Areca Nut
Areca nut (Areca catechu) is the fruit of a tropical palm tree cultivated in South East Asia. The nuts are harvested when ripe and can be consumed fresh or dried after sun‑drying to reduce moisture from about 40 % to 11 % for storage.
Prices, specifications and international trade for areca nut under HS 080280.
Areca Nut Price
Published reference · Jun 1, 2026
Areca nut is quoted in USD/t at IDN. Historical customs values may differ from the headline reference.
Explore areca nut pricesAreca Nut Exports and Imports
Indonesia led reported areca nut exports in 2025, at $282M.
Compare areca nut exporting countriesAreca Nut Specifications and Quality
Areca nut grading factors include Diameter, Color of Pith, and Damage Percentage.
Grading Factors
Quality assessment for areca nut considers Diameter, Color of Pith, and Damage Percentage.
- Diameter
Minimum diameter of whole dried arecanuts as defined in the grading schedule
- Color of Pith
Color of the inner pith used to differentiate grades
- Damage Percentage
Maximum percentage of damaged nuts allowed for each grade
Common Defects
Recorded defects for areca nut include Damaged nuts and Foreign matter.
- Damaged nuts
Nuts with physical damage exceeding grade limits
- Foreign matter
Extraneous material exceeding 2% of the sample
Certifications
Certifications documented for areca nut include AGMARK. Their applicability depends on the individual product and shipment.
- AGMARK
Government‑approved grade designation label indicating quality
Areca Nut Facts and HS Code
Areca nut belongs to tree nuts within produce, nuts, spices and food ingredients. Its customs classification covers HS 080280.
Areca Nut HS Code
| Scientific name | Areca catechu |
|---|---|
| Product type | Raw |
| Form | Fresh |
| Position in the chain | Primary |
| Category | Tree nuts — Produce, nuts, spices and food ingredients |
| HS codes | 080280 |
| Quoted in | USD/t |
| Reference location | IDN |
Production & Handling
Processing steps for areca nut include Harvesting ripe nuts, Sun drying for 40-45 days, Open sun drying 8-10 days reducing moisture from 40% to 11%.
Production and Storage
| Perishability | High |
|---|---|
| Temperature regime | Ambient |
| Production methods | Farmed |
| Processing steps |
|
Packaging
Typical areca nut packaging includes Gunny bag.
- Gunny bag
Clean, dry gunny bags in good condition, each containing a single grade and crop year
Uses & Risks
Areca nut is used in Chewing (masticatory), Timber and construction, and Fibre and paper products.
End Uses
- Chewing (masticatory)
Used as a masticatory and in religious, social and cultural functions
- Timber and construction
Stem wood employed for building material, utility articles and furniture
- Fibre and paper products
Husk fibre utilized for boards, cushions, non‑woven fabrics and brown wrapping paper
Uses and Related Commodities
| Downstream industries | Construction, Furniture, Paper manufacturing, Pharmaceuticals |
|---|
Sourcing risks
| Risk | Mitigation |
|---|---|
Fruit rot disease (Phytophthora meadii) DiseaseHigh Fruit rot disease (FRD), caused by Phytophthora meadii, is the most devastating and destructive arecanut disease, causing huge economic losses to growers. | Spraying fungicides (e.g., Bordeaux mixture, Metalaxyl + Mancozeb) as a preventative measure, followed by treatment with soil microbial consortia or commercial organic fungicide formulations. |
Areca Nut Questions
- What are the grading and packaging requirements for Areca nuts?
- Areca nuts are graded by a label system that indicates quality, with grades such as Moti Special (white label) and Moti AI (red label) as defined in the Arecanuts (Grading and Marking) Rules, 1952. Each grade label must be securely attached to the container and include the year of harvest, packing centre, date of packing, and net weight. The nuts are packed in clean, dry gunny bags that have not previously held commodities that could impart undesirable flavors or odors. During processing, drying reduces the moisture content from about 40 % to 11 % to allow safe storage, and for every 100 kg of raw fruit the final dried product is approximately 13–15 kg.