Spirulina
Spirulina is a filamentous cyanobacterium of the genus Limnospira, formerly classified under Arthrospira, grown in shallow alkaline ponds and closed photobioreactors, then harvested by filtration, washed and dried into a deep blue green powder, flake or tablet. It is one of the most protein dense foods produced anywhere, and it is used as a nutritional supplement, as a protein and micronutrient ingredient in food and beverage manufacture, as a natural blue colourant once the phycocyanin pigment is extracted, and as a feed input in aquaculture and animal nutrition. Production is industrial and continuous rather than seasonal, so supply is governed by pond area, climate and drying capacity.
Listed spirulina markets
Each line is a grade at a delivery point. Open one for its full specification and terms.
Grades
Spirulina is contracted on the form it ships in, on the protein and phycocyanin content that define its nutritional and colouring value, and on the contaminant and microbiological testing that governs food and supplement use.
Species identity and product form
6 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| OrganismDeclared, by scientific name | Limnospira platensis or Limnospira maxima, historically named Arthrospira platensis and Arthrospira maxima. The strain is declared where the buyer specifies one. |
| Cultivation systemDeclared | Open raceway pond, closed photobioreactor, or a hybrid. The system governs the contamination risk profile and it is a term on pharmaceutical and infant grade contracts. |
| Harvest and washingDeclared | Filtration and washing protocol, including whether the biomass was washed to remove the culture medium salts before drying. |
| Drying methodDeclared | Spray dried, drum dried, freeze dried or sun dried. Drying method sets the phycocyanin survival, the colour and the solubility, and it is the term that most separates a pigment grade from a bulk nutrition grade. |
| FormDeclared | Powder, flake, granule, tablet or extracted phycocyanin. Tablets are declared with the excipients and the binder. |
| Grade of useDeclared | Food grade, supplement grade, cosmetic grade or feed grade, each carrying its own contaminant and microbiological criteria. |
Size and physical grading
5 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Particle sizeMicrometres, or mesh number on a stated sieve series | Determined by sieving or by laser diffraction. It governs dispersion in a beverage and flow in a tablet press. |
| Bulk densityGrams per cubic centimetre | Measured on a settled and a tapped sample. It determines the fill weight in capsules and the packing volume. |
| ColourDeclared, measured instrumentally against an agreed retained sample | Deep blue green is the mark of intact phycocyanin. Olive and brown shades indicate heat damage or oxidation in drying or storage. |
| Solubility and dispersibilityDeclared, under an agreed protocol | Time to disperse a stated mass in a stated volume of water. It is the functional term for beverage applications. |
| Tablet hardness and disintegrationNewtons, and minutes | Measured on tablet product under the pharmacopoeial methods. |
Composition and laboratory analysis
10 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Crude proteinPercentage by mass, on a dry basis | Determined by the Kjeldahl or Dumas method with the nitrogen conversion factor stated. Protein is the headline specification and the conversion factor is written into the contract because it changes the reported number. |
| Phycocyanin contentPercentage by mass, or the E ratio at the specified absorbance wavelengths | Determined spectrophotometrically on an aqueous extract. It is the pigment that carries the colouring value and it is the term that separates the colour grades from the nutrition grades. |
| MoisturePercentage by mass, maximum | Determined by oven drying or by loss on drying. It governs microbiological stability and pigment survival in storage. |
| AshPercentage by mass | Elevated ash indicates carry over of the alkaline culture medium salts from incomplete washing. |
| Crude fat and fatty acid profilePercentage by mass, and percentage of total fatty acids | Determined by chromatography where gamma linolenic acid is a specification term. |
| Chlorophyll and carotenoidsMilligrams per kilogram | Measured where the buyer is specifying a pigment or a nutritional claim. |
| Heavy metalsMilligrams per kilogram, maximum, by named element | Lead, cadmium, mercury and arsenic. Cultured algae concentrate metals from the medium and the water source, so these are tested lot by lot. |
| Microcystins and cyanotoxinsMicrograms per kilogram, maximum | Determined by immunoassay or chromatography. Contamination by toxin producing cyanobacteria in an open pond is the defining safety hazard of this product and it is tested on every lot into food use. |
| Pesticide and herbicide residuesMicrograms per kilogram, maximum | Screened by multi residue chromatography where the water source is agricultural. |
| Irradiation and sterilisation treatmentDeclared | Steam treatment or irradiation applied to meet a microbiological specification. Several destinations restrict irradiation and all of them require it declared. |
Cleanliness, contamination and food safety
8 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. |
| Extraneous algae and cyanobacteriaDeclared, by microscopic examination | Other algal species in the culture, identified and estimated under the microscope on a drawn sample. |
Delivery, documentation and certification
10 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. |
| Oxygen and light barrier packingDeclared | Aluminium foil laminate bags with nitrogen flush inside a fibre drum. Phycocyanin degrades in light and oxygen faster than the biomass spoils. |
| Storage conditionDeclared | Ambient, cool or refrigerated, agreed against the pigment specification and the shelf life offered. |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| India | Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh | Origin and destination |
| China | Shandong, Fujian, Guangdong and Hainan | Origin and destination |
| Taiwan | Kaohsiung and the western coastal processing base | Destination |
| Thailand | Samut Sakhon, Songkhla and the Andaman coast | Origin and destination |
| Vietnam | Khanh Hoa, Kien Giang and the Mekong delta | Origin and destination |
| Malaysia | Sabah, Sarawak and the Perak coast | Origin and destination |
| Indonesia | Sulawesi, Nusa Tenggara, Java and Maluku | Origin and destination |
| United States | Alaska, the Gulf coast, New England and the Pacific northwest | Origin and destination |
| Mexico | Baja California, Sonora and the Yucatan shelf | Origin and destination |
| Brazil | Northeast coast and the Amazon estuary | Origin and destination |
| Ecuador | Manta, Guayas and the Santa Elena coast | Origin and destination |
| Egypt | Red Sea and Mediterranean coasts | Origin and destination |
| France | Boulogne, Brittany and the Mediterranean market | Destination |
| Germany | Hamburg and Bremerhaven import | Destination |
| Netherlands | Rotterdam import and European distribution | Destination |
| United Kingdom | Grimsby and the London wholesale market | Destination |
| Spain | Galicia, Andalusia and the Cantabrian coast | Origin and destination |
| Italy | Sicily, Puglia and the Adriatic | Origin and destination |
| United Arab Emirates | Dubai re-export and Gulf consumption | Destination |
| Japan | Hokkaido, Kyushu and the Seto Inland Sea | Origin and destination |
| South Korea | Jeollanam-do and the southern island fisheries | Origin and destination |
| Australia | Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia | Origin and destination |
| Canada | Atlantic provinces and British Columbia | Origin and destination |
| Singapore | Regional trading, finance and re-export | Trading and finance |
| Hong Kong | Sheung Wan dried seafood trade and re-export into mainland China | Destination and trading hub |
Origins and destinations outside this list trade on request. We are not limited to the locations shown here.
Timing
Harvest is when the biomass is filtered off and dried at origin. Arrival is when a shipment from that origin typically lands in a consuming market. Production is continuous rather than seasonal, so the constraint is pond temperature and light through the year rather than a crop window.
HarvestArrival
| Origin | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | Window |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| India | 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 DecOpen pond production in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh runs year round, slowing through the monsoon. |
| China | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | 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 Apr to DecInner Mongolia, Yunnan and Hainan pond production, with the northern ponds closing in winter. | ||
| United States | 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 DecYear round production in the desert southwest and in Hawaii under a controlled culture regime. |
| Thailand | 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 DecContinuous pond production, with harvest rates rising in the hot dry months. |
| Mexico | 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 DecYear round production on the alkaline lakes and in engineered raceway systems. |
| Egypt | 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 Oct, arrival Apr to NovRaceway production through the warm season on the Nile delta and in the desert reclamation areas. |
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 spirulina. 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 heading2102.20 Inactive single-cell micro-organisms, including spirulina powder
1212.21 Algae fit for human consumption, where the tariff treats spirulina as an alga - 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 limitsMicrocystin limits are the operative safety clause, with a certificate of analysis by ELISA or LC-MS on every lot. EU novel food status under Regulation 2015/2283 for species without a pre-1997 history, heavy metal limits under Regulation 2023/915, and US FDA dietary supplement and GRAS rules.
Common questions
What grades of spirulina does SIP Global trade?
We quote 38 published grades of spirulina, including Organism - Declared, by scientific name, Cultivation system - Declared, Harvest and washing - Declared, Drying method - Declared, Form - Declared and Grade of use - Declared. Every grade is tied to a delivery point and a settlement route. Grades outside the published list are priced on request.
How is spirulina graded?
Spirulina is contracted on the form it ships in, on the protein and phycocyanin content that define its nutritional and colouring value, and on the contaminant and microbiological testing that governs food and supplement use. 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 spirulina?
We trade spirulina in India, China, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia and United States and 17 further markets. Origins and destinations outside this list trade on request. We are not limited to the locations shown.
When is spirulina harvested and when does it arrive?
Typical windows are India: harvest jan to dec, arrival jan to dec; China: harvest mar to nov, arrival apr to dec; United States: harvest jan to dec, arrival jan to dec; Thailand: harvest jan to dec, arrival jan to dec; Mexico: harvest jan to dec, arrival jan 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 spirulina?
Spirulina is normally classified under HS 2102.20 (inactive single-cell micro-organisms, including spirulina powder) and HS 1212.21 (algae fit for human consumption, where the tariff treats spirulina as an alga). 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 spirulina?
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 spirulina 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
- 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.