soaking | Measured by soaking a weighed sample under an agreed protocol. It is the functional test the end user runs and it is the truest measure of processing quality. |
| Alum, lime and processing additivesDeclared, and prohibited where stated | Some processors use alum or lime to firm the body wall. Any additive is declared because destinations differ on what they permit. |
Cleanliness, contamination and food safety
9 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Foreign matterPercentage by mass, maximum | Sand, shell, stone, plastic, netting and any material that is not the named product, separated by hand from a drawn sample and weighed. |
| Heavy metalsMilligrams per kilogram, maximum, by named element | Mercury, cadmium, lead and inorganic arsenic, determined by atomic absorption or mass spectrometry against the limit in force at the destination. |
| Microbiological criteriaColony forming units per gram, and presence or absence for pathogens | Total plate count, Escherichia coli, Salmonella, Vibrio and Staphylococcus, examined under the Codex and destination criteria on samples prepared to ISO 6887. |
| Additive and preservative residuesMilligrams per kilogram, maximum, by named substance | Sulphite, benzoate, hydrogen peroxide, borax and any bleaching agent, declared and tested. Several destinations prohibit substances that others permit. |
| Veterinary drug and pesticide residuesMicrograms per kilogram, maximum, by named substance | Applies to farmed product. Chloramphenicol, nitrofurans, malachite green and the tetracyclines are the residues most often tested at discharge. |
| Insects, mites and live pestsZero tolerance where specified | Dried marine products are stored goods and they attract pests. Inspected before stuffing, and a live find at discharge is a rejection rather than a discount. |
| Decomposition and taintOrganoleptic examination of a cooked and a raw portion | Assessed by a trained panel under the Codex sensory method. Ammoniacal, rancid or sour notes are defects and they are recorded against the sample. |
| Insect and mite infestationZero tolerance where specified | Dried beche-de-mer is a stored good and it is attacked by beetles and mites. Inspected and fumigated before stuffing where the contract requires it. |
| MouldPercentage by count, maximum | Follows from under drying or from a humid voyage, counted on a drawn sample. |
Delivery, documentation and certification
11 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| PackingDeclared, with the inner and outer format | Carton, sack, drum, vacuum pouch or interleaved block, with the net weight per unit and the marking written into the contract. |
| Weight basisDeclared | Net weight, net of glaze where the product is glazed, and shipped weight or landed weight, with the survey house named. |
| Health certificateCertificate, issued by the competent authority of the exporting country | Required by most destinations for products of animal origin. It names the approved establishment number of the processing plant. |
| Establishment approvalApproval number, issued by the destination authority | European Union approval number, China GACC registration number or United States FDA registration, named on the contract when the destination requires it. |
| Catch or farm documentationCertificate, with the vessel or farm named | Catch certificate under the illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing rules, or the farm registration and movement documents for cultured product. |
| Cold chain or storage conditionDeclared, in degrees Celsius or as ambient dry storage | Carrying temperature, the recorder placed in the container and the tolerance, agreed before loading. |
| CertificationCertificate, with the scheme and the certificate number | Marine Stewardship Council, Aquaculture Stewardship Council, Best Aquaculture Practices, organic or halal, named on the contract when it is contracted. |
| Traceability and lot identityDeclared, with the lot code | Production date, lot number and the vessel, landing site or farm of origin, carried on the carton and on the packing list. |
| Convention permitPermit, issued by the exporting country management authority | Required for the listed species. Shipment without it is seized at the destination rather than discounted. |
| PackingDeclared | Sacks, cartons or vacuum packs with desiccant, with the net dry weight per unit stated. |
| Fumigation certificateCertificate, where the destination requires it | Issued against the treatment applied before stuffing, naming the agent, the dose and the exposure. |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Indonesia | Sulawesi, Nusa Tenggara, Java and Maluku | Origin and destination |
| Philippines | Visayas, Palawan and Mindanao | Origin and destination |
| Malaysia | Sabah, Sarawak and the Perak coast | Origin and destination |
| Vietnam | Khanh Hoa, Kien Giang and the Mekong delta | Origin and destination |
| Thailand | Samut Sakhon, Songkhla and the Andaman coast | Origin and destination |
| Myanmar | Rakhine and Tanintharyi coasts | Origin and destination |
| Sri Lanka | Northern and eastern coastal fisheries | Origin and destination |
| India | Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh | Origin and destination |
| Bangladesh | Chattogram, Cox s Bazar and the Bay of Bengal coast | Origin and destination |
| Madagascar | Toliara, Mahajanga and the northwest lagoons | Origin and destination |
| Tanzania | Zanzibar, Pemba and the Mafia channel | Origin and destination |
| Mozambique | Nampula, Sofala and the Quirimbas | Origin and destination |
| Australia | Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia | Origin and destination |
| Mexico | Baja California, Sonora and the Yucatan shelf | Origin and destination |
| Ecuador | Manta, Guayas and the Santa Elena coast | Origin and destination |
| Peru | Pacific coast and the Humboldt current fishery | Origin and destination |
| Japan | Hokkaido, Kyushu and the Seto Inland Sea | Origin and destination |
| South Korea | Jeollanam-do and the southern island fisheries | Origin and destination |
| China | Shandong, Fujian, Guangdong and Hainan | Origin and destination |
| Hong Kong | Sheung Wan dried seafood trade and re-export into mainland China | Destination and trading hub |
| Taiwan | Kaohsiung and the western coastal processing base | Destination |
| Singapore | Regional trading, finance and re-export | Trading and finance |
| Saint Lucia | Eastern Caribbean coastal waters | Origin and destination |
| United States | Alaska, the Gulf coast, New England and the Pacific northwest | Origin and destination |
| Canada | Atlantic provinces and British Columbia | Origin and destination |
| Egypt | Red Sea and Mediterranean coasts | Origin and destination |
| United Arab Emirates | Dubai re-export and Gulf consumption | Destination |
Origins and destinations outside this list trade on request. We are not limited to the locations shown here.
Timing
Harvest is when the catch is landed or 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, drying or freezing, inspection, veterinary clearance and the voyage.
HarvestArrival
| Origin | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | Window |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indonesia | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Apr to Oct, arrival Jun to DecSulawesi and Maluku hand collection through the calm dry monsoon. | |||
| Philippines | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest | Arrival | Harvest Mar to Nov, arrival May to JanVisayas and Palawan diving between the typhoon seasons. | ||
| Madagascar | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Apr to Oct, arrival Jun to DecSouthwest lagoon fishery and pond culture through the dry season. | |||
| Sri Lanka | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Jan to Sep, arrival Mar to NovNorthern and eastern fisheries working around the two monsoons. | |
| Australia | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Harvest Mar to Nov, arrival May to JanManaged Queensland and Northern Territory fisheries under quota and a closed season. | |
| Mexico | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest May to Sep, arrival Jul to NovYucatan and Baja fisheries opened on a permit season. | |||||
| Japan | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest Nov to Mar, arrival Jan to MayHokkaido and northern coast winter fishery on Apostichopus japonicus. | |||||
| China | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Harvest Mar to Nov, arrival Apr to DecShandong and Liaoning pond and sea ranch harvest in spring and autumn. |
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 sea cucumber. 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 heading0308.12 Sea cucumbers, frozen
0308.19 Sea cucumbers, other, including dried, salted or in brine - PackingCartons of 10 kg to 20 kg with food grade liner, vacuum packed for high value items. Water activity at pack decides whether the lot ships ambient or chilled.
- Container loading20ft: 10 t to 18 t, generally volume limited. Reefer at minus 18 degrees Celsius for frozen, ambient or chilled for dried depending on water activity.
- Contract and arbitrationSale on sample and specification against a certificate of analysis, with the establishment approval number stated in the contract. Arbitration under ICC rules or at the contract seat.
- Destination limitsSeveral Holothuria and Thelenota species are on CITES Appendix II, requiring export permits and species level identification. EU establishment listing and health certification under Regulation 2019/627, catch certification under the IUU Regulation 1005/2008, and cadmium and inorganic arsenic limits under Regulation 2023/915.
Common questions
What grades of sea cucumber does SIP Global trade?
We quote 41 published grades of sea cucumber, including Species - Declared, by scientific name, Wild or cultured - Declared, Processing route - Declared, Salting - Declared, Skin condition - Declared and Convention listing - Declared, with the permit where applicable. Every grade is tied to a delivery point and a settlement route. Grades outside the published list are priced on request.
How is sea cucumber graded?
Sea cucumber is contracted on the species, on the processing route, on the size expressed as pieces per kilogram, and on the moisture and salt content that decide how much of the shipped weight is product. Grading runs on 5 systems: Species identity and product form, Size and physical grading, Composition and laboratory analysis, Cleanliness, contamination and food safety and Delivery, documentation and certification.
Where does SIP Global trade sea cucumber?
We trade sea cucumber in Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and India and 19 further markets. Origins and destinations outside this list trade on request. We are not limited to the locations shown.
When is sea cucumber harvested and when does it arrive?
Typical windows are Indonesia: harvest apr to oct, arrival jun to dec; Philippines: harvest mar to nov, arrival may to jan; Madagascar: harvest apr to oct, arrival jun to dec; Sri Lanka: harvest jan to sep, arrival mar to nov; Australia: harvest mar to nov, arrival may 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 sea cucumber?
Sea cucumber is normally classified under HS 0308.12 (sea cucumbers, frozen) and HS 0308.19 (sea cucumbers, other, including dried, salted or in brine). 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 sea cucumber?
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 sea cucumber 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
- Codex AlimentariusFAO and WHO food standards
- 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.