To avoid short shipments, have someone count every bag into the container, check-weigh a random sample of bags on a calibrated scale and compare the result with the weighbridge slip and the packing list. Do this before the container is sealed, because afterwards it is your word against the supplier's.
Short weight is one of the most common complaints on agri cargo from any origin. It usually comes from under-filled bags, a wrong bag count or tare not deducted, more often than from theft.
Agree the rules in the contract
- Net weight per bag, for example 25 kg net, and whether it is net or gross.
- The weight of the empty bag and liner, so tare can be deducted.
- A tolerance on the total quantity, often written as plus or minus a small percentage at the supplier's option.
- Which weight is final: the loading weight in India or the landed weight at destination.
- How short weight is settled, for example a credit at the contract price.
Checks to make at loading
- Count every bag as it enters the container, and compare the tally with the packing list.
- Pick bags at random from different lots and pallets, not the ones the loaders offer.
- Weigh them on a scale with a current calibration record, and weigh a few empty bags for tare.
- Compare the average net weight with the contract figure.
- Check the stitching or heat seal, because torn bags lose product in transit.
- Photograph the scale readout with the bag and lot number visible.
Weighbridge slips and VGM
Under the SOLAS rules, every export container needs a verified gross mass (VGM) before it is loaded on the vessel. The shipper declares it, usually from a weighbridge or by adding up the cargo, packing and container tare. The VGM is a safety figure, not proof of your net weight, but it is a useful cross-check.
If the gross weight on the weighbridge slip, minus the container tare, is well below the packing list gross weight, ask why before the container leaves. A weighbridge is less precise than a platform scale, so do not expect an exact match.
Natural weight loss in transit
Dry agri goods can lose a little weight in transit as they dry further, especially if they were loaded close to the moisture limit. This is not short shipment, and it is why the contract should say which weight is final. Keeping moisture within spec helps, as covered in what tolerances to include for moisture, purity and foreign matter.
How we help
At loading we count bags, check-weigh a random sample on a calibrated scale and record the results with photos, lot numbers and the seal number. If the weights fall short, we tell you before the container is sealed and before you pay the balance. Ask for a free sourcing review to set this up.