This section focuses on an overview of agar-agar as well as its manufacturing processes and uses. Also, please check out the introduction to agar-agar manufacturers, supply chain issues, agar-agar suppliers, and agar-agar prices. Sinofi can help you buy high-quality agar-agar in bulk for your industry applications at wholesale prices based on E406 and CAS 9002-18-0.
Table of Contents
What is Agar-Agar?
Agar-agar, often called agar, is a natural hydrocolloid extracted from red seaweed, primarily from species of Gelidium and Gracilaria. It’s a complex carbohydrate with strong gelling properties, making it a valuable ingredient in the food, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology industries. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), agar-agar is approved to be used in food.
CAS No.: 9002-18-0
According to the American Chemical Society, the CAS number of agar-agar is 9002-18-0.
E number: E406
According to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), agar-agar was approved by EU as a thickener (E406) in foods in 1989 and re-evaluated in 2016.
Bulk Agar-Agar Manufacturers
The large agar-agar manufacturers are spread across various countries, including South Korea, Mexico, Spain, Morocco, China, and Chile. Many of these companies specialize in certain grades or types of agar-agar, catering to specific industries like food, pharmaceuticals, or biotechnology.
Sinofi is a bulk agar-agar manufacturer in China, and we have a manufacturing facility with 2,500 square meters for the production of agar-agar powder. We supply high-quality sodium agar-agar at bulk prices for our clients in the food, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology industries.
Manufacturing Process of Agar-Agar
The manufacturing process for agar-agar typically involves the following steps:
- Cleaning and drying.
- Alkali treatment to remove impurities.
- Hot water extraction.
- Filtration and purification.
- Freezing and thawing to remove water.
- Drying and grinding into powder.
Bulk Agar-Agar Suppliers
Agar-agar suppliers play a crucial role in expanding the use of agar-agar in different industries and geographical regions. They distribute agar-agar to various sectors, including food manufacturers, research laboratories, and pharmaceutical companies. Some top agar-agar suppliers may be vertically integrated, controlling multiple stages of the supply chain, while others might specialize in specific aspects like agar-agar distribution.
Sinofi is a bulk agar-agar supplier in China, and we have a warehouse with 1,200 square meters for high-quality agar-agar powder and flakes. We supply different grades of agar-agar at wholesale prices to various industries around the world.
Supply Chain of Agar-Agar
The agar-agar supply chain involves seaweed farming, harvesting, processing, and distribution.
- Harvesting: The agar-agar supply chain begins with cultivating and harvesting red seaweed, primarily species of Gelidium and Gracilaria.
- Processing: After harvesting, the seaweed undergoes several processing steps. This process transforms the raw seaweed into the familiar agar-agar powder or strips used in various applications.
- Manufacturers package the product for industrial or consumer use.
- Distributors and wholesalers supply to various industries.
- Retailers make agar-agar available to end consumers.
As the global demand for agar-agar continues to grow, the industry is adapting to ensure a stable and sustainable supply chain from the ocean to market.
Wholesale and Buy Agar-Agar in Bulk
If you are buying agar-agar wholesale, you should build relationships with multiple suppliers to ensure a steady supply. A long-term contract is beneficial for agar-agar price stability. You also stay informed about market trends and price fluctuations. By understanding these aspects of the wholesale agar-agar market, buyers can make more informed decisions and establish efficient procurement processes.
As a bulk agar-agar manufacturer and supplier in China, we not only supply high-quality agar-agar to large food manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies worldwide. We also wholesale our agar-agar E406 to small customers. Usually, they want to buy agar-agar in small quantities. To serve them, we can wholesale high-quality agar-agar powder and flake at bulk prices and provide a one-stop purchasing service according to their requirements.
Agar-Agar Price (USD/Kg)
Food Grade Agar-Agar Price (powder or flake, gel strength 700-1300 g/cm2)
| Volume | Unit Price | Shipment |
| 50g | 5 USD | Express |
| 500g | 16 USD | Express |
| 1Kg | 25 USD /Kg | Express |
| 20Kg | 20% cheaper | Express |
| 100Kg-Above | negotiable | Express / Sea |
Agar-agar price can vary significantly based on quality, origin, and market conditions. It can also fluctuate due to factors like the availability of seaweed, demand in various industries, and global economic conditions. When sourcing agar-agar powder and flakes, it’s crucial to look beyond the base price quotation. Please consider shipping methods, additional costs, and overall value to make informed purchasing decisions.
Furthermore, the above price quotations of agar-agar powder and flake, especially for small orders, do not include the express shipping fee. The reason is that the shipment cost of agar-agar may exceed the value of the sample. But the bulk wholesale agar-agar price will be much lower than that of small orders. Please contact us for more details.
Agar-Agar Uses
Agar-agar powder and flake have various applications across different industries:
Food Industry:
- Gelling agent in desserts, jellies, and confectioneries.
- Stabilizer in ice creams and other dairy products.
- Thickener in soups and sauces.
Microbiology:
- Growth medium for bacteria and fungi.
Pharmaceuticals:
- Laxatives.
- Capsule formulations.
- Drug delivery systems.
Biotechnology:
- Gel electrophoresis for DNA separation.
Cosmetics:
- Emulsifier and stabilizer in creams and lotions.
Agar-Agar Benefits
Agar-agar’s unique properties and natural origin make it a valuable ingredient across multiple industries, with ongoing research exploring new applications and benefits.
- Vegetarian/Vegan Alternative: Plant-based substitute for animal-derived gelatin.
- Low Calorie: Contains very few calories, making it suitable for low-calorie diets.
- Rich in Fiber: It may aid digestion and promote feelings of fullness.
- Versatile: Functions well in hot and cold applications.
- Strong Gelling Power: Forms gels at lower concentrations compared to other hydrocolloids.
- Thermoreversible: Gels melt when heated and reset when cooled, unlike other gelling agents.
Agar-Agar Used in Food
An Edible Arabian Hookah Paste – Formulation by Weight
Step 1. Preparation of freeze-dried fruit pieces:
Prepare a single cherry juice or a mixed juice with cherry as the main component (content of more than 65%) and filter to remove solids, then mix with a hot agar-agar solution with a mass proportion of 1.0% after filtration to obtain a juice slurry, sterilize the juice slurry by ultra-high pressure sterilization, and cool it to get a semi-solid gel jelly. After the gel jelly is chopped, a porous fruit freeze-dried block with a porosity of 25% to 45% is prepared by a vacuum freeze-drying process, and the porous fruit freeze-dried block is crushed and sieved to leave a porous fruit freeze-dried piece with a mesh size of 5 to 50 and an equivalent particle size DA of 0.3mm to 4.0mm for standby use. The particle size distribution of the porous fruit freeze-dried pieces is: D10 = 0.5mm, D50 = 3.0mm, D90 = 3.5mm.
Step 2. Preparation of tobacco paste sandwich composition:
100 parts of oat fiber powder, 100 parts of soybean fiber powder, 100 parts of chrysanthemum powder, and 200 parts of oat powder are mixed and stirred evenly. Then, 200 parts of porous fruit freeze-dried pieces, 60 parts of freeze-dried chrysanthemum pieces, and 3 parts of calcium carbonate powder are added and stirred evenly. Then, 150 parts honey, 400 parts glycerin, 30 parts cherry flavor essence, 10 parts cooling agent (menthol + carvacrol), and 5 parts pH adjuster are gradually added. 50 parts of water are sprayed while stirring, and a paste-like tobacco paste sandwich composition is prepared for use.
Step 3. Preparation of edible hookah paste:
After 200 parts of coconut oil and 200 parts of cocoa butter substitute are heated to 60°C and melted, 50 parts of honey and 400 parts of cocoa powder are gradually added and stirred and mixed thoroughly, and the chocolate slurry is prepared after cooling to 40°C. Pour 16g of the prepared chocolate slurry into the ball mold, shake until it is evenly distributed in a layer, cool, and solidify to obtain a chocolate shell with an opening at one end. Take 100 parts of coconut oil and heat it to 28℃～30℃ to melt and make it have a certain fluidity, then pour the melted coconut oil into the chocolate shell through the opening, shake until it is evenly distributed in a layer, cool to 15℃～18℃ so that the coconut oil forms a dense coconut oil inner layer membrane on the inner side wall of the chocolate shell. Then take an appropriate amount of the tobacco paste sandwich composition prepared in the previous step, insert it into the chocolate shell with the coconut oil inner layer membrane through the opening to fill it, and then seal the opening with 4g of chocolate slurry, and cool to obtain an edible hookah paste product with a tobacco paste sandwich inside and a chocolate shell with a coconut oil inner layer membrane outside.
In conclusion, agar-agar E406 is a versatile natural thickener with applications across various industries. As a bulk agar-agar manufacturer and supplier in China, Sinofi sells different grades of agar-agar powder and flake at wholesale prices to large manufacturers and small customers worldwide.