FIBCs leave Indian plants folded flat and compressed into bales, usually of 25 to 100 bags, which are strapped, wrapped in polythene and either stacked on pallets or loaded loose into the container. PP woven sacks are bundled in packs of a few hundred to a thousand pieces, also strapped and wrapped, and are then palletised or floor-loaded depending on what the buyer asks for. The aim in both cases is the same, to keep the bags clean and dry, to make them easy to count on arrival and to use the container space well.
Most packing decisions are made by the plant unless the purchase order says otherwise. If you have a preference about bale size, pallet type or labelling, it needs to be written into the order rather than assumed.
How FIBC bales are built
After final inspection each FIBC is folded to a flat rectangle, with the loops tucked inside and any liner laid flat within the body. A set number of folded bags is stacked, pressed in a baling press to squeeze out the air, and then strapped with PP or PET strapping. The bale is wrapped in a polythene cover or stretch film so that dust and moisture stay out during the road leg to port and the sea voyage.
Bale sizes vary with bag size and fabric weight. A heavy, coated, baffled bag with a liner takes more space than a plain uncoated bag, so a plant may put fewer bags in each bale to keep the bale at a weight that a forklift and a warehouse crew can handle safely.
Pallets or loose
- Palletised bales are easier to unload with a forklift and simpler to count, but the pallets take space, and wooden pallets must be heat treated and marked under ISPM 15 for most import markets.
- Loose, floor-loaded bales use the container more fully and suit buyers who repack at their own warehouse, but unloading takes longer and bales near the door can shift in transit.
- Plastic or pressed-wood pallets avoid the ISPM 15 requirement but cost more and are not always stocked by the plant.
- Whichever route you choose, ask for a packing list that shows bales per pallet, bags per bale and the bale numbering.
Marking and documentation
Each bale usually carries a label with the buyer's reference, the bag specification or article number, the quantity and the bale number. For food grade bags the labels should also show the production lot so that the goods can be traced back to the plant's records. The commercial invoice, packing list and bill of lading need to match these labels exactly, since a mismatch is the quickest way to delay customs clearance.
The main export ports for the Gujarat FIBC belt are Mundra, Kandla, officially Deendayal, and Hazira, all within a few hours by road from the plants around Ahmedabad, Kutch and Vadodara. Stuffing is usually done at the plant and the container is sealed there, which is also the point at which an independent loading check adds the most value.
What Creston & Co does
We agree the packing method with the plant before production starts and write it into the order, so there is no debate at loading time. We supervise container stuffing, check bale counts and labels against the packing list, and send photographs the same day. If you are planning a first order, a free 20-minute sourcing review is a good place to start.