Shipping and packing guides
Plain answers to the questions exporters, sellers and forwarders ask every week: how to work out CBM, which container to book, how many pallets fit, which Incoterm to use and how to fill in the documents. Every number is worked out by the same code as the calculators.
CBM meaning and how to calculate it
CBM means cubic metre, the unit of volume used in shipping. It is length × width × height in metres, multiplied by the number of cartons. A 50 × 40 × 30 cm carton is 0.5 × 0.4 × 0.3 = 0.06 m³, so 120 of them are 7.2 m³.
20GP vs 40GP vs 40HQ: which container to book
Compare 20 ft, 40 ft and 40 ft high cube containers by inside size, volume, payload and how many cartons or pallets fit, with worked examples.
FOB vs CIF vs EXW: which Incoterm should an exporter use?
FOB, CIF and EXW compared for exporters: who pays freight and insurance, where risk passes, who clears customs, and when FCA or CIP is the better choice.