Buyer Guide · MOQ & Shipping Terms

Cocopeat MOQ, FOB vs EXW & Container Shipping Terms — a Buyer's Guide

A planning guide to MOQ, container choice, packing, Incoterms, and the information buyers should include in an RFQ.

Order-specific information: Product specifications, test methods, packing, availability, commercial terms, document scope, lead time, and loadability are confirmed in writing for each enquiry and order. Numerical ranges on this page are planning references only, not standing guarantees.

Minimum order quantity (MOQ)

There are two ways to buy, and they answer two different questions — “is this the right product?” and “can I buy it at a working price?”

• Trial / sample order — a sample, pallet, or consolidated LCL may be discussed when feasible for the product and route. Meant for testing EC, pH, moisture, dimensions, and crop performance before you commit. Per-unit cost is higher because freight is not spread across a full container.
• Commercial order · by container — a full-container order may be the practical commercial basis, but the applicable MOQ and container size are stated in the order-specific quotation.
• Repeat / tonnage contracts — recurring demand should be discussed through a written forecast and order schedule; no capacity, price, or lead-time commitment is implied by this page.

Start with a trial to lock the spec, then move to full containers for a real landed cost. If testing is needed first, request separate feasibility and pricing for the sample and commercial order.

Incoterms: FOB vs EXW (and CFR / CIF)

An Incoterm is a three-letter trade rule used with a named place or port to allocate seller and buyer tasks, costs, and risk. The two you will meet first are EXW and FOB.

EXW — Ex Works

Under EXW, the seller makes the goods available at the named place while the buyer generally arranges the onward logistics, subject to the current Incoterms rule and the contract. It shows the lowest headline number, but you own the most work and the most origin cost, so your landed price can end up higher than a FOB deal.

FOB — Free On Board

Under FOB, the seller's and buyer's responsibilities follow the named port, the current Incoterms rule, and the accepted contract. The named port, current Incoterms rule, and contract should be checked together before comparing an FOB quotation.

CFR / CIF — freight included

Want a single delivered figure? Under CFR or CIF, seller and buyer responsibilities follow the named destination, the current Incoterms rule, and the accepted contract; CIF also addresses the required insurance basis. Handy when you would rather not source shipping yourself.

Compare the landed cost, not the headline price — EXW looks cheapest until origin handling and freight are added.

Container planning · 20ft vs 40ft HC

Container planning depends on both legal payload and usable volume. Compressed products may reach the weight limit first, while loose products may fill the available volume first. Follow these steps.

1. Fix the format & packing Blocks, bricks, 25/50 kg HEC bags, grow bags, fiber bales, or bristle packs — this sets both loadability and price.
2. Choose the box Compare 20ft and 40ft HC feasibility, payload, usable volume, handling, and current freight before choosing.
3. Plan by weight or by volume Compressed blocks and bagged HEC may reach weight limits first; grow bags, fiber bales, or bristle packs may be volume-limited.
4. Confirm loadability & moisture Use the figures below only for planning, then confirm the accepted moisture target and load plan.
5. Match the incoterm Decide EXW / FOB / CFR / CIF, then request the quote on that basis.

Final tonnage must be confirmed from the accepted SKU, packing, press, loading moisture, container, route, and legal payload limits. Loading evidence may be included when it is specified in the accepted order.

Packing options

Pick the packing that fits your handling and line. It changes loadability, labour at your end, and cost.

• Naked / unwrapped blocks — floor-loaded loose in the container. This option may improve payload and reduce packing material, but it changes handling at destination.
• Shrink-wrapped blocks — individually or bundle-wrapped, with your OEM label. Cleaner presentation and retail-ready.
• 25 kg / 50 kg HEC bags — high-EC cocopeat formats for blending, repacking, and commercial handling.
• 80–110 kg fiber bales / 1 kg bristle packs — industrial coir formats selected by grade and handling requirement.
• Grow bags and palletised formats — construction, crop, label, and pallet plan are confirmed for the order.

Wrapping, block format, bag weight, and labelling options must be confirmed for the order.

Quote checklist — what to send us

Including these details gives the commercial team a clearer basis for review. Copy the list into your RFQ:

• Product format — blocks, loose pith, grow bags or coir fiber.
• Target EC — low EC < 0.6 mS/cm, 5 kg High EC > 0.7, or 25/50 kg HEC > 0.6, with the agreed method.
• pH — blocks 5.0–7.0, HEC bags 5.0–7.8, or fiber/bristle 5.5–6.5; confirm the chosen SKU.
• Moisture — as-loaded % you need (block vs loose differ).
• Block / brick size — 5 kg 30×30×10–15 cm, 1 kg 30×15×4–8 cm, or 650 g 20×10×6 cm.
• Packing — naked or shrink-wrapped blocks, 25/50 kg HEC bags, fiber bales, bristle packs, grow bags, or palletised.
• Screen / particle size — e.g. 0–8 mm screened, or custom grade.
• Crop / end use — hydroponics, seedlings, mushroom, soil-mix, bedding.
• Quantity — trial pallet, 1×20ft, 1×40ft HC or monthly tonnage.
• Destination port — for freight and transit-time calculation.
• Incoterm — EXW, FOB, CFR or CIF.

Get a firm quote

Send the checklist above so the commercial team can confirm available Incoterms, loadability, timing, and batch-evidence scope.

Request a Quote Contact page

Frequently asked questions

What is the minimum order quantity for cocopeat?

MOQ, trial or LCL feasibility, container size, and loadability vary by product, packing, quantity, and route and must be confirmed in the quotation.

What is the difference between FOB and EXW for cocopeat?

EXW and FOB allocate seller and buyer responsibilities differently. Apply the current Incoterms rule to the named place or port and record the agreed tasks, costs, and risk transfer in the contract.

How much cocopeat fits in a 20ft versus a 40ft container?

There is no single reliable tonnage for every SKU. Final loadability depends on the selected product, packing, press, moisture at loading, container, route, and legal payload, and is confirmed in the written quotation.

Can I order a trial before committing to a full container?

A sample, trial pallet, or LCL may be possible, but availability, representativeness, cost, and dispatch timing must be confirmed for the enquiry.

Which incoterm gives the cheapest cocopeat price?

EXW shows the lowest headline price because it excludes export handling and freight, but your landed cost can end up higher once you add origin charges and shipping. Compare each current Incoterm against the named place or port and all origin, freight, insurance, and destination costs.