Step 1: RFQ and Sample
Send a Request for Quotation to the mill with your target spec: variety (IRRI-6), broken grade (5%, 10%, 15%, 25%, 100%, parboiled, brown), quantity in 20' FCL units, destination port, packing preference (50 kg, 25 kg, 10 kg), and Incoterm (FOB, CFR, CIF). The mill returns a quotation within 24 business hours showing FOB Karachi price, total ex-mill plus shipping cost, lead time, and payment terms.
Request a 1 kg sample for first-time orders. Couriered samples ship in 5-7 days via DHL or FedEx. Sample inspection at destination should confirm grain length, moisture, broken percentage, and aroma against the spec sheet before issuing the proforma invoice.
Step 2: Proforma Invoice and Payment Instrument
The mill issues a Proforma Invoice (PI) covering the agreed quantity, grade, packing, FOB price, vessel sailing window, and payment terms. The PI is the contractual offer that, once accepted, triggers the payment instrument.
Two payment options for IRRI-6 buyers:
Letter of Credit at sight: 100% irrevocable L/C in favor of the mill's bank in Karachi. Preferred for first orders and large bookings. The L/C draft is reviewed before issuance to confirm document requirements: BL, commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin, phytosanitary, fumigation, pre-shipment inspection certificate.
T/T 30/70: 30% advance wire transfer at PI signing, 70% balance against scanned BL copy before original courier release. Available for buyers with established relationships.
Pakistan mills do not offer Cash Against Documents (CAD). Never engage with a counterparty offering vague TT terms.
Step 3: Container Booking and Cargo Readiness
Once the L/C arrives or the 30% T/T clears, the mill books containers with the freight forwarder. Pakistani non-basmati ships only in 20' FCL. A 5 x 20' FCL minimum order moves about 135 MT (26-27 MT per container in 50 kg PP bags).
Cargo readiness from L/C confirmation: 10-15 business days for standard grades, 20-25 days for parboiled or special packing. Rice is processed against confirmed orders, not pulled from finished-goods inventory at scale.
Step 4: Pre-Shipment Inspection
Independent third-party pre-shipment inspection is included at 10 x 20' FCL minimum. Below MOQ, inspection runs at the buyer's cost (roughly $0.30-$0.50/MT). The three approved inspection bodies are SGS, Bureau Veritas, and Intertek.
Inspection scope covers grain quality (length, moisture, chalk, broken percentage), quantity (bag count and weight tally), container cleanliness, fumigation, and bag stencil accuracy. Pesticide screening uses LC-MS/MS detection. First-pass rate at the mill is 99%. If a lot fails, the mill reprocesses or substitutes from a fresh lot. Reduced-price negotiation is not offered. See the pre-shipment inspection guide for detail.
Step 5: Container Loading and Bag Tally
Loading happens at the mill's container yard or the Karachi terminal yard. The inspection body witnesses bag tally, container seal, and weight reconciliation. A 50 kg PP woven bag count of 520 per FCL targets 26 MT net. Bags load in standard rows of 13 across, 5 high, 8 deep, with the final row stacked to fill voids.
The container is sealed with a numbered bolt seal. Seal numbers go on the BL. Photographs of seal close, container interior, and bag stencil are part of the inspection report.
Step 6: Bill of Lading and Document Courier
The freight forwarder issues the Bill of Lading once the vessel sails Karachi or Port Qasim. Original BL plus full document set courier to the buyer or to the buyer's bank under L/C.
Standard document set: original BL (3 originals plus 3 non-negotiable copies), commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin from Karachi Chamber of Commerce, phytosanitary certificate from Department of Plant Protection, fumigation certificate, health certificate, and the pre-shipment inspection certificate.
Step 7: Destination Clearance
Destination customs clearance uses the original document set. The buyer's clearing agent files the import declaration, pays duty and VAT, and arranges container delivery from port to warehouse.
Transit times from Karachi vary by destination. Mombasa runs 12-28 days, Tema 27-42 days, Shanghai 12-30 days, Dakar 27-42 days, Constanta 30-40 days. Each market carries its own certification requirements: KEBS PVOC for Kenya, GSA and FDA Ghana for Ghana, GACC and CIQ for China.
| Step | Duration |
|---|---|
| RFQ to PI signing | 3-7 days |
| L/C issuance to mill receipt | 5-10 days |
| Cargo readiness | 10-15 days |
| Inspection and loading | 2-4 days |
| Vessel transit | 12-42 days by destination |
| Destination clearance | 3-7 days |
Common First-Time Buyer Mistakes
Three traps. First, signing the PI before reviewing the L/C document list line by line. A missing phytosanitary clause delays release. Second, accepting payment terms that do not match the contract. Third, not coordinating destination certifications before vessel sailing. PVOC for Kenya and GACC for China require pre-arrival registration.
Pakistan-Wide Context
For broader context covering Pakistan basmati, IRRI-9, and PK386 rice imports beyond IRRI-6, see the complete Pakistan rice import guide.
Start Your Order
Review live IRRI-6 FOB Karachi prices across all nine grades, then submit your RFQ with destination port and quantity. Kenya importers and China importers have dedicated import workflow pages.