One 20ft container of Indonesian Eucheuma cottonii loads roughly 15 MT of dried raw seaweed; a 40ft takes about 23 MT, and a 40HC holds close to 25 MT — around 350 bales wrapped in polypropylene. Dried cottonii is bulky and low-density, so a box usually cubes out before it weighs out.
How much Eucheuma cottonii fits in one container?
Container loading for dried cottonii (rumput laut kering) is driven by volume, not weight. The seaweed is baled and sun-dried, so a box fills up long before it reaches its payload ceiling. Here is the working math buyers plan around — indicative, and confirmed per grade and moisture on quote.
| Container | Nominal load (dried cottonii) | Bales (approx) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20ft | ~15 MT | ~150 | Best for a first commercial lot |
| 40ft standard | ~23 MT | ~300 | Cubes out on volume |
| 40ft high-cube (40HC) | ~25 MT | ~350 × 100 kg | Most kilos per freight dollar |
A 40HC is the workhorse for cottonii export because it carries the most kilos per dollar of freight — roughly 350 bales in 100 kg polypropylene sacks. Some exporters run multiple FCL per month, so container-scale supply is realistic once spec and volume are locked. These figures shift with bale compression, moisture and grade, so treat them as planning numbers, not a contract.
What does a full container of Indonesian cottonii cost?
Raw dried Eucheuma cottonii — also called Kappaphycus alvarezii, locally cottonii or katoni — trades in a wide FOB band because moisture and cleanliness swing the price. Indonesia and the Philippines are the two dominant world sources of cottonii, and industry sources describe Indonesia as the largest producer of red seaweeds. The band below is FOB indicative per 2026; it moves with harvest, moisture and grade, and a final quote follows your spec and MOQ.
| Grade | Moisture / spec | FOB USD/kg (2026 indicative) | Per 40HC (~25 MT) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commodity / salted | Higher moisture ~37–39% | 4–7 | ~USD 100k–175k |
| Standard raw dried | ~35–37% | 6–9 | ~USD 150k–225k |
| Higher-grade clean | Low-moisture <35% | 9–12 | ~USD 225k–300k |
| Cleaned food-grade | Washed bulk | 25–55 | Smaller lots typical |
Cleaned, washed food-grade cottonii sits far higher at roughly USD 25–55/kg and usually moves in smaller lots rather than a full raw-dried container. Branded Western retail sea moss is priced higher again — that is a shelf product, not our FOB quote. We never attach a specific price to a named company; the band above reflects grade and moisture, nothing else.
How is a container packed and documented?
Cargo is baled and wrapped in polypropylene cloth, then bagged in 50 kg or 100 kg sacks. Stored cool, dry, sealed and out of direct sunlight, dried cottonii keeps for about 12 months. Documented grade specs vary by trader — moisture runs from under 35% on premium Grade A material up to 37–39% on higher-moisture salted commodity lots, with foreign matter or impurities anywhere from under 2% to 5% max. Any moisture, ash, foreign-matter, microbiological, heavy-metal or carrageenan (karagenan) yield figure is only reliable when it comes from a specific batch COA.
A typical export document set:
- Certificate of Analysis (COA) — moisture, ash, foreign matter, microbio, heavy metals, carrageenan yield
- Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)
- Fumigation Certificate
- Phytosanitary Certificate
- Certificate of Origin (COO)
- Halal and HACCP / ISO 22000 — supplied on request
How does booking a full container work?
- Share your spec and MOQ. Tell us grade, target moisture, volume (1 MT trial or a 20–100 MT contract), destination port and Incoterm — FOB, CIF or CNF.
- Get an indicative quote. Within 24 working hours you receive a price band per grade plus a container plan matched to your target payload.
- Confirm sample and COA. Request a batch COA and, where needed, a trial sample so moisture and cleanliness are verified before you commit.
- Lock terms. Payment by T/T, 100% irrevocable letter of credit at sight, or 100% advance. Delivery typically runs 30–60 days after payment is approved.
- Load and ship. Bales are packed, fumigated and documented, then shipped worldwide on your agreed Incoterm.
Quote a full container
Ready to price a 20ft, 40ft or 40HC of Indonesian Eucheuma cottonii? The Bali Premium Trip desk arranges container-scale cottonii through vetted licensed exporters and walks you from spec to loaded box.
- WhatsApp: (https://wa.me/6281128590000)
- Email: sales@balipremiumtrip.com
- Response SLA: 24 working hours with a grade-matched container plan
Bali Premium Trip is an independent sourcing and logistics concierge, not the asset owner and not a licensed customs, financial or legal adviser. Loading figures are indicative and confirmed per grade and moisture; nothing here is a contract, a guaranteed customs clearance, or a health claim. Sea moss is a food ingredient, not medicine.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many tonnes of Eucheuma cottonii fit in a 40-foot high-cube container?
A 40HC typically loads about 25 MT of dried Eucheuma cottonii — roughly 350 bales in 100 kg polypropylene sacks. A standard 40ft holds near 23 MT and a 20ft around 15 MT. Because dried rumput laut is light and bulky, containers usually fill by volume before hitting weight limits. Figures are indicative and confirmed per grade and moisture.
What is the minimum order for a container of Indonesian cottonii?
Most exporters accept a 1 MT trial shipment before a full container. Contract volumes typically run 20–100 MT, and one container holds roughly 20–25 MT, so a single 40HC is a natural first commercial lot. Smaller trial parcels ship as LCL. Confirm your target grade, moisture and destination port when you request a quote.
Why does a container of dried cottonii weigh less than its bale count suggests?
Dried cottonii has low density — a 100 kg bale takes up far more space than the same weight of grain. So a 40HC “cubes out,” filling on volume before it reaches the container’s weight limit, landing near 25 MT. Bale count and net weight shift with compression, moisture and grade, so treat every loading figure as indicative.
What documents ship with a full container of Eucheuma cottonii?
A typical export set includes a Certificate of Analysis (COA), Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS), fumigation certificate, phytosanitary certificate and Certificate of Origin (COO). Halal and HACCP/ISO 22000 certificates are supplied on request. Any moisture, ash, foreign-matter or carrageenan-yield figure is only reliable when it comes from that batch’s COA.
How long from payment to a loaded container?
Delivery usually runs 30–60 days after payment is approved. Payment terms offered are T/T, 100% irrevocable letter of credit at sight, or 100% advance, and cargo ships worldwide on FOB, CIF or CNF terms. Monsoon and rainy seasons can lengthen sun-drying and shift moisture, so build harvest timing into your schedule.