Nutmeg
Nutmeg is the dried kernel of the seed of Myristica fragrans, an evergreen tree native to the Banda islands and now grown across the equatorial tropics. The fruit splits at maturity to reveal a seed wrapped in a scarlet lacy aril; the aril is dried separately as mace, and the seed is dried in its shell until the kernel rattles loose, then cracked out. Nutmeg is used grated and ground in baking, dairy, sausage and processed meat manufacture, sauces, beverages and spice blends, and is distilled and extracted for oil and oleoresin used in flavour and fragrance work.
Listed nutmeg markets
Each line is a grade at a delivery point. Open one for its full specification and terms.
Grades
Nutmeg is graded on kernel count per unit weight, on whether the kernel is sound or broken, on whether it is shelled or in shell, on volatile oil content, and on aflatoxin and cleanliness limits.
Kernel count and soundness
10 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Kernels per pound, or per kilogramCount | The primary grading measure. Contracts name the count band, and the unit, explicitly. A lower count means a larger kernel. |
| SoundWhole, unbroken, unwormed kernel | The top of the ladder. Free of insect bore holes and mould. |
| Broken, wormy and punkyPercentage by mass, or traded as a separate grade | Kernels that are broken, insect bored or spongy. Traded in their own right for grinding and distillation. |
| ShrivelledMaximum percentage by mass | Under filled kernels, weighed after separation. |
| Mouldy kernelsMaximum percentage by mass | The defect that drives the aflatoxin result. |
| In shell or shelledDeclared | In shell nutmeg keeps better in transit; shelled kernel ships more product per container. |
| Lime treated or untreatedDeclared | Some origins dust kernels with lime against insect attack. Destination markets differ on whether they accept it. |
| Floaters and sinkersSeparated in water | A traditional density sort. Sinkers are the dense, fully filled kernels. |
| Extraneous matterMaximum percentage by mass | Determined per ISO 927. |
| 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 nutmeg. 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 heading0908.11 Nutmeg, neither crushed nor ground
0908.12 Nutmeg, 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 nutmeg does SIP Global trade?
We quote 29 published grades of nutmeg, including Kernels per pound, or per kilogram - Count, Sound - Whole, unbroken, unwormed kernel, Broken, wormy and punky - Percentage by mass, or traded as a separate grade, Shrivelled - Maximum percentage by mass, Mouldy kernels - Maximum percentage by mass and In shell or shelled - Declared. Every grade is tied to a delivery point and a settlement route. Grades outside the published list are priced on request.
How is nutmeg graded?
Nutmeg is graded on kernel count per unit weight, on whether the kernel is sound or broken, on whether it is shelled or in shell, on volatile oil content, and on aflatoxin and cleanliness limits. Grading runs on 3 systems: Kernel count and soundness, Analytical requirements and ASTA cleanliness specifications.
Where does SIP Global trade nutmeg?
We trade nutmeg 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 nutmeg 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 nutmeg?
Nutmeg is normally classified under HS 0908.11 (nutmeg, neither crushed nor ground) and HS 0908.12 (nutmeg, 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 nutmeg?
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 nutmeg 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.