There is no single figure for spice powder. Dense powders packed in bags can come close to the container's weight limit, while light, fluffy blends and retail packs fill the space well before that. Always ask the supplier for their last actual loading of the same product and pack.
Any figure you see in a quote or online should be treated as approximate until it is confirmed for your product, pack and shipping line.
Getting it right matters. Freight is charged per container, so a well-filled container lowers the landed cost of every kilo. An overweight one can be refused or held.
What decides the payload
- Bulk density. Different powders, and even the same powder at different mesh sizes, pack very differently.
- Pack type. 25 kg bags floor-loaded use space well. Cartons, bag-in-box and retail packs in shipper cartons carry less product per container.
- Pallets. Palletised loads are easier to handle at destination but lose space and add weight.
- Weight limits. The shipping line, the container type and road rules at both ends all cap the gross weight.
- Mixed loads. Several products in one container rarely stack as efficiently as one.
Weight-limited or volume-limited
A container is full either when it reaches its weight limit or when it runs out of space. Dense goods such as sesame or pulses usually hit the weight limit first. Light goods such as dried leaves hit the space limit first.
Spice powders sit between these. Some heavier powders in bags may load close to the weight limit in a 20 ft. Lighter blends, and anything in retail packs, are usually space-limited. The general picture is in how much fits in a 20 ft and a 40 ft container.
20 ft or 40 ft
A 40 ft container offers roughly double the space of a 20 ft, but not double the weight allowance. Dense powders in bulk bags often make better use of a 20 ft. Light powders, mixed loads and retail packs often suit a 40 ft better.
Getting a reliable figure
- Ask for the last actual loading of the same powder in the same pack, with the container size.
- Ask for the bag or carton dimensions and the net and gross weight of each unit.
- Ask for a simple loading plan if you are mixing products or palletising.
- Allow space and weight for desiccants or a liner on humid routes. See desiccants and container liners.
- Confirm the weight limit with your forwarder or shipping line before you fix the order quantity.
How we help
We check the supplier's past loadings, agree the pack and loading plan, and supervise the loading with a photo record. If you are sizing your first powder order, ask for a free sourcing review.