Kapok
Kapok is the silky floss that lines the seed pods of the kapok tree, Ceiba pentandra. It is not a spinnable fibre: the cells are short, smooth and hollow, with a waxy coating that makes them almost impossible to twist into yarn but exceptionally buoyant and light. Kapok floss holds many times its own weight in water while trapping air, which is why it filled marine life jackets and buoyancy aids for a century. It is used today as a filling for mattresses, pillows, cushions, soft toys and sleeping bags, as thermal and acoustic insulation, and as an oil sorbent, because the wax on the cell wall picks up hydrocarbons and rejects water. The seed pressed out of the pod yields an oil, and the residual cake is a feed ingredient.
Listed kapok markets
Each line is a grade at a delivery point. Open one for its full specification and terms.
Grades
Kapok is contracted on floss purity and cleanliness, measured moisture, seed and shell residue, and the physical properties of buoyancy and bulk density.
Fibre identity and species
3 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Botanical speciesDeclared | Ceiba pentandra floss. Distinguished from the related Bombax ceiba floss by microscopy of the cell wall, and never substituted with synthetic fill. |
| Harvest and extractionDeclared | Pods gathered from the ground or cut from the tree, then opened by hand or machine and the floss separated from the seed and the pod wall by ginning or air separation. |
| Processing stateDeclared | Raw ginned floss, cleaned and de-seeded floss, or sterilised floss. Each state trades on its own basis. |
Floss purity and commercial grade
9 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Grade A, prime flossCommercial grade | Bright, clean, well separated floss, near free of seed, shell and dust, with full loft and uniform colour. |
| Grade B, commercial flossCommercial grade | Sound floss carrying a limited proportion of seed fragment and shell, acceptable for bulk filling. |
| Grade C, industrial flossCommercial grade | Off colour or compressed floss with a higher residue fraction, used for insulation and sorbent applications where loft matters less. |
| Floss contentPercentage by mass, minimum | Pure floss recovered from the bale by hand separation. The defining purity term. |
| Seed contentPercentage by mass, maximum | Whole and broken seed left after ginning. It carries oil, and oil in a bale of floss goes rancid. |
| Shell and pod fragmentPercentage by mass, maximum | Woody pod wall separated on the sieve. |
| Dust and short fibrePercentage by mass, maximum | The fines fraction removed by air classification. |
| Extraneous foreign matterPercentage by mass, maximum | Soil, leaf, twine, plastic and any non-kapok material. |
| ColourAgainst the reference sample | Pale cream to light golden brown. Rain damage and long field storage darken it and it does not come back. |
Physical performance measurement
9 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Moisture contentPercentage by mass, maximum | Measured at the standard atmosphere. Kapok will mould in a container if it is baled wet. |
| Bulk densityKilograms per cubic metre, uncompressed | Measured after controlled decompression of the baled floss. It sets both the fill performance and the freight economics. |
| Buoyancy retentionPercentage of initial buoyancy after a stated immersion period | The measurement behind the marine and flotation applications. |
| Water absorptionMultiple of dry mass | Determined by immersion and free drain. |
| Oil sorption capacityGrams of oil per gram of fibre | Determined by immersion in a stated hydrocarbon. Contracted where the lot is destined for spill response. |
| Wax contentPercentage by mass | The natural cuticular wax that gives kapok its water repellence. Aggressive cleaning strips it and destroys the property. |
| Fibre lengthMillimetres, as a range | Measured on a straightened sample under the microscope. |
| Compression recoveryPercentage after a stated load and rest | How much loft returns after baling. It is what a mattress or pillow buyer is really contracting. |
| Flammability declarationDeclared, with the test standard | Kapok is highly flammable in its loose lofted state and the destination market standard is named on the contract. |
Delivery, packing and certification
10 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Baling and packingDeclared, with the bale weight and the pack material | Pressed bales, hydraulic bales, hanks or bundles, with the wrapping named. Synthetic wrap is excluded where contamination is a contract term. |
| Marking and lot identityDeclared | Bale marks, lot number and the test certificate number, tied to the sample retained by both parties. |
| Test certificateCertificate, with the issuing house | An independent test house certificate is the contract document in this trade and the lot is settled against it. |
| Sampling methodDeclared | Core sampling, grab sampling or full lot testing, with the number of bales sampled written into the contract. |
| Fumigation and phytosanitary treatmentDeclared, with the certificate | Named where the destination requires it for a plant or animal origin fibre. |
| CertificationCertificate, with the scheme and the certificate number | Organic, Responsible Wool, Responsible Alpaca, Responsible Mohair, Fairtrade or a private buyer standard, named on the contract when it is contracted. |
| Clip or crop yearDeclared | The shearing season or the harvest year, recorded with the lot. |
| Bale pressingDeclared, with the bale weight and dimensions | Hydraulically pressed bales. Over pressing destroys loft, so the pressure and the rest period are contract terms. |
| Fumigation and phytosanitary certificateDeclared, with the certificate | Required by most destinations for a plant origin fill. |
| SterilisationDeclared | Heat or steam treatment, named where the destination bedding regulation requires it. |
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 | Central Java, East Java, Lampung, Sulawesi and Nusa Tenggara | Origin and destination |
| Thailand | the Central Plain and the Northeast | Origin and destination |
| Philippines | Luzon and the Visayas | Origin and destination |
| Vietnam | the Central Highlands and the Mekong Delta | Origin and destination |
| Cambodia | Kampong Cham and Battambang | Origin and destination |
| Malaysia | Peninsular Malaysia | Origin and destination |
| India | Kerala, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal | Origin and destination |
| Sri Lanka | the Western and North Western Provinces | Origin and destination |
| Myanmar | Mandalay and Sagaing | Origin and destination |
| Bangladesh | Chattogram and Sylhet | Origin and destination |
| Ivory Coast | the central and southern savanna belt | Origin and destination |
| Ghana | Ashanti and Brong-Ahafo | Origin and destination |
| Nigeria | the Middle Belt and the Southwest | Origin and destination |
| Tanzania | Tanga and the coastal belt | Origin and destination |
| Brazil | Para and Amazonas | Origin and destination |
| Ecuador | Guayas and Manabi | Origin and destination |
| Japan | Osaka, Aichi and Shizuoka | Destination |
| South Korea | Gyeonggi and Gyeongsang | Destination |
| China | Zhejiang, Guangdong and Shandong | Destination |
| Taiwan | Taoyuan and Changhua | Destination |
| Germany | North Rhine-Westphalia and Bavaria | Destination |
| Netherlands | Rotterdam and the bedding and distribution cluster | Destination |
| Belgium | Antwerp and the Flemish bedding cluster | Destination |
| United Kingdom | England, bedding and marine safety | Destination |
| France | Hauts-de-France and Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes | Destination |
| Italy | Lombardy and Marche | Destination |
| Spain | Catalonia and Valencia | Destination |
| United States | the Southeast bedding cluster and the Gulf Coast spill response base | Destination |
| Canada | Ontario and Quebec | Destination |
| Australia | New South Wales and Victoria | Destination |
| Turkey | Istanbul, Bursa and Kayseri | Destination |
| United Arab Emirates | Jebel Ali, re-export and distribution | Destination |
Origins and destinations outside this list trade on request. We are not limited to the locations shown here.
Timing
Harvest is when the fibre is shorn, cut or retted at origin. Arrival is when a shipment from that origin typically lands in a consuming market. The gap between them is classing, testing, baling and the voyage.
HarvestArrival
| Origin | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | Window |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indonesia | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Jul to Oct, arrival Sep to JanPods ripen and split through the dry season from July to October, then the floss is ginned, sun dried and baled. This is the reference crop for the trade. | |||||
| Thailand | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Feb to Apr, arrival Apr to JulA dry season harvest from February to April, ahead of the Indonesian crop and useful for covering the second half of the calendar. | ||||||
| Vietnam | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Feb to Apr, arrival Apr to JulOn the Thai calendar, with the pods gathered before the rains return in May. | ||||||
| India | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Mar to May, arrival May to AugA pre-monsoon harvest, with ginning and drying completed before the June rains. | ||||||
| Ivory Coast | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest Dec to Feb, arrival Feb to MayThe West African dry season crop, gathered from December through February. | ||||||
| Brazil | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Aug to Oct, arrival Oct to JanAn Amazonian dry season harvest, small in scale and largely consumed regionally. |
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 kapok. 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 heading1404.90 Other vegetable products not elsewhere specified, including kapok
- PackingCompressed bales. Jute and sisal at 180 kg to 250 kg, animal fibre at 100 kg to 300 kg pressed under hessian or polypropylene wrap, silk in cartons. Bale identification must carry the lot and the test certificate number.
- Container loading20ft: 10 t to 18 t depending on bale density. Wool, cashmere and other animal fibres are volume limited well before weight.
- Contract and arbitrationIWTO Blue Book terms with IWTO core test certificates and arbitration under IWTO rules for wool and fine animal hair. Plant fibres on the contract of the origin trade association or on CIF terms with arbitration at the named seat.
- Destination limitsPhytosanitary certification for plant fibres under Regulation 2016/2031 and veterinary health certification for animal fibre under Regulation 2016/429 and Regulation 142/2011. EU REACH restrictions on residual dyes, biocides and azo colourants. CITES prohibits trade in shahtoosh and controls vicuna.
Common questions
What grades of kapok does SIP Global trade?
We quote 31 published grades of kapok, including Botanical species - Declared, Harvest and extraction - Declared, Processing state - Declared, Grade A, prime floss - Commercial grade, Grade B, commercial floss - Commercial grade and Grade C, industrial floss - Commercial grade. Every grade is tied to a delivery point and a settlement route. Grades outside the published list are priced on request.
How is kapok graded?
Kapok is contracted on floss purity and cleanliness, measured moisture, seed and shell residue, and the physical properties of buoyancy and bulk density. Grading runs on 4 systems: Fibre identity and species, Floss purity and commercial grade, Physical performance measurement and Delivery, packing and certification.
Where does SIP Global trade kapok?
We trade kapok in Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, India and Sri Lanka and 24 further markets. Origins and destinations outside this list trade on request. We are not limited to the locations shown.
When is kapok harvested and when does it arrive?
Typical windows are Indonesia: harvest jul to oct, arrival sep to jan; Thailand: harvest feb to apr, arrival apr to jul; Vietnam: harvest feb to apr, arrival apr to jul; India: harvest mar to may, arrival may to aug; Ivory Coast: harvest dec to feb, arrival feb to may. 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 kapok?
Kapok is normally classified under HS 1404.90 (other vegetable products not elsewhere specified, including kapok). 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 kapok?
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 kapok 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.
- ISOInternational Organization for Standardization
- IPPCInternational Plant Protection Convention phytosanitary measures
- 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.