Tools
Buyer tools
Container loading calculator.
The order maths every buyer does before an enquiry: how much sesame fits in a container, how many bags that is, and how many containers your programme needs. Every figure comes from our published grade specifications.
- Per 20ft FCL
- 19 MT
- Bags per container
- 380
- 20ft containers required
- 6
- Total bags
- 2,280
A 40ft FCL does not carry twice a 20ft, because the two sizes run out of different things. Bagged sesame stows at roughly 1.7 to 1.8 m³ per tonne, so a 20ft fills its 33 m³ of cube at 19 MT while still well under its 28 MT payload rating. A 40ft has 68 m³, enough for close to 37 MT of cube, so it reaches the payload ceiling first and stops at about 26 MT. In short: a 20ft cubes out, a 40ft weighs out.
For programmes of 100 MT and above the 40ft is usually the better unit, since it moves the same tonnage on fewer bills of lading and fewer terminal handlings. Road weight limits at the destination can cap a 40ft below 26 MT on some routes, so confirm the ceiling with your haulier before we fix the packing list. Figures here are for planning; the contracted weight is the one on the packing list and inspection certificate.
Loadability by grade
| Grade | Bag | Per 20ft FCL | Per 40ft FCL | Bags (20ft / 40ft) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natural white sesame seeds | 50 kg | 19 MT | 26 MT | 380 / 520 |
| Sortex premium sesame seeds | 50 kg | 19 MT | 26 MT | 380 / 520 |
| Hulled sesame seeds | 25 kg | 18 MT | 25 MT | 720 / 1,000 |
A 20ft cubes out; a 40ft weighs out. Bagged sesame stows at roughly 1.7 to 1.8 m³ per tonne, so a 20ft fills its 33 m³ well under its 28 MT payload, while a 40ft has cube for close to 37 MT and stops instead at the ISO payload ceiling of about 26.7 MT.
Frequently asked
How many tonnes of sesame fit in a 20ft container?
18 to 19 MT. Natural white and sortex premium sesame load at 19 MT per 20ft FCL in 50 kg bags; hulled sesame loads at 18 MT in 25 kg bags. A 20ft runs out of cube before it runs out of payload, so the figure is set by volume rather than weight.
How many tonnes of sesame fit in a 40ft container?
25 to 26 MT. Natural white and sortex premium load at 26 MT per 40ft FCL, hulled sesame at 25 MT. A 40ft is the opposite case to a 20ft: it has enough cube for close to 37 MT of bagged sesame, so it reaches the ISO payload ceiling of about 26.7 MT first. That is why a 40ft carries roughly 1.4 times a 20ft rather than twice as much.
Should I ship sesame in 20ft or 40ft containers?
For a first or trial shipment, a single 20ft FCL is the usual unit. For programmes of 100 MT and above, 40ft containers are normally the better choice: 100 MT is four 40ft containers against five 20ft containers, which means fewer bills of lading, fewer terminal handlings and generally a lower freight cost per tonne. Road weight limits at the destination can cap a 40ft below 26 MT on some routes, so confirm the ceiling with your haulier.
How many bags are in a container of sesame?
In a 20ft: 380 bags of 50 kg for a 19 MT load, or 720 bags of 25 kg for an 18 MT load of hulled sesame. In a 40ft: 520 bags of 50 kg for a 26 MT load, or 1,000 bags of 25 kg for a 25 MT load of hulled. Use the calculator above for other bag sizes.
What is the minimum order quantity?
One 20ft FCL. Smaller trial quantities can be discussed alongside a first container booking.
Sourcing sesame for the 2026/27 season?
New-crop arrivals begin in late November. Forward bookings open from August. Send us your specification and destination, and you will have a formal quotation within 48 hours.