**East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) is one of Indonesia’s named Eucheuma cottonii (Kappaphycus alvarezii) growing regions, farming the same warm-water longline crop as Sulawesi and NTB. Bali Premium Trip sources NTT raw dried cottonii at an indicative FOB of USD 4-12/kg per 2026, moving with harvest, moisture and grade.**
NTT sits well inside the roughly 20-degree equatorial band where cottonii — locally called rumput laut, cottonii, katoni, or sacul/sakul — grows fastest. In warm tropical Indonesian water the crop can reach about ten times its mass in 45 to 50 days, which is why the eastern islands produce harvest after harvest. Cottonii became cultivable in Indonesia back in 1974, and NTT farmers use the same longline method seen across the archipelago: plastic rope tied to lines anchored to poles set on the seabed.
Where in NTT does Eucheuma cottonii come from?
East Nusa Tenggara is a spread of islands and sheltered bays, not a single farm belt. Indonesian industry sources list NTT alongside Maluku, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), South Sulawesi (Bone, Maros, Jeneponto, Takalar, Luwu, East Luwu), West Lombok and North Kalimantan as recognised cottonii-producing regions. Indonesia is described by industry sources as the world’s largest producer of red seaweeds, and NTT is one of the supplying provinces feeding that volume.
Most eastern cottonii moves west to be graded, and the Surabaya / East Java gateway handles a large share of processing and export documentation. Bali works as a sourcing and logistics hub rather than a large production zone — so we place NTT lots into consolidation, never invent Bali farm statistics.
| NTT supply factor | What buyers should know |
|---|---|
| Species | Eucheuma cottonii (Kappaphycus alvarezii), the primary kappa-carrageenan source |
| Farming method | Longline: plastic rope on lines anchored to seabed poles |
| Growing zone | Warm equatorial waters; ~10x mass in 45-50 days |
| Typical role | Raw dried supply feeding carrageenan processors and food-grade cleaning |
| Export gateway | Consolidated toward Surabaya / East Java; Bali logistics hub |
| Peak drying | Dry-season months give lower, more stable moisture |
What grades and moisture does NTT cottonii ship at?
Grade is defined by moisture and foreign matter, and documented specs for dried Eucheuma cottonii genuinely vary by trader. Published trader specs run from moisture 35-37% with foreign matter 3% max, to 35-37% with impurity 5% sun-dried, to 37-39% with impurities max 2%, up to a premium “Dried Raw Algae Grade A” at moisture below 35% with impurities under 2%. Lower moisture and cleaner material sit at the top of the price band.
Treat any exact moisture, ash, foreign-matter, microbiological, heavy-metal or carrageenan-yield number as claimable only when it comes from a specific batch Certificate of Analysis. We quote a band and confirm the real figures against your COA.
| Grade tier | Indicative moisture | FOB band per 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Commodity / salted, higher-moisture | ~37-39% | USD 4-7/kg |
| Standard raw dried | ~35-37% | USD 6-9/kg |
| Higher-grade, low-moisture, clean | below ~35% | USD 9-12/kg |
| Cleaned / washed food-grade bulk | processed | USD 25-55/kg |
These are FOB indicative figures per 2026 that move with harvest, moisture and grade; the final quote follows your spec and MOQ. Branded Western retail sea moss is priced far higher and is not our FOB quote. Sea moss is a food and ingredient, not medicine — we make no disease-cure claims and never attach a specific price to a named company.
How does monsoon seasonality affect NTT supply?
Honestly, weather sets the calendar in NTT. Cottonii is sun-dried on racks or tarps, so the monsoon and rainy months lengthen drying time and push moisture higher, which in turn affects yield and grade. Dry-season lots tend to hit the lower moisture tiers more consistently; wet-season lots can arrive salted or heavier and land in the commodity band.
Two biological risks also shape availability: ice-ice disease, which whitens and rots the thallus, and epiphyte fouling that competes with the crop. Neither is predictable enough for us to promise fixed monthly tonnage. We report the real window for each lot rather than guarantee volumes we cannot control.
What do NTT packaging and export logistics look like?
Dried cottonii is baled, wrapped in polypropylene cloth, and packed in 50 kg or 100 kg bags. Stored cool, dry, sealed and out of direct sunlight, the product holds a shelf life around 12 months.
Container loading is straightforward to plan: a 20ft holds roughly 15 MT, a 40ft about 23 MT, and a 40HC about 25 MT — near 350 bales of 100 kg per 40HC. Trade terms offered are FOB, CIF or CNF, with delivery typically 30 to 60 days after payment is approved, and payment by T/T, 100% irrevocable LC at sight, or 100% advance, shipped worldwide.
Standard export documents include the Certificate of Analysis (COA), Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS), Fumigation Certificate, Phytosanitary Certificate and Certificate of Origin (COO). Halal and HACCP / ISO 22000 are supplied on request. We arrange documentation via vetted licensed partners and cannot guarantee customs clearance in your destination country.
How does securing NTT cottonii supply work?
- Share your spec. Tell us target grade, moisture ceiling, monthly volume and destination port. Typical MOQ is a 1 MT trial rising to 20-100 MT contracts, with containers running about 20-25 MT.
- Get a lot-matched quote. We map current NTT harvest and drying conditions to an FOB, CIF or CNF figure inside the per-2026 band and flag realistic supply windows.
- Confirm samples and COA. You review a sample and the batch COA before committing; claimed moisture and foreign-matter figures are verified against that document.
- Lock the contract. Agree Incoterm, payment (T/T, LC at sight, or advance) and delivery window of 30-60 days after payment approval.
- Consolidation and shipment. Bales are packed in 50/100 kg bags, loaded, documented, and dispatched with COA, COO, phytosanitary and fumigation paperwork.
Secure NTT cottonii supply
Ready to price an NTT Eucheuma cottonii lot against your spec? Talk to the Bali Premium Trip concierge desk. WhatsApp 6281128590000 or email sales@balipremiumtrip.com, or send your grade, MOQ and destination through our quote form. We reply within 24 working hours with an indicative, date-stamped quotation — no guaranteed returns, no fabricated specs, just the real supply picture.
Indonesia Sea Moss is part of Juara Holding Group, an Indonesian group operating from Bali across Indonesia since 2015.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which parts of NTT actually farm Eucheuma cottonii?
NTT is a multi-island province, and its cottonii comes from scattered sheltered bays rather than one farm belt. Indonesian industry sources name NTT alongside NTB, Maluku, South Sulawesi and North Kalimantan as recognised cottonii regions. We match your order to whichever active NTT longline zones have suitable harvest and moisture at quote time.
When is the best season to buy NTT cottonii?
Dry-season months are generally best because sun-drying finishes faster and moisture lands lower and steadier, favouring the standard and higher grades. Monsoon and rainy months lengthen drying and lift moisture, pushing lots toward the commodity band. We flag the honest window for each lot instead of promising fixed year-round tonnage.
What moisture grade does NTT dried cottonii ship at?
Documented cottonii specs vary by trader, from roughly 37-39% moisture down to premium Grade A below 35%, with foreign matter between 2% and 5%. NTT lots span these tiers depending on drying conditions. Any exact moisture, ash or carrageenan-yield figure is only claimable from a specific batch COA, which we verify before you commit.
What is the minimum order for NTT cottonii supply?
A typical entry is a 1 MT trial shipment, scaling to 20-100 MT contracts once specs are confirmed. Full containers run about 20-25 MT — a 40HC holds near 25 MT, roughly 350 bales of 100 kg. Share your target volume and destination and we quote against current NTT availability.
How does NTT cottonii reach the export port?
Most NTT dried cottonii is consolidated westward, with Surabaya and East Java acting as the main processing and export gateway, and Bali functioning as a sourcing and logistics hub. Bales are wrapped in polypropylene cloth, packed in 50 or 100 kg bags, loaded into 20ft, 40ft or 40HC containers, and shipped FOB, CIF or CNF worldwide.