PP woven bag
— definition for Pakistani agri exporters.

Definition

A PP woven bag is a sack manufactured by weaving polypropylene tapes (slit film) on a circular or flat loom into a tight cloth, then cutting and stitching it into bag form. PP woven bags are strong, lightweight, water-resistant, food-grade-safe (when made from virgin PP without recycled content), and economical — making them the workhorse bulk packaging for agricultural exports across South Asia.

Standard weights for Pakistani spice, seed and salt exports are 25 kg and 50 kg. Common construction options:

• Plain PP woven — uncoated, used for non-moisture-sensitive product (rice, pulses, dried chillies).
• BOPP-laminated PP woven — printed BOPP film laminated outside for retail-presentable look.
• PE-lined PP woven — inner polyethylene liner for moisture-sensitive product (fenugreek seed, herbal powder, ground spice).
• Sewn or heat-sealed — sewn closure for bulk; heat-sealed liner for moisture-tight finish.

Why it matters for Pakistani exporters

For Pakistani exporters, PP woven bags hit the right balance of cost, food-grade compliance and shipping robustness:

• Cost: ~USD 0.20-0.45 per 25 kg bag, vs ~USD 0.80-1.50 for jute and ~USD 2-4 for kraft paper.
• Strength: typical bag tensile ~120-180 lbs/inch; survives multiple-handling FCL stuffing.
• Pest resistance: tighter weave than jute, fewer entry points for stored-product insects.
• Food-grade compliance: virgin PP meets FDA 21 CFR 177.1520, EU Regulation 10/2011 plastic food-contact rules.
• Loading efficiency: uniform shape and stackability optimise FCL cube utilisation (14-16 MT in 20ft for spice).

For premium / retail private-label, exporters move up to BOPP-laminated PP with full-colour printing; for bulk pharma/nutraceutical raw material, the move is to inner PE liner with heat seal for moisture and microbial barrier.

Practical guidance

Standard Pakistani PP-bag specifications for export:

Parameter	25 kg bag (typical)	50 kg bag (typical)
Dimensions (inches)	~22 × 36	~24 × 40
Fabric weight (g/m²)	~70-90	~90-110
Mesh count (tapes/inch)	10×10 to 12×12	10×10 to 12×12
Weave	Circular or flat	Circular or flat
Liner	Optional PE 80-100 micron	Optional PE 100-120 micron
Closure	Sewn (top)	Sewn (top)
Print	Plain or 1-4 colour BOPP	Plain or 1-4 colour BOPP

Customisation includes shipper logo, barcode, lot number, "Product of Pakistan" mark, Halal logo, weight declaration in kg/lbs, and destination language (Arabic for KSA/UAE retail, etc.).

Source & standards reference

Reference: FDA 21 CFR 177.1520 — Olefin polymers for food-contact PP. EU Regulation No 10/2011 on plastic materials and articles intended to come into contact with food. Pakistan industry standard: PSQCA — Pakistan Standards & Quality Control Authority.

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