**Sulawesi patchouli oil bulk supply centres on Manado-origin grades at roughly 30% patchouli alcohol (PA), offered as Dark, iron-free and molecularly-distilled (MD) lots, typically with acid values of 8-10. Bulk moves in 180-200 kg drums, FOB indicative USD 45-90/kg for PA 30-35% (per 2026), shipping mainly from Makassar.**
Sulawesi (locally nilam, from Pogostemon cablin, CAS 8014-09-3, FEMA 2838) is one of Indonesia’s core patchouli origins alongside Aceh, North Sumatra and Java. Indonesia supplies over 80% of the world’s patchouli oil — annual output around 1,000-1,200 metric tons — so a Sulawesi RFQ sits inside the world’s deepest supply pool. This page routes Sulawesi and Manado enquiries straight to the Bali Premium Trip sourcing desk.
How does Sulawesi patchouli oil compare to Sumatra?
The short version: Sulawesi and Sumatra are different tools, not better-and-worse. Sumatra (Aceh, North Sumatra) is prized in fine fragrance for stronger aroma and higher patchoulol, and its grades quote lower acid values. Sulawesi is a dependable commercial workhorse with the same Dark, iron-free and MD grade families — often at a friendlier landed cost.
| Attribute | Sumatra (Aceh / North Sumatra) | Sulawesi (Manado) |
|---|---|---|
| Typical PA% | 30-32, up to 34 | ~30, some lots 28 |
| Acid value | 4-6 | 8-10 |
| Storage stability | acid <8 = excellent | mixed; some lots <8 |
| Fine-fragrance reputation | prized, high patchoulol | solid commercial base |
| Grade families | Dark, Light, Iron-free, MD | Dark, Iron-free, MD |
| Main export port | Belawan | Makassar |
Acid value under 8 is cited in trade catalogues as indicating excellent storage stability, which is why buyers of longer-hold contracts often ask for the Sulawesi lots that hit that ceiling.
Which Sulawesi grades can you source in bulk?
Published grade families (Indonesian exporters’, 2022-2025) give a clear picture of what Sulawesi bulk looks like in practice. Treat these as reference specifications — the numbers become claims only once they appear on an actual batch COA/GC-MS.
- Sulawesi MD Min 30 PA — molecularly distilled (steam distillation followed by molecular distillation), cleaner colour and profile.
- Sulawesi Dark Min 30 PA (acid < 8) — the stability-friendly Dark lot.
- Sulawesi Dark Min 28 PA (acid < 15) — value Dark grade for functional fragrance.
- Sulawesi Iron Free Min 30 PA — steam distillation followed by de-ironization, for formulas sensitive to metal traces.
Colour across grades runs light-yellowish-brown to reddish dark red-brown; odour is woody-balsamic, sweet-herbaceous, earthy and spicy. The oil is soluble in alcohol and oils, insoluble in water.
What does Sulawesi patchouli oil cost in bulk?
Use one canonical band and read it as indicative, not a contract. FOB figures move with each harvest and with measured PA content; the final quote is set once grade, PA%, documents and MOQ are confirmed.
| Grade / PA% | Sulawesi example | FOB indicative, per 2026 (USD/kg) |
|---|---|---|
| PA under 30% | Dark Min 28 PA | 35-55 |
| PA 30-35% (commercial) | Dark, MD, Iron Free (Min 30) | 45-90 |
| Premium PA above 35% / iron-free / MD / organic-certified | top redistilled or certified lots | 100-200 |
A harvest-failure spike can push even 30-32% PA material toward roughly USD 100-130/kg. For a domestic reference point, a North Sulawesi trader publicly listed IDR 2,000,000/kg FOB Manado, marked “Price June 2025,” noted as varying with quantity and market. Late-2025 conditions are structurally firm — scarce material, historic-high prices, and farmers switching to corn, cocoa and palm oil — so treat any 2026 number as a moving target into 2027.
What documents come with a Sulawesi bulk order?
Documentation is where a technical buyer separates a real lot from a catalogue promise. Supplied on request:
- COA with stated PA%
- GC-MS profile
- TDS and SDS/MSDS
- Certificate of Origin (essential for Makassar export clearance)
- On premium or certified lines: Kosher, Halal, COSMOS, FSSC 22000 where available
EU buyers commonly require the CAS 8014-09-3 identity plus REACH-style documentation. Published COAs have carried retest/best-before dates as far out as April 2027, which helps long-term contracting. Any specific spec — PA%, specific gravity, refractive index, optical rotation — is a claim only when it comes from your actual batch COA, so confirm on paper before you commit.
How does ordering Sulawesi bulk work through Makassar?
The desk operates as a sourcing concierge, not the distillery: your order is arranged through vetted, licensed Indonesian exporters, and every spec is checked against a real batch COA before payment.
- Send your spec — Message the desk with grade family (Dark / iron-free / MD), target PA%, acid-value ceiling, volume and destination port.
- Get a documented quote — We return an FOB indicative price within one working day (24-hour SLA), matched to current harvest and batch-COA availability.
- Review COA + GC-MS — Confirm PA%, specific gravity, refractive index and optical rotation against the batch document — never on catalogue numbers alone.
- Sample, then lock volume — Approve a sample, agree drum count (180-200 kg export drums, ~25 kg drums also seen in trade) and MOQ, typically 100-1000 kg.
- Ship from Makassar — The lot consolidates and clears through Makassar, Sulawesi’s main patchouli export port, with COA, GC-MS, TDS, SDS and Certificate of Origin in the export pack.
We do not guarantee customs clearance or downstream quality outcomes; those depend on your batch, your regulator and your formulation.
Ready to price a Sulawesi patchouli lot?
Every Sulawesi RFQ is handled by the Bali Premium Trip concierge desk. We are a sourcing concierge — not the asset owner — and arrange supply via vetted licensed partners, with every figure confirmed on a real batch COA.
- WhatsApp: 6281128590000
- Email: sales@balipremiumtrip.com
- Or send the RFQ form with grade, PA%, acid ceiling, volume and destination port.
Quotes are returned within 24 working hours. FOB figures are indicative per 2026 and move with harvest and PA content; the final quote confirms grade, PA%, documents and MOQ.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sulawesi patchouli oil lower quality than Sumatra oil?
Not lower — different. Sulawesi Manado grades typically run about 30% PA with acid values of 8-10, versus Sumatra’s 30-32% PA and 4-6 acid. Sumatra is prized in fine fragrance for stronger aroma and higher patchoulol; Sulawesi is a dependable commercial base, available Dark, iron-free and molecularly distilled.
What acid value should I expect in bulk Sulawesi patchouli oil?
Sulawesi lots commonly quote acid values of 8-10, higher than Sumatra’s 4-6. Catalogue references show Sulawesi Dark Min 30 PA at acid under 8, and Sulawesi Dark Min 28 PA at acid under 15. Acid value under 8 is cited as indicating excellent storage stability — confirm the figure on your batch COA.
Which port does Sulawesi patchouli oil ship from?
Sulawesi bulk patchouli typically exports through Makassar, the island’s main port, while Sumatra oils leave via Belawan and Java lots via Surabaya. Bulk moves in export drums of roughly 180-200 kg, with COA, GC-MS, TDS, SDS and a Certificate of Origin in the documentation pack for clearance.
What is the minimum order for bulk Sulawesi patchouli oil?
No single official MOQ exists publicly. In practice bulk trades in drums — postings cite both ~25 kg drums and standard export drums around 180-200 kg — with a typical minimum of 100-1000 kg. Tell the desk your target volume and we match it to available Manado batches.
How much does Sulawesi patchouli oil cost per kg in 2026?
FOB indicative per 2026: PA under 30% runs USD 35-55/kg, commercial PA 30-35% USD 45-90/kg, and premium iron-free or MD lots USD 100-200/kg. A harvest-failure spike can push 30-32% PA toward USD 100-130/kg. One dated domestic reference is a Manado trader’s IDR 2,000,000/kg FOB Manado, June 2025.