Kappaphycus alvarezii is the scientific name for Eucheuma cottonii — the same longline-farmed red seaweed. Indonesia supplies it in bulk as baled, sun-dried raw material at FOB USD 4-12/kg, with cleaned food-grade lots at USD 25-55/kg. Trial orders start at 1 MT, scaling to 20-100 MT contract loads.
If you searched the Latin binomial rather than the trade name, you are in the right place. Bali Premium Trip runs the sourcing and export desk for Indonesia Sea Moss, coordinating supply through vetted Indonesian farms and processors. This page is built for buyers who quote the species by its scientific name and need container-scale volume, not retail jars.
Is Kappaphycus alvarezii the same as Eucheuma cottonii?
Yes. Kappaphycus alvarezii (Doty) is the accepted scientific name; Eucheuma cottonii is the older trade name that still dominates export invoices, packing lists and buyer RFQs. Indonesian farmers and traders also call it cottonii, katoni, or locally sacul/sakul (rumput laut). It is one red seaweed with several labels.
It matters because it is the primary source of kappa carrageenan, while the sister species Eucheuma spinosum yields iota carrageenan. Industry sources describe Indonesia as the world’s largest producer of red seaweeds, so a Latin-name search and a “cottonii” search are shopping the identical raw material. We keep one price band and one spec language across both so quotes stay comparable.
How is Kappaphycus alvarezii farmed and dried in Indonesia?
Cottonii became cultivable in Indonesia in 1974 after transfer from the Philippines, and today it is grown by the longline method — plastic rope tied to lines that are anchored to poles set into the seabed. The species thrives within roughly 20 degrees latitude of the equator and can reach about ten times its mass in 45-50 days in warm tropical Indonesian waters, which is why supply cycles fast.
Concrete production regions to know: Maluku, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), South Sulawesi (Bone, Maros, Jeneponto, Takalar, Luwu and East Luwu), West Lombok and North Kalimantan. Surabaya and East Java act as the main processing and export gateway. Bali functions as a sourcing and logistics hub rather than a large documented production zone.
Seasonality is real. Monsoon and rainy months lengthen sun-drying and push moisture up, which affects both weight and carrageenan yield. Ice-ice disease and epiphyte fouling can hit crops, so we confirm harvest condition before committing a contract volume.
What does bulk Kappaphycus alvarezii cost per grade?
Pricing tracks moisture and cleanliness. Lower moisture and lower foreign matter command a premium because processors get more usable carrageenan per kilo. Use this bulk-tier table as your starting map.
| Grade tier | Typical moisture | Indicative FOB | Common buyer use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commodity / salted | 37-39% | USD 4-7/kg | High-volume carrageenan feedstock |
| Standard sun-dried | 35-37% | USD 6-9/kg | Kappa carrageenan, gel applications |
| Higher-grade clean (Grade A) | under 35% | USD 9-12/kg | Low-impurity processing, premium yield |
| Cleaned / washed food-grade | per batch COA | USD 25-55/kg | Food, nutraceutical, private-label |
These are FOB figures indicative for 2026; they move with harvest, moisture and grade, and the final quote is confirmed against your spec and MOQ. Documented trader specs vary in the same way — some list moisture 35-37% max with foreign matter 3% max, others 35-37% with impurity 5% max sun-dried, others 37-39% with impurities max 2%, and a premium “Dried Raw Algae Grade A” at moisture under 35% with impurities under 2%.
One caution on comparison shopping: you will find marketplace listings priced per bag, not per kilo. One public export listing quoted FOB starting around USD 1,330 per bag — undated, per bag, and varying with volume, packaging and destination. That is not comparable to a per-kilogram FOB, so always convert to a per-kg basis before you judge a price. Branded Western retail sea moss sits far higher again and is never our FOB quote.
How much fits in a container, and what is the MOQ?
Dried cottonii is baled and wrapped in polypropylene cloth, packed in 50 kg or 100 kg bags. Because dried seaweed is bulky and light, containers usually cube out by volume before they hit a weight limit. Indicative net loads:
| Container | Indicative net load |
|---|---|
| 20ft | about 15 MT |
| 40ft | about 23 MT |
| 40HC | about 25 MT |
One export loading guide cites roughly 350 bales of 100 kg filling a 40HC. Capacity at the top end is real too — some exporters run multiple FCL per month. Typical MOQ starts at a 1 MT trial and rises to 20-100 MT contracts, with a full container running about 20-25 MT. Stored cool, dry, sealed and out of direct sunlight, dried cottonii holds a shelf life of about 12 months.
Indonesian processors also turn this material into finished carrageenan. Indonesia has a real, expanding domestic carrageenan-processing base around Surabaya and East Java, where large processors handle cottonii, spinosum and Gracilaria and market it as a high-gel-strength, low-impurity kappa source. We reference this to show a real processing ecosystem, not to attach any price to any single company.
How does a bulk Kappaphycus order work?
- Share spec and MOQ. Tell the desk your moisture target, foreign-matter ceiling, carrageenan-yield need, destination port and volume. Bali Premium Trip replies within 24 working hours.
- Sample and COA. Start with a 1 MT trial lot. A batch Certificate of Analysis (moisture, ash, foreign matter, microbiology, heavy metals, carrageenan yield) plus COO and phytosanitary are arranged before scale-up. Any spec number is claimable only when it comes from a specific batch COA.
- Confirm trade terms. Choose FOB, CIF or CNF, with payment by T/T, 100% LC at sight irrevocable, or 100% advance.
- Production and baling. Material is dried, cleaned to grade, and baled in polypropylene-wrapped 50 kg or 100 kg bags. Delivery runs 30-60 days after payment approval.
- Documents and shipment. Export papers include COA, MSDS, Fumigation Certificate, Phytosanitary Certificate and Certificate of Origin, with Halal and HACCP/ISO 22000 supplied on request. Shipment goes worldwide.
Request a bulk Kappaphycus alvarezii quote
Send your target grade, moisture, MOQ and destination and the desk returns an indicative FOB and lead time within 24 working hours. Sea moss is a food ingredient, not medicine — we make no disease-cure claims, quote indicative prices rather than contracts, and cannot guarantee customs clearance in your market.
- WhatsApp: 6281128590000
- Email: sales@balipremiumtrip.com
- Or use the quote form with your spec sheet attached.
Indonesia Sea Moss is part of Juara Holding Group, an Indonesian group operating from Bali across Indonesia since 2015. The sourcing desk is operated by Bali Premium Trip.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kappaphycus alvarezii the correct name to put on my import documents?
Both names appear in trade. Kappaphycus alvarezii is the accepted scientific binomial, while Eucheuma cottonii remains common on export invoices and packing lists. For customs and phytosanitary paperwork, match the wording your buyer and destination authority expect; the desk can issue documents under either name for the same baled material.
What is the minimum bulk order for Kappaphycus alvarezii from Indonesia?
Typical MOQ starts at a 1 MT trial lot so you can test moisture, foreign matter and carrageenan yield before committing. Contract volumes then run 20-100 MT, with one full container carrying roughly 20-25 MT. Larger programs are arranged against confirmed harvest, since supply moves seasonally with monsoon drying.
How is Kappaphycus alvarezii grown and dried before export?
It is farmed by the longline method — plastic rope tied to seabed-anchored lines — in warm waters within about 20 degrees of the equator, reaching roughly ten times its mass in 45-50 days. After harvest it is sun-dried to a target moisture band, cleaned to grade, then baled in polypropylene cloth in 50 kg or 100 kg bags.
How many metric tons of baled Kappaphycus fit in a container?
Because dried cottonii is light and bulky, containers usually cube out by volume first. Indicative net loads are about 15 MT in a 20ft, 23 MT in a 40ft, and 25 MT in a 40HC, with one loading guide citing roughly 350 bales of 100 kg per 40HC. Stored cool and sealed, shelf life is about 12 months.