Buyer's guide
Common grades and specifications
- Spirulina and chlorella powder or tablets (food or feed grade)
- Dried seaweed (e.g. kelp, nori, Gracilaria, Eucheuma)
- Hydrocolloids: agar, carrageenan, alginates
- Key specs: protein %, moisture, heavy metals (Pb, As, Cd, Hg), microbiology, phycocyanin (spirulina)
Typical packaging
Powder in 25 kg drums or cartons with food-grade liners; dried seaweed in compressed bales or bags.
Typical minimum order
Varies widely, from a few hundred kilograms for powders to containers for dried seaweed.
HS code (4-digit headings)
| Heading | Description |
|---|---|
| 1212 | Seaweeds and other algae (among other vegetable products) |
| 1302 | Vegetable saps and extracts; agar-agar and thickeners from seaweed |
| 2106 | Food preparations not elsewhere specified (some algae preparations) |
Guidance only. The exact 6- to 10-digit code depends on the product and the importing country's tariff. Confirm with your customs broker.
Incoterms tips
For containerised goods, FCA, CPT or CIP are usually a better fit than FOB/CIF, because the seller hands over at a terminal or warehouse rather than over the ship's rail. Use DAP or DDP only if the seller can really handle delivery (and, for DDP, import clearance) in your country.
Quality documents to request
- COA including heavy metals and microbiology
- Organic certificate if specified
- Health certificate and certificate of origin
Sourcing notes
Algae are plant-like; carrier agents in blends must be plant, synthetic or mineral.