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Export commodity
ABCD-graded whole nutmeg from Banda and North Sulawesi, supplied in-shell or shelled, alongside matched mace, the lacy aril around the seed.
HS 0908
Overview
The Banda Islands are where the nutmeg trade began, and the ABCD grading system the world still uses was built around the quality that came out of them. One fruit yields two separate commodities with two separate markets: the kernel, which is nutmeg, and the scarlet lacy aril wrapped around it, which dries to become mace and typically commands a higher price per kilo. Indonesia supplies the majority of world trade in both, with modern volume centred on North Sulawesi while Banda remains the benchmark for quality. We grade to ABCD, supply mace as whole blade or broken, and lab-test on request.
Grades
Largest, soundest kernels, free of insect damage and mould. The grade specified for whole spice retail and premium grinding.
Smaller sound kernels at a lower price point, generally destined for grinding, oleoresin or oil distillation.
The defect fraction, sold cheaply and openly declared, used only for oil extraction where appearance is irrelevant.
Unbroken orange-red blades, the highest mace grade. Broken mace is available separately for grinding.
Where it's grown
Post-harvest
Fruit is harvested when it splits naturally on the tree. The mace is peeled off the kernel by hand, flattened, and dried separately, since it dries faster and is easily scorched. Kernels are dried in shell over one to two weeks until the seed rattles, which is the traditional test that moisture is low enough to store. Nutmeg is then cracked, sorted by size and soundness into ABCD classes, and defective kernels are pulled out into the BWP fraction rather than hidden in the good grade.
Season
Nutmeg trees fruit more or less year-round in the Maluku and Sulawesi climate, with two heavier peaks usually falling around June to August and December to February. This makes nutmeg one of the more schedulable commodities in our range for buyers who need steady monthly intake.
Who buys it
ABCD-graded whole nutmeg for spice packers and retail spice brands.
Broken and lower-grade nutmeg plus mace supplied to extraction facilities.
Ground nutmeg and mace for bakery, processed meat, sauce and beverage producers.
Packing, shipping & documents
Nutmeg is packed in 50kg jute or PP woven bags, mace in 25kg cartons or bags to protect the blades from crushing. A 20ft container carries roughly 12 to 15 tonnes of nutmeg. Shipments include certificate of origin, phytosanitary certificate, weight and quality certificate and packing list. Aflatoxin testing is available and is commonly requested by EU and Japanese buyers, and we recommend specifying the limit you need in the contract rather than after loading. Samples of 250g to 500g ship by courier before contracting.
Questions buyers ask
ABCD is the standard Indonesian export grading for whole nutmeg by size, soundness and defect count, with A the largest and cleanest kernels and D the smallest sound ones.
Both. In-shell nutmeg keeps longer and suits buyers who de-shell locally, while shelled kernels are ready for direct grinding or extraction.
Yes. Mace is priced and sold separately as whole blade or broken mace, since it has its own market and usually a higher price per kilo than the kernel.
Yes. Aflatoxin analysis from an accredited Indonesian laboratory is available and is frequently specified by EU and Japanese buyers. Set the limit in the contract before loading.
Largely yes. Trees fruit through the year with heavier peaks around June to August and December to February, which makes monthly shipping schedules practical.
Let's talk tonnage
Tell us your grade, volume, and destination port. We reply within one business day with an offer, samples, and lead time.
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