Pili
Pili is the kernel of the fruit of Canarium ovatum, a large tree in the Burseraceae family (the same family as frankincense and myrrh trees) native to the Philippines. The fruit has a thin purplish-black skin over an oily pulp surrounding a hard stony shell, inside which sits a single almond-shaped kernel covered by a thin papery seedcoat. The shelled, dried kernel is eaten raw, roasted, or candied, and is also pressed for a culinary and cosmetic oil; the fruit pulp itself is separately eaten as a cooked vegetable in Philippine cuisine.
Listed pili markets
Each line is a grade at a delivery point. Open one for its full specification and terms.
Grades
Grading is a physical inspection of a dried, shelled kernel sample: whole-kernel ratio by count or weight, moisture content by weight, and weight per kernel (used to derive an estimated kernel count per kilogram), each measured against fixed thresholds.
Pili nuts standard
4 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| EXTRAExtra class | Superior quality; whole kernel with testa intact; no shriveled kernels; uniform in size, shape and colour; free from defects except very slight superficial ones; moisture 3-5%; weight over 3.5g/kernel (approximately 285 or fewer kernels/kg); weight tolerance 5% |
| CLASS1Class I | Good quality, not less than 90% whole kernels; moisture 3-5%; weight 2.6-3.4g/kernel (approximately 290-380 kernels/kg); weight tolerance 10% |
| CLASS2Class II | Free from insect and pest damage, not less than 85% whole kernels; moisture 3-5%; weight 2.0-2.5g/kernel (approximately 400-520 kernels/kg); weight tolerance 10% |
| CLASS3Class III | Practically free from insect and pest damage, not less than 80% whole kernels; moisture 3-5%; weight under 2.0g/kernel (approximately 520 or more kernels/kg); weight tolerance 15% |
Lots outside this standard's four classes trade on request.
Locations
| Country | Region | We trade it as |
|---|---|---|
| Philippines | Bicol Region (Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon) | Origin |
| United States | National | Destination |
| United Kingdom | National | Destination |
| Netherlands | National | Destination |
| South Korea | National | Destination |
Locations outside this list trade on request.
Timing
Pili fruit ripens on the tree and is either hand-picked or collected after natural fall, then depulped, sun- or kiln-dried in shell, and cracked to yield the kernel; harvest month reflects fruit ripening, arrival month reflects when the dried, shelled, export-ready kernel lot reaches a buyer.
HarvestArrival
| Origin | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | Window |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philippines | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Jul to Oct, arrival Sep to DecBicol region: main fruiting season is July through October, with depulping, drying and shelling lagging fresh-fruit collection by several weeks before an export-ready kernel lot is aggregated. |
Windows outside the pattern below trade on request.
Common questions
What grades of pili does SIP Global trade?
We quote 4 published grades of pili, including EXTRA - Extra class, CLASS1 - Class I, CLASS2 - Class II and CLASS3 - Class III. Every grade is tied to a delivery point and a settlement route. Grades outside the published list are priced on request.
How is pili graded?
Grading is a physical inspection of a dried, shelled kernel sample: whole-kernel ratio by count or weight, moisture content by weight, and weight per kernel (used to derive an estimated kernel count per kilogram), each measured against fixed thresholds. Grading runs on 1 system: Pili nuts standard.
Where does SIP Global trade pili?
We trade pili in Philippines, United States, United Kingdom, Netherlands and South Korea. Origins and destinations outside this list trade on request. We are not limited to the locations shown.
When is pili harvested and when does it arrive?
Typical windows are Philippines: harvest jul to oct, arrival sep 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.
How do I get a price for pili?
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 pili 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.
- 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.