For most agri products from India, the practical minimum is one full 20 ft container. Processors price and plan by the container, because that is how the goods move and how costs spread.
Smaller orders are possible, especially for samples, trials or high-value spices. They usually cost more per kilo, and you may have less say over the spec and pack.
Why the container is the default
A processor buys raw material at auction, cleans and packs it in one run, and loads it into one container. Fixed costs such as testing, documents, trucking to port and export clearance are similar whether the container is full or half empty. Spread over a full load, they are small per kilo. Spread over a small lot, they are not.
Freight works the same way. A full container is one booking. A smaller lot travels in a shared container, which adds handling. See whether you can buy less than a full container.
What one container holds
The quantity in one container depends on the product and pack. As a rough guide:
- Dense goods such as sesame, pulses and grains usually reach the weight limit, often in the low to mid 20s of tonnes in a 20 ft.
- Lighter seed spices such as cumin and fennel often fit roughly 12 to 18 tonnes in a 20 ft.
- Light, bulky goods such as dried leaves and some flakes may fit well under 10 tonnes in a 20 ft.
- Always ask for the supplier's last actual loading of the same product and pack. See how much fits in a 20 ft and a 40 ft container.
Ways to order less
Each option has trade-offs in cost, transit time and control. A mixed container can be a good first step if one processor makes everything you need, since you keep one supplier and one inspection.
- Mixed container: several products from one supplier in one container, each in its own lot.
- Shared container (LCL): your pallets travel with other shippers' goods.
- Air freight: for samples and very small, urgent quantities.
- Local stock: buying from an importer or distributor in your own region for the first few months.
How to approach the first order
Ask what the supplier's minimum is, and why. A good processor will explain how their costs work. Ask whether a trial lot can be the first part of a larger contract, shipped over time. Some will agree to split a contract into several shipments once trust is built.
Do not let a minimum push you into a larger first order than you can manage. A large first order paid with a large advance is the riskiest position for a new buyer. Size the first order so that a problem with it would hurt, but not sink you.
Minimums can also change with the season. Early in the new crop, processors may prefer full loads. Late in the season, with less stock, some may accept smaller lots from what they hold. Ask, and confirm for your product and year.
How we help
Creston & Co helps buyers size the first order, such as a single 20 ft or a mixed container, and finds processors willing to work at that scale. We inspect and supervise loading so the first lot sets the standard. Ask for a free sourcing review.