FCL (Full Container Load) is the ocean-shipping mode where one shipper has the whole container — typically 14 MT in a 20ft or 26 MT in a 40ft for Pakistani spice and seed exports.
FCL — Full Container Load — is the ocean-shipping arrangement under which a single shipper books an entire ocean container for its own cargo, with no co-loading from other shippers. The container is sealed at the shipper's stuffing point with a unique seal number that travels on the BL and is verified at destination — providing tamper-evidence and clear chain of custody.
The two standard container sizes used in Pakistani agri-export trade are:
FCL is the dominant mode for Pakistani spice, seed, salt and dried-flower exports because: (1) the products are bagged and stack efficiently in PP woven bags or jute bags, filling the container cube; (2) sealed-container integrity preserves Halal segregation, prevents cross-contamination, and protects against pilferage during multi-port routing; (3) per-kg ocean freight is significantly lower than LCL.
For most spice cargo, 14-16 MT in a 20ft is the practical loading — limited by container cube before the weight limit. For salt (Himalayan pink salt) and pulses (denser commodity), 24-26 MT in a 40ft is achievable.
Standard FCL loading patterns for Pakistani agri commodities:
| Commodity | 20ft (MT) | 40ft (MT) |
|---|---|---|
| Fenugreek seeds (25 kg PP bags) | 14-16 | 24-26 |
| Cumin seeds | 14-16 | 24-26 |
| Coriander seeds | 13-15 | 22-24 |
| Whole dried chillies | 8-11 (low density) | 14-18 |
| Himalayan pink salt (50 kg PP bags) | 24-26 (weight-limited) | 26-27 (weight-limited) |
| Dried rose petals / flowers | 4-6 (very low density) | 8-12 |
| Sesame seeds | 17-19 | 26-27 |
Container booking tips: book 7-14 days ahead; specify food-grade clean container (no chemical-cargo history); verify VGM (Verified Gross Mass) before vessel cut-off.
Reference: ISO 668:2020 — Series 1 freight containers — Classification, dimensions and ratings. SOLAS VGM (Verified Gross Mass) — IMO MSC.1/Circ.1475. Container axle-weight limits are set by national road-transport law in the destination country.