A 20GP container carries about 25–27 tons of steel (limited by weight, not volume); a 40GP handles 26–28 t and fits 12 m beams. Steel is heavy enough that the container "weights out" long before it fills up — so plan orders in container lots and consolidate sizes. Nikasteel ships FOB Foshan/Guangzhou or CIF to your port, with bundle packing (2–5 t), full document sets and MTC per shipment. Ask for both FOB and CIF on the same quotation.
Freight is where many first-time steel buyers lose their margin — not because shipping is expensive, but because the order was planned without understanding containers. Steel loads by weight, not by space, so the container choice and the size list determine your real cost per ton delivered. This guide covers the practical rules we apply to every export order.
Container Loading: What Fits and What Limits It
| Container | Internal Size (m) | Steel Payload* | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20GP | 5.9 × 2.35 × 2.39 | 25–27 t | Plates, coils, 6 m bars/angles, small sections — the workhorse for heavy steel |
| 40GP | 12.03 × 2.35 × 2.39 | 26–28 t | 12 m H beams, long pipes, mixed orders with lengths up to 12 m |
| 40HC | 12.03 × 2.35 × 2.70 | 26–28 t | Same as 40GP but taller — useful for bulky light sections and tubes |
| Flat rack / Break bulk | — | 30 t+ per unit | Lengths over 12.2 m, oversized forgings, project cargo |
*Payload is limited by destination road regulations as much as by the container — some countries cap road-legal loads at 24–26 t even though the box can take more. Tell us your destination and we will plan to the legal limit.
Real example: 12 m H beams (200×200, Q235B) weigh ≈ 56.7 kg/m. A 40GP takes about 23–25 t of them — roughly 420–440 meters of beam. A 5-ton trial order is a fraction of one container, so its freight cost per ton is 3–4× higher. Consolidating two or three sizes into one container is the single biggest freight saving available.
How Steel is Packed for Sea Transport
- Sections (beams/angles/channels): bundled with steel strapping, 2–5 t per bundle, plywood or steel saddles at lift points, bundle stencils with size/grade/heat number.
- Plates: packed in lifts with steel saddles, edges protected for slings.
- Coils: eye-to-sky or eye-to-side on wooden cradles, moisture-barrier wrapping for PPGI.
- Pipes: bundled, end-caps on threaded/finished ends.
- Container desiccants and rust-preventive oil on machined surfaces for long transit routes.
FOB vs CIF: Who Books the Vessel
| FOB (Foshan/Guangzhou) | CIF (your port) | |
|---|---|---|
| Freight booked by | You (your forwarder) | Nikasteel |
| Price includes | Material + export clearance + loading | All of FOB + ocean freight + marine insurance |
| Best for | Regular importers with a forwarder in China | First orders, projects, one-off purchases |
| Freight cost | You negotiate directly (often 5–15% cheaper) | Built into the unit price |
| Risk transfers | When goods pass the ship's rail at origin | Same — insurance is a courtesy, not risk transfer |
Documents You Will Receive
- Commercial invoice & packing list
- Bill of lading (telex release available)
- Certificate of origin (CO / Form E for ASEAN / RCEP where applicable)
- EN 10204 3.1 mill test certificates for every heat in the shipment
- Marine insurance certificate (CIF orders)
- Destination-specific conformity certificates where required (SONCAP Nigeria, SASO Saudi, TISI Thailand, PS Vietnam on request)
Typical Transit Times from South China
| Destination | Port | Port-to-Port Transit |
|---|---|---|
| Vietnam | Ho Chi Minh / Haiphong | 3–7 days |
| Philippines | Manila | 7–12 days |
| UAE | Jebel Ali | 14–20 days |
| East Africa | Mombasa / Dar es Salaam | 25–32 days |
| West Africa | Lagos (Apapa/Tin Can) | 30–40 days |
Add 5–10 days around Chinese New Year and National Day holidays, when vessel space tightens. We flag this on every quotation affected.
Planning Your Order Around the Container
- Start from the container, not the parts list: pick 20–27 t per 20GP or 26–28 t per 40GP.
- Mix sizes in one container to reach the weight target — we optimize the loading plan for you.
- Keep 12 m lengths in 40-foot boxes; 6 m lengths give more mixing freedom in 20GP.
- Trial orders of 5 t work, but expect higher freight per ton — plan the repeat order early.
- Use the H beam weight calculator and weight tables to convert your pieces into tons before requesting freight.
Want FOB and CIF on the same sheet?
Send your size list and destination port to [email protected] or WhatsApp +86 191 5745 8011. We return an itemized quotation with container loading plan and current freight — usually within one working day.
Get a Shipping-Inclusive Quote