20ft container shipping from Ibrahim Logistics: Book a 20ft container from Karachi or any dry port – ideal for heavy cargo like rice, marble, steel and chemicals.
The 20ft container (TEU) is the most common box in Pakistan's export trade. Because it reaches its weight limit before it is full, it is the natural choice for dense cargo: rice, sugar, salt, marble and granite, steel, cement, chemicals and machinery parts.
We book 20ft containers with all major shipping lines from Karachi Port and Port Qasim, and from dry ports such as Lahore, Sialkot and Faisalabad where the line offers inland service.
20ft Container Shipping – size and capacity
| Inside length | about 5.9 m (19 ft 4 in) |
|---|---|
| Inside width | about 2.35 m |
| Inside height | about 2.39 m |
| Door opening | about 2.34 m × 2.28 m |
| Capacity | about 33 CBM |
| Max. payload | about 21,000–28,000 kg (depends on the line and road limits) |
Figures are typical; exact values vary slightly by container manufacturer and shipping line.
What our 20ft container shipping service covers
- Dry 20ft for general cargo
- 20ft reefer for chilled and frozen cargo
- 20ft open-top and flat-rack for over-height loads
- Stuffing at your factory or at a CFS
- Bagged cargo (rice, sugar, cement) with liners on request
20ft container shipping – how it works
- Confirm weight and volume of the cargo
- Book the 20ft with the chosen line
- Empty pick-up from the line's depot
- Stuffing and weighing at your premises
- Transport to the terminal
- Shipping and tracking to destination
Documents you will need
- Booking confirmation
- Packing list with net and gross weights
- VGM certificate
- Commercial invoice
- Goods Declaration
Tips to save time and cost
- Book 7–10 days before the cut-off in peak months – space and empties run short.
- Weigh the stuffed container (VGM) – overweight boxes are rolled at the terminal.
- Ask for the free days (demurrage / detention) in writing before booking.
- Use ISPM-15 treated pallets; untreated wood is refused in many countries.
What affects the cost of 20ft container shipping
- Ocean freight – per container (FCL) or per CBM (LCL), set by the line and the market.
- Surcharges – bunker (BAF), peak season and emergency surcharges when lines apply them.
- Origin local charges – terminal handling (THC), documentation, seal, VGM.
- Destination charges – THC, delivery order and port charges at the other end.
- Inland transport – factory to port, or port to warehouse.
- Free time – demurrage and detention if containers are kept longer than allowed.
Every quotation from us lists these items separately, so you can compare like with like.
Key terms explained
- FCL / LCL
- Full container load (you book the whole box) or less than container load (you share it).
- B/L
- Bill of lading – the receipt and title document for sea cargo.
- VGM
- Verified gross mass – the weighed weight of a packed container, required before loading.
- Free time
- Days allowed at the port (demurrage) or outside it (detention) before charges start.
- Cut-off
- The last time to deliver the container and documents for a sailing.
Ports and countries we cover
We work at every sea port and major dry port of Pakistan:
- Karachi Port
- Port Qasim
- Gwadar Port
- Lahore Dry Port
- Sialkot Dry Port
- Faisalabad Dry Port
- Multan Dry Port
- Islamabad Dry Port
- Peshawar Dry Port
- Quetta Dry Port
- Hyderabad Dry Port
Popular trade lanes:
- China to Pakistan
- UAE to Pakistan
- Pakistan to USA
- Pakistan to UK
- Pakistan to Germany
- Pakistan to Saudi Arabia
See all sea ports and dry ports and worldwide shipping lanes.
Why shippers choose Ibrahim Logistics
- All ports, one team – Karachi Port, Port Qasim, Gwadar, every major dry port and the Afghan border.
- Every shipping line – we compare carriers for each shipment instead of selling one line.
- Offices in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad – documents and examinations handled by our own staff.
- Clear quotations – freight, local charges and clearance listed separately, no hidden extras.
- WhatsApp updates – status from booking to delivery, without chasing.
For a rate, call 0300 3364422 or send the details on WhatsApp – commodity, weight or volume, origin and destination – or use our online quote form. We reply the same working day.
Related services
Choose Ibrahim Logistics for 20ft container shipping: one coordinator, every major shipping line and our own staff at the ports and dry ports. Ask for 20ft container shipping rates on WhatsApp – we reply the same working day.
20ft container shipping – FAQs
How many tonnes of rice fit in a 20ft container?
Usually around 25–26 tonnes in 25 or 50 kg bags, within the line's weight limit. We confirm the limit for your destination when booking.
Is a 20ft cheaper than a 40ft?
Per container yes, but per CBM a 40ft is usually cheaper. Heavy cargo goes in 20ft; light, bulky cargo in 40ft.
Can I ship a 20ft from Lahore or Sialkot?
Yes – it can be stuffed at your factory, cleared at the dry port and moved to Karachi by rail or road.