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Practical writing for people who import charcoal

Grades and grilling, packaging decisions, Incoterms, documentation and sourcing — written for buyers making a real purchase, not for search engines alone.

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EXPORT & LOGISTICS · 28 May 2026 · 7 min read

What to check before your first container leaves Thailand

Most first-time import problems are documentation problems. They are also the cheapest ones to prevent.

Agree the Incoterm in writing, early

EXW, FOB, CFR and CIF each move the cost and risk boundary to a different point in the journey. Deciding this at quotation stage rather than at booking stops the two sides budgeting for different things and removes the most common source of dispute at delivery.

Confirm the document set for your destination

Commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading and certificate of origin are standard. Some destinations also require a phytosanitary certificate or additional labelling. Ask your customs broker what your port expects before production starts, not after the vessel sails.

Plan the loading, not just the order

Pallet configuration, stacking height and wrapping all affect how much product fits and how it arrives. Agreeing these details up front avoids a container that is legally compliant but commercially inefficient.

The paperwork is agreed before the kiln is loaded, or it is agreed under pressure at the port.

WHAT TO TAKE AWAY

Fix the Incoterm at quotation stage and restate it on the proforma invoice.

Verify destination-specific documents with your broker in advance.

Discuss pallet and loading plan before production is scheduled.

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PACKAGING · 14 May 2026 · 5 min read

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