Spirulina
Spirulina is the dried biomass of filamentous cyanobacteria of the genus Arthrospira, primarily Arthrospira platensis and Arthrospira maxima.
It is a complete-protein microorganism containing 55 to 70 percent protein by dry weight, along with B-group vitamins, minerals, gamma-linolenic acid, carotenoids, and the deep blue phycobiliprotein phycocyanin that gives the biomass its characteristic colour.
We source bulk Spirulina from top China manufacturers for our partners. The manufacturer is in Fujian. For this ingredient the minimum order is 500 kg and a 20-foot container takes 18 MT, and a smaller requirement can ship in a combined container with other ingredients.
Please send the grade you need, the volume and your destination port, and we will come back with a solution and a price.
or call +86-21-6858 0751
- Minimum order
- 500 kg
- Qty in 20' FCL
- 18 MT
- Packaging
- 25 kg fibre drum with double PE liner
- ISO 9001
- HACCP
- Halal
- Kosher
Specifications
Grades / Types Available: Food Grade, Feed Grade
| Item | Specification |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Dark green-blue fine powder |
| Protein | ≥ 60% |
| Moisture | ≤ 7.0% |
| Ash | ≤ 9.0% |
| Mesh Size | 80-100 mesh |
| Heavy Metals | ≤ 10 ppm |
| Total Plate Count | ≤ 50,000 cfu/g |
| Salmonella | Negative |
| Purity (Food Grade) | ≥ 60% |
| Moisture/Loss on Drying | ≤ 7% |
| pH | 7.0 - 9.0 |
| Lead | ≤ 1 ppm |
| Arsenic | ≤ 0.5 ppm |
| Yeast & Mold | ≤ 100 cfu/g |
| Particle Size/Mesh | ≥ 80 mesh |
Common Markets Grades
Spirulina is graded by physical form, colour profile, and end-use specification.
Spray-dried powder is the standard format for tableting, capsule filling, and bulk food fortification. Standard grades carry total protein assays of 55 to 65 percent and are traded by source country, typically China, India, or the United States.
Premium grades from controlled-environment cultivation reach 65 to 70 percent protein with low geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol levels, giving a milder taste and smell suitable for beverage and dairy use.
Tablet grades are pre-blended with small amounts of binder for direct compression at 250 to 500 mg tablet weight.
Phycocyanin-enriched spirulina extracts are produced separately for natural blue colour use, with E1 (extinction at 620 nm) ratings between 10 and 40 defining the colour strength.
Organic-certified spirulina is widely available, produced in ponds that exclude synthetic fertilizers and pesticides in line with USDA NOP or EU 2018/848.
Applications
- Dietary supplements as tablets, capsules, and loose powder, often positioned as a complete plant protein
- Smoothie and superfood blends combined with chlorella, wheatgrass, and barley grass
- Plant-based protein fortification of bars, snacks, and meal-replacement shakes
- Functional beverages and shots for athletes and active consumers
- Natural blue food colouring through the phycocyanin fraction in confectionery, ice cream, and beverages
- Vegan nutrition products supplying iron, B vitamins, and gamma-linolenic acid
- Aquaculture feed for ornamental fish, particularly koi and discus, for colour enhancement
- Shrimp and finfish hatchery feeds as a microalgal protein source
- Poultry feed additive for yolk pigmentation
- Pet food and treats positioning natural superfood content
- Cosmetic ingredient in masks, serums, and shampoos
- Subject of food-security research as a high-yield protein crop for water-limited regions
Brands Using Spirulina
Widely-distributed consumer products that list Spirulina on the ingredient label.
- Nutrex HawaiiPure Hawaiian Spirulina Pacifica 500 mg Tablets ↗Nutrex Hawaii's Pure Hawaiian Spirulina Pacifica supplies 500 mg of Kona-grown spirulina per tablet (60% protein with naturally occurring vitamins A, K1, K2, B12, iron and carotenoids) processed via Ocean Chill Drying.Label verified 2026-05-24
- NOW FoodsCertified Organic Spirulina Double Strength 1000 mg Tablets ↗NOW Foods Certified Organic Spirulina (Double Strength) supplies 1,000 mg of QAI-certified organic, non-GMO spirulina per tablet with naturally occurring beta-carotene, B12 and GLA.Label verified 2026-05-24
- Source NaturalsSpirulina 500 mg Tablets ↗Non-GMO, vegan spirulina tablets supplying 500 mg of blue-green algae per tablet.Label verified 2026-05-24
Brand names, product names and logos are the property of their owners. They appear here as published evidence that the ingredient is used, taken from the brand's own label or website. Their appearance is not an endorsement, and it does not mean the brand buys from us or from any manufacturer listed on this site.
China Manufacturers of Spirulina
Top Spirulina manufacturers in China.
Company names and logos are the property of the manufacturers themselves. They are listed here because our own directory records them as producing this ingredient. A listing is not an endorsement by them, and we do not represent them or speak on their behalf.
How We Help Source Spirulina
Direct Factory Sourcing
We run the whole process: selecting the manufacturer from the top Chinese food ingredient producers, negotiating the price, verifying quality, and coordinating the logistics. You deal with us instead of with several factories at once.
Original Packaging and Documents from the Manufacturer
The manufacturer sends your Spirulina out of its own factory in the original packing, through to your destination port. The COA, COO, MSDS, TDS and any certifications reach you from the manufacturer as well.
Free Samples and Lead Time
We send 100 to 500 g free for your own laboratory to test and you cover only the courier, usually within 2 to 3 working days. ETD is usually within 7 to 15 days once the order is confirmed, and we check that date against the factory's own manufacturing schedule before we give it to you.
Combined Shipment
We can load Spirulina together with other ingredients such as Arachidonic Acid, Coenzyme Q10 and Chondroitin Sulphate Sodium into one 20' FCL. If your quantity is small, we can also ship LCL.
Regulatory Status
Spirulina has a long history of food use and is recognised as a food ingredient across major jurisdictions.
In the United States, spirulina from Arthrospira platensis is GRAS for use as an ingredient in conventional foods and beverages. 21 CFR 73.530 approves the phycocyanin-containing extract spirulina extract as a colour additive exempt from certification for use in candy, chewing gum, and several other categories.
In the European Union, dried Arthrospira platensis is treated as a traditional food with a history of use before May 1997 and therefore is not subject to the novel food procedure. Spirulina extract is an authorised food colouring for specific categories under the food additive framework.
JECFA has evaluated spirulina extract as a food colour and concluded that it is acceptable for use within the specifications set.
Most national authorities require finished product testing for microcystin contamination, since some open-pond systems can be co-colonized by toxin-producing cyanobacteria. Reputable producers operate to internal limits well below 1 microgram per gram for total microcystins.
Organic certification under USDA NOP, EU 2018/848, and JAS is widely available.
Manufacturing Process
Commercial spirulina is cultivated almost entirely in open raceway ponds, with smaller volumes from closed photobioreactors for premium grades.
The cultivation medium is alkaline, typically pH 9.5 to 11, prepared with sodium bicarbonate, sodium nitrate or urea, potassium and magnesium salts, and trace elements. The high pH suppresses competing microorganisms and is tolerated naturally by Arthrospira.
Ponds are agitated by paddlewheels to keep the filaments in suspension and to ensure even light exposure. Tropical and subtropical locations with high solar irradiance and stable temperatures are preferred. Major production sites include Hainan and Inner Mongolia in China, Tamil Nadu in India, California and Hawaii in the United States, and Thailand.
Harvesting uses fine vibrating screens or microfilters that capture the spiral filaments while passing the medium for recycling. The wet biomass is washed, then dried.
Drying technology has a major effect on quality. Spray drying preserves colour and reduces process times but can degrade phycocyanin if inlet temperatures are too high. Drum drying is cheaper but harsher. Refractance-window drying is used for premium phycocyanin grades.
Finished biomass is sieved, milled, blended, and tested for microbiology, heavy metals, and microcystin contamination from any Microcystis cross-pond contamination.
