What is a Full Container Load (FCL) in green coffee shipping?

FCL means a buyer is filling an entire shipping container with their own coffee rather than sharing space with other buyers' orders. A standard 20-foot dry container - the most common in green coffee trade - typically holds 275 to 325 bags of 60kg green coffee, or roughly 17-19 metric tonnes.

FCL shipments are generally more cost-efficient per bag than LCL (Less than Container Load) shipments, because you're not paying the consolidation and handling premium that comes with sharing a container. They're also structurally more stable in transit - a fully packed container is less prone to shifting and damage than a partial load.

The trade-off is commitment: you need enough volume and demand to justify filling a container. For most roasters starting out, LCL is the practical route. As volume grows, the economics of FCL become more attractive, and buying direct from exporters at container scale opens up pricing discussions that aren't available at smaller volumes.