Standard Pack Sizes
Four pack sizes cover virtually all IRRI-6 commercial flows. The choice depends on destination market structure: bulk wholesale takes 50 kg, food service takes 25 kg, retail shelf takes 10 kg or 5 kg.
| Size | Material | Bags per 20' FCL | Net MT | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 kg | PP woven | 500-540 | 25-27 | Bulk commodity, wholesale |
| 25 kg | PP or BOPP woven | 1,000-1,080 | 25-27 | Retail, food service |
| 10 kg | BOPP or non-woven | 2,400-2,500 | 24-25 | Retail shelf |
| 5 kg | BOPP or non-woven | 4,800-5,000 | 24-25 | Retail shelf |
Minimum custom bag size for printing is 5 kg. Mills do not produce 1 kg or 2 kg bags. Rice ships only in 20' FCL containers. Mills do not load 40' containers because the bag count would breach axle weight limits at most destination ports.
50 kg PP Woven: The Commodity Standard
The 50 kg PP woven sack dominates IRRI-6 commodity shipments. Most African, CIS, and Chinese commercial buyers order in 50 kg bags. The fabric is polypropylene woven at 60-80 grams per square meter, with a single-stitch top closure or a heat-sealed mouth.
Loading pattern for 50 kg into a 20' FCL: 13 bags wide, 8 deep, 5 high, with 8 voids stacked on top. Total 528 bags, 26.4 MT net. Some mills load 520 bags (26 MT) for tighter weight control on origin certificates.
Bags are stenciled with brand name, country of origin (Pakistan), variety (IRRI-6), broken grade (5%, 10%, 15%, 25%, 100%, parboiled), net weight (50 kg), batch and date code, and any destination-specific marks (Halal, Kosher if applicable, fumigation symbol). Stencil ink is food-grade and ocean-fast.
25 kg Retail-Grade Bags
The 25 kg PP woven or BOPP laminated bag serves food service and small-format retail. BOPP (biaxially oriented polypropylene) is a glossy, heat-sealed laminate that holds high-quality printing. Mills produce private-label BOPP for branded buyers and plain PP for white-label commodity flows.
Loading pattern: 1,040-1,080 bags per 20' FCL across 14-16 layers depending on bag dimensions. Net cargo 26-27 MT.
10 kg and 5 kg Retail Bags
Retail-shelf packaging targets the supermarket and corner-store channels. Material is BOPP laminated or non-woven polypropylene with a printed face. Inner poly liners are standard on 5 kg and 10 kg bags. Stencils give way to full color printing covering nutrition facts, cooking instructions, and brand artwork.
Container fill drops to 24-25 MT net because the larger bag count adds void volume.
Inner Poly Liner Rules
Inner poly liners protect against moisture migration during long ocean transit. Liner standards by pack size:
- 50 kg PP woven: not standard, available at extra cost (roughly $1.20/bag)
- 25 kg PP or BOPP: not standard, available at extra cost
- 10 kg retail: included as standard
- 5 kg retail: included as standard
Buyers shipping to humid destinations (Mauritania, Sierra Leone, Guinea during monsoon) often add liners to 50 kg orders for an extra $20-30/MT in moisture protection. Brown rice shipments commonly include liners regardless of destination.
Custom Printing Minimums
| Material | Minimum Order | Lead Time |
|---|---|---|
| BOPP laminated | 15,000 bags | 14-21 days for plates and printing |
| Non-woven | 5,000 bags | 10-14 days |
| Standup pouches | 20,000 pouches | 21-28 days |
| Plain PP woven (stencil) | No minimum | Standard lead time |
Plate charges run $300-$800 per design. Mock-up review and brand approval add 5-10 days before mass production. See the private label guide for full custom branding workflow.
Container Loading and Stuffing
Container stuffing happens at the mill's yard or a Karachi port-side warehouse. Loading takes 2-3 hours per 20' FCL with a 4-person team. The pre-shipment inspection body, when engaged, witnesses every bag.
Standard loading sequence: empty container clean and dry check, fumigation verification (if pre-fumigated), bag count and weight tally as bags board, photograph of full container before door close, numbered bolt seal applied, seal number recorded on the inspection report and the BL.
Container Specifications
20' FCL standard internal dimensions: 5.90m length, 2.35m width, 2.39m height, 33.2 cubic meters volume. Maximum payload at destination depends on local axle weight limits: 26-27 MT is safe at most ports, 25 MT at some inland-routed deliveries.
Cross-Border Logistics
For broader Pakistan rice packaging context including basmati and 1121 retail formats, see the complete rice packaging guide. Parboiled-leaning markets such as Ghana and Ivory Coast typically standardize on 50 kg PP for institutional volume and 25 kg PP for retail. Mauritania and the wider Mauritania 100% broken staple-food channel runs 50 kg bags exclusively.
Get a Quote
Specify your bag size and material in the RFQ form, and check the FOB Karachi price sheet for grade-by-grade pricing in 50 kg PP woven (the commodity benchmark).
