**Grade A dried raw algae from Indonesia is premium Eucheuma cottonii (Kappaphycus alvarezii) selected to moisture below 35% and impurities under 2% — the cleanest, lowest-moisture band of raw dried cottonii. It carries an indicative FOB of USD 9-12/kg per 2026, with the final quote set on your spec and MOQ.**
Indonesia sits at the center of the global cottonii trade. Industry sources describe the country as the world’s largest producer of red seaweeds, and its warm equatorial waters let Eucheuma cottonii reach roughly ten times its mass in 45-50 days. That growth is why carrageenan processors source here — but volume alone is not Grade A. Grade A is what the raw pile looks like after the top selection is pulled: drier, cleaner, and more consistent.
What makes dried raw algae Grade A?
Grade A is a selection tier, not a different species. The same cottonii — farmed by the longline method on plastic rope tied to seabed-anchored poles, a technique cultivable in Indonesia since 1974 — is sorted after sun-drying. The premium “Dried Raw Algae Grade A” band targets moisture below 35% and impurities below 2%, with Grade A and Grade B selections separated at the sorting floor.
Two numbers drive the grade:
- Moisture. Lower moisture means less water weight per shipped kilogram and better resistance to mould across a 12-month shelf life. Monsoon and rainy seasons lengthen sun-drying and push moisture up, which is why clean Grade A supply tightens in wet months.
- Impurities and foreign matter. Salt, sand, ties, and epiphytes lower carrageenan purity. Grade A keeps foreign matter to a minimum; lower tiers tolerate more.
One firm limit: any moisture, ash, foreign-matter, microbiological, heavy-metal, or carrageenan-yield figure is a claim only when it comes from a specific batch Certificate of Analysis (COA). Target specs describe the selection; the COA confirms the actual container.
How does Grade A compare with Grade B?
Documented wholesale specs vary by trader. Some list moisture 35-37% max with foreign matter 3% max; another 35-37% with impurity 5% max, sun-dried; another 37-39% with impurities max 2%. Grade A sits tighter than all of them. The split below is practical — treat every figure as a target confirmed per COA batch, not a guarantee.
| Parameter | Grade A (target) | Grade B (target) |
|---|---|---|
| Moisture | Below 35% | 35-39% |
| Impurities | Below 2% | Up to 3-5% |
| Foreign matter | Minimal, hand-sorted | Higher tolerance |
| Color | Even, clean brown-red | More variable |
| Typical buyer | Carrageenan / food-grade processor | Commodity / volume blender |
Grade B still processes into kappa carrageenan; it simply carries more water and more to clean before extraction. Processors chasing gel strength and yield consistency pay the Grade A premium to cut that variability upstream.
What does Grade A cost, and how is it shipped?
Pricing follows moisture and grade, not a single fixed number. The band below is FOB indicative per 2026 and moves with harvest, moisture, and grade; the final quote is set on your spec and MOQ.
| Grade band | FOB USD/kg (2026 indicative) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Commodity / salted, higher-moisture | 4-7 | Wetter, more foreign matter |
| Standard raw dried | 6-9 | Mid moisture and cleanliness |
| Grade A, low-moisture clean | 9-12 | Below 35% moisture, below 2% impurity |
| Cleaned / washed food-grade bulk | 25-55 | Further processed, not raw dried |
Branded Western retail sea moss is priced far above these figures and is not our FOB quote.
Packaging and loading are standardized: bales wrapped in polypropylene cloth, in 50 kg or 100 kg bags. Container capacity runs about 15 MT for a 20ft, 23 MT for a 40ft, and 25 MT for a 40HC — roughly 350 × 100 kg bales per 40HC. Stored cool, dry, sealed, and out of direct sunlight, Grade A cottonii holds for about 12 months.
How does ordering Grade A cottonii work?
- Send your spec. Message target moisture, impurity ceiling, volume, and destination port via WhatsApp or email.
- Get an indicative quote. The desk returns an FOB band and sample terms, typically within 24 working hours.
- Trial and verify. Order a 1 MT trial and request the batch COA, plus MSDS, Fumigation Certificate, Phytosanitary Certificate, and COO. Halal and HACCP/ISO 22000 supplied on request.
- Contract. Scale to a 20-100 MT contract on FOB, CIF, or CNF, with payment by T/T, 100% irrevocable LC at sight, or 100% advance.
- Loading and shipment. Delivery typically runs 30-60 days after payment is approved, shipped worldwide from the Surabaya / East Java gateway.
Grade A is sourced from documented cottonii regions — Maluku, West and East Nusa Tenggara, South Sulawesi (Bone, Maros, Jeneponto, Takalar, Luwu, East Luwu), West Lombok, and North Kalimantan. Bali works as a sourcing and logistics hub rather than a large production zone.
> Quote Grade A cottonii. Send your target moisture, impurity ceiling, and MOQ to the Bali Premium Trip concierge desk — WhatsApp 6281128590000 or sales@balipremiumtrip.com. You get an indicative FOB quote within 24 working hours. Prices are indicative, not a contract; specs are confirmed per batch COA; and customs clearance in the destination country is not guaranteed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What moisture and impurity levels define Grade A dried raw algae?
Grade A dried raw algae targets moisture below 35% and impurities below 2% — tighter than common trader specs of 35-39% moisture. These are selection targets, not promises. The actual container is confirmed only by its batch Certificate of Analysis, which reports the measured moisture, ash, and foreign-matter values for that lot.
Is Grade A cottonii worth the premium over Grade B?
For carrageenan and food-grade processors, usually yes. Grade A’s lower moisture means less water weight per kilogram and better mould resistance, while lower impurities reduce cleaning before extraction. Volume blenders who clean in-house may prefer Grade B at USD 6-9/kg. It depends on your yield targets and processing setup.
Can I verify Grade A specs before a full shipment?
Yes. Order a 1 MT trial and request the batch COA covering moisture, ash, foreign matter, microbiological counts, heavy metals, and carrageenan yield, plus MSDS, phytosanitary, fumigation, and COO documents. No moisture or purity figure is guaranteed without that batch COA, so verify each container against its own certificate.
What is the minimum order for Grade A dried raw algae from Indonesia?
A typical trial is 1 MT, scaling to 20-100 MT contracts. A standard container holds about 20-25 MT — roughly 15 MT in a 20ft, 23 MT in a 40ft, and 25 MT in a 40HC. Grade A ships in 50 kg or 100 kg polypropylene-wrapped bales.
Does Grade A cottonii give higher carrageenan yield?
Cottonii (Kappaphycus alvarezii) is the primary source of kappa carrageenan, valued for high gel strength and low impurity. Grade A’s cleaner, drier selection tends to reduce yield variability, but actual carrageenan yield is a measured value — treat any yield figure as valid only when it appears on a specific batch COA.