“How much tea fits in one container?” is the first logistics question in every bulk inquiry. The answer depends on packing format — here are the working numbers we use for planning.
Bulk Woven-Bag Packing (25–30 kg bags)
| Container | Green/black tea (dense leaf) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 20GP | ≈ 10–12 MT | Standard for West Africa / Central Asia orders |
| 40GP | ≈ 18–22 MT | Best cost per tonne on long routes |
The practical limit is usually cubic capacity before weight — woven bags are dense, so floor loading and bag stacking determine the final tonnage.
Carton Packing (specialty / foil-bag formats)
Steamed green tea and white tea in 20 kg foil bags inside cartons load roughly 6–16 MT per 20GP/40GP depending on carton size and palletization. Matcha drums and retail cartons load even lighter — plan by volume, not weight.
Humidity and Season
- Tea above 7% moisture + a tropical route = mold risk. Contract moisture ≤ 6.5% and use PE-lined bags.
- Summer loading on monsoon routes: add desiccants, avoid vented containers, and request a dry, food-grade container with intact door seals.
Mixed-Grade Loading Strategy
Most importers optimize one container with 2–5 items: e.g. Chunmee 41022 + 41005 + 9371 for Morocco; CTC BP + Fannings for tea-bag factories. Mixed loading needs a packing plan (item/grade/bag count per position) — we prepare the loading plan and mark each pallet/bag.
Get a loading plan with your quotation: send your item list and destination port → Related: freight cost guide