What is the Minimum Order Quantity for Wholesale Hookah Coal Orders?
The minimum order quantity for wholesale hookah coal orders is 18 tons.
This minimum is primarily driven by the logistical constraints of shipping and packaging. At our shisha charcoal factory, we are really care about the volume of charcoal you can load into the container.
Shipping Constraints
Our hookah coal factory is located in Magelang, Indonesia, and we deliver wholesale orders via sea containers — either 20-foot or 40-foot containers. Air freight is not a viable option due to its high cost, often exceeding the price of the coals themselves.
A 20-foot container can accommodate between 17 to 20 tons of hookah coals, depending on the size and packaging. For the popular 25mm cube charcoal with full packaging, we can fit up to 18.5 tons. With bulk packaging (1 kg inner boxes bundled into 10 kg master boxes), we can fit up to 19.5 tons, as packaging influences the volume.
The limiting factor for a 20-foot container is its 33.1 cubic meter volume, which is typically filled to capacity when loaded with coal boxes.
For a 40-foot container, the limiting factor is weight rather than volume. We can load up to 25 tons with full packaging and 26 tons with bulk packaging, leaving about 40–50% of the container’s volume empty.
Packaging Constraints
Shipping lines do not allow Less than Container Load (LCL) shipments for hookah coals, meaning we cannot mix them with other products in the same container. A Full Container Load (FCL) is required, even for smaller orders.
If you order less than 18 tons, you still have to pay the full container price and documentation costs. This significantly increases the transportation cost per kilo of coal.
Additionally, the packaging printing cost increases when ordering smaller quantities, as the per-piece cost is higher for smaller print runs.
Conclusion
The minimum order quantity of 18 tons for wholesale hookah coal orders is driven by the constraints of shipping logistics and packaging economics. While smaller orders are possible, they result in higher costs due to the required full container shipment and increased packaging expenses. Our general price list is calculated based on an 18-ton order as the minimum viable quantity.
