Mace
Mace is the dried aril of the seed of Myristica fragrans, the lacy scarlet net that wraps the nutmeg kernel inside the fruit. It is peeled from the seed by hand at harvest, flattened and dried, fading from crimson to orange or pale yellow depending on origin and drying method. It carries a lighter, more delicate aroma than the nutmeg kernel it comes from and is used in blades and ground form in fine baking, cream and cheese sauces, sausage and charcuterie manufacture, curry pastes and spice blends, and is extracted for oil and oleoresin.
Listed mace markets
Each line is a grade at a delivery point. Open one for its full specification and terms.
Grades
Mace is graded on colour, on whether the blade is whole or broken, on volatile oil content, and on aflatoxin and cleanliness limits.
Blade form and colour
11 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Whole bladeIntact aril, flattened and dried | The top presentation. The complete lacy net, unbroken. |
| Broken bladeFragmented aril | Pieces of blade, sized over a stated sieve aperture where the buyer specifies it. |
| Siftings and dustFines passing a stated aperture | Sold for grinding and extraction. |
| ColourCIELAB coordinates on a stated instrument, or against a sealed sample | Ranges from deep orange red through amber to pale yellow. Contracted objectively or against a physical standard. |
| Pale maceSun dried to a light colour | The presentation traded to some European and North American buyers. |
| Red maceColour retained through controlled drying | The presentation traded to South Asian and Middle Eastern buyers. |
| Blade lengthMillimetres | Used where a buyer specifies visual uniformity. |
| Bulk densityGrams per litre | A weighed volume poured into a standard measure. |
| Mouldy and discoloured bladesMaximum percentage by mass | Weighed after hand separation. Drives the aflatoxin result. |
| Extraneous matterMaximum percentage by mass | Determined per ISO 927, including shell fragments and any nutmeg kernel present. |
| GroundMilled to a stated mesh | Mesh aperture named on the contract, with the sieve analysis reported. |
Analytical requirements
12 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Volatile oilMinimum millilitres per 100 grams | Determined by ISO 6571. |
| 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. |
| Non volatile ether extractPercentage by mass | The fixed oil and oleoresin fraction. |
| MyristicinPercentage of the volatile oil | Determined by gas chromatography. Regulated in several destination markets, so it is contracted explicitly. |
| SafrolePercentage of the volatile oil | Determined by gas chromatography. Regulated in several destination markets. |
| Sabinene and alpha pinenePercentage of the volatile oil | Determined by gas chromatography. The terpene fraction that separates East Indian from West Indian material. |
| AflatoxinsMicrograms per kilogram | B1 and the sum of B1, B2, G1 and G2. The governing contaminant term for this commodity, tested against destination market limits. |
| Ochratoxin AMicrograms per kilogram | Tested against destination market limits. |
| Pesticide residuesMilligrams per kilogram | Tested against destination market maximum residue limits. |
| Microbiological limitsColony forming units per gram, and absence of Salmonella in a stated mass | Contracted to destination market 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Indonesia | Southeast Asia | Origin |
| Madagascar | Africa | Origin |
| Tanzania | Africa | Origin |
| Comoros | Africa | Origin |
| Sri Lanka | South Asia | Origin |
| India | South Asia | Origin and destination |
| Grenada | Caribbean | Origin |
| Brazil | South America | Origin |
| Malaysia | Southeast Asia | Origin and destination |
| Papua New Guinea | Oceania | Origin |
| Vietnam | Southeast Asia | Origin and destination |
| Singapore | Southeast Asia | Origin and destination |
| China | East Asia | Destination |
| Japan | East Asia | Destination |
| South Korea | East Asia | Destination |
| Pakistan | South Asia | Destination |
| Bangladesh | South Asia | Destination |
| United Arab Emirates | Middle East | Origin and destination |
| Saudi Arabia | Middle East | Destination |
| Turkiye | Middle East | Destination |
| Egypt | Africa | Destination |
| Netherlands | Europe | Destination |
| Germany | Europe | Destination |
| United Kingdom | Europe | Destination |
| France | Europe | Destination |
| Italy | Europe | Destination |
| Spain | Europe | Destination |
| United States | North America | Destination |
| Canada | North America | Destination |
| Mexico | North 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indonesia | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest Jun to Dec, arrival Sep to FebMaluku, North Sulawesi and West Sumatra crop through most of the year with a main flush from mid year. | |||
| Grenada | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest Jan to Dec, arrival Jan to DecCrops year round with peaks after the two rainy periods. |
| India | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest Jun to Feb, arrival Feb to OctKerala and Tamil Nadu crop in two flushes, mid year and again around the turn of the year. | ||
| Sri Lanka | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Apr to Aug, arrival Jun to OctWet zone districts crop from April to August. | |||||
| Papua New Guinea | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest May to Sep, arrival Aug to DecHarvest from May to September. | ||||
| Malaysia | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Jun to Sep, arrival Aug to NovPenang crops from June to September. | ||||||
| Guatemala | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Harvest Aug to Nov, arrival Nov to FebHarvest from August to November. |
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 mace. 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 heading0908.21 Mace, neither crushed nor ground
0908.22 Mace, 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 mace does SIP Global trade?
We quote 30 published grades of mace, including Whole blade - Intact aril, flattened and dried, Broken blade - Fragmented aril, Siftings and dust - Fines passing a stated aperture, Colour - CIELAB coordinates on a stated instrument, or against a sealed sample, Pale mace - Sun dried to a light colour and Red mace - Colour retained through controlled drying. Every grade is tied to a delivery point and a settlement route. Grades outside the published list are priced on request.
How is mace graded?
Mace is graded on colour, on whether the blade is whole or broken, on volatile oil content, and on aflatoxin and cleanliness limits. Grading runs on 3 systems: Blade form and colour, Analytical requirements and ASTA cleanliness specifications.
Where does SIP Global trade mace?
We trade mace in Indonesia, Madagascar, Tanzania, Comoros, Sri Lanka, India, Grenada and Brazil and 23 further markets. Origins and destinations outside this list trade on request. We are not limited to the locations shown.
When is mace harvested and when does it arrive?
Typical windows are Indonesia: harvest jun to dec, arrival sep to feb; Grenada: harvest jan to dec, arrival jan to dec; India: harvest jun to feb, arrival feb to oct; Sri Lanka: harvest apr to aug, arrival jun to oct; Papua New Guinea: harvest may to sep, arrival aug to dec. 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 mace?
Mace is normally classified under HS 0908.21 (mace, neither crushed nor ground) and HS 0908.22 (mace, 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 mace?
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 mace 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
- 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.