Rice grades, packing and container loads for China-to-Cuba shipments

Rice is one of the categories CoExpys moves most often on the China-to-Cuba route, and it is also one of the easiest to get wrong, because most of the quality terms are agreed verbally and only written down after the contract is signed. These are the figures worth putting on the purchase contract before production starts.

The specification

Term	Typical limit
HS code	1006.30 (milled rice)
Grain	Long-grain indica, medium-grain on request
Moisture	13.5% or below
Broken grain	5% or below for premium, 10% for standard
Colour / grade	ICUMSA 45 or better
Shelf life	18-24 months in the original packaging

Moisture is the number that matters most. Above 13.5% the grain is vulnerable to mould in transit, and a Cuban warehouse is not always climate controlled. Broken grain is the number that decides what you are actually paying for, because broken rice is worth less per tonne than whole grain.

Packing

Rice is packed in 25 kg or 50 kg woven polypropylene bags with a sealed food-grade inner liner. The liner is not optional on a sea shipment: without it the bag takes on moisture and the outer weave can tear during handling.

Bags are palletised, shrink-wrapped, and export-carton marked with the lot code and production date. That lot code is what the inspection report refers to, and it is what lets the Cuban warehouse match the delivery back to the mill certificate.

How many bags fit in a container

A 20ft container takes roughly 800 bags of 50 kg rice, about 20 MT. A 40ft high-cube takes close to double. The exact figure depends on the confirmed bag weight and the pallet pattern, so it is worth fixing in writing before the booking rather than after.

Documents

Phytosanitary certificate, certificate of origin, and the milling certificate issued by the mill. The licence description has to match the variety, packing and grade stated on the contract - a mismatch between the licence and the paperwork is what holds a shipment at the port.

Send us the variety, the quantity and the packing you need, and we will come back with a specification to confirm and a container plan.