A container can be full by volume yet not by weight, or the other way round. Both decide the cost per kilogram you end up paying.
Freight is charged per container, not per kilogram. A container that is not full therefore raises the cost per kilogram for no benefit at all.
Two limits that apply at once
Every container has two limits: volume and weight. Your load stops at whichever is reached first.
- A 20ft container holds about 33 cubic metres with a weight limit around 28 tonnes.
- A 40ft container holds about 67 cubic metres with almost the same weight limit.
- For light, bulky goods the 40ft is far more economical.
- For dense goods like dried spices, a 20ft usually hits the weight limit first.
A worked example
Black pepper is packed in 50 kg bags. One bag needs about 0.08 cubic metres. In a 20ft container of 33 cubic metres, roughly 410 bags fit by space.
410 bags is 20.5 tonnes, still under the 28 tonne limit. The container fills by space first, and the air above the bags cannot be used.
In cases like this, tighter stacking or denser packing raises the load meaningfully. Two extra tonnes in one container already brings the cost per kilogram down.
Consolidated loads as the middle road
If your volume is short of a full container, a consolidated load is a sensible first shipment. The cost per kilogram is higher, but you do not wait for volume to accumulate.
Send us your packing type and estimated volume. We will work out the most efficient load and the cost comparison.