Indonesian Coffee Bulk Liner vs Bagged: 2025 Cost Guide

A practical, do‑the‑math guide from Indonesia‑Coffee on when a container liner beats 60 kg bags for Indonesian green coffee in 2025. Includes capacity benchmarks, a step‑by‑step cost model, moisture and fumigation factors, destination discharge costs, and two worked examples (Jakarta–Los Angeles, Surabaya–Hamburg).

We get asked the same question every quarter: does an Indonesian coffee container liner actually save money versus 60 kg bags in 2025? The short answer is “sometimes.” The long answer is below, with real numbers you can plug into your lane.

Why this decision matters in 2025

Ocean rates and port conditions shifted again in late 2024 and into 2025. Asia–US West Coast rates eased versus their 2022 peak, while Asia–EU has seen periodic surcharges and routing volatility. We’re also seeing higher destination labor costs for liner discharge and more buyers requesting pallets or inner liners for quality assurance. So the break‑even on Indonesian coffee liner vs bag cost is not static. You have to run your lane.

Our experience: liners tend to pencil out on high‑volume, price‑sensitive coffees where you can avoid pallets and inner bagging, and your destination warehouse is set up for bulk discharge. For many specialty microlots, bags still win.

Capacity reality: 20 ft vs 40 ft

Here’s what we actually see on the ground for Indonesian green coffee. Numbers vary with road weight limits and your packing spec, but these are solid working ranges.

20 ft container, 60 kg bags (floor‑loaded): 19.0–20.0 metric tons
20 ft container, 60 kg bags on pallets: 16.0–18.0 metric tons
20 ft container with coffee container liner (bulk): 20.5–21.5 metric tons
40 ft (or 40 HC), 60 kg bags (floor‑loaded): 24.5–26.5 metric tons
40 ft with liner (bulk): 26.0–27.0 metric tons (often weight‑limited, so capacity gain is minimal)

Takeaway: most liner savings come from 20 ft shipments and from avoiding pallets. On 40 ft, weight limits often erase the liner’s volumetric advantage.

The cost model you can copy

When we compare bagged vs bulk coffee shipping, we focus on the items that actually change between options.

Packaging and origin handling

Bagged: 60 kg jute bag cost, printing, sewing. If used, inner poly/GrainPro. Pallet and wrap if required.
Liner: liner kit, desiccants, loading time.

Ocean and port costs per kilo

Ocean freight, origin/destination THC, surcharges. Liners sometimes load slightly more kilos in 20 ft, so cost per kg can improve.

Destination discharge and after‑handling

Liner: discharge labor/equipment, FIBC/gaylords if you break into units, liner disposal, container cleaning.
Bagged: usually forklift out. Pallet exchange or de‑palletizing if your spec changes at destination.

Moisture and shrink

Typical in‑transit moisture loss for Indonesian green coffee: 0.2–0.5% bagged, 0.3–0.8% bulk liner depending on transit time and climate. Use 0.3% vs 0.5% as a conservative planning delta if you’re new to liners.

Fumigation and compliance

Indonesia to US/EU fumigation fees are usually similar for both modes. Container fumigation for liners can add USD 25–50 if the provider charges for gas‑tight preparation. Palletized bagged coffee may require ISPM‑15 pallets, which can add USD 1–3 per pallet.

Rule of thumb break‑even formula (per kg): Liner advantage ≈ (Ocean and port cost per kg gain from higher load) + (Bagging and pallet cost you avoid) − (Liner kit + discharge + disposal per kg) − (Extra shrink per kg)

If that number is positive by at least USD 0.01–0.02 per kg, liners are usually worth it. Otherwise, stick with bags.

Need help running your exact lane with current rates? If you want us to model your shipment one‑on‑one, Contact us on whatsapp.

Worked example 1: Jakarta → Los Angeles, 20 ft (Jan 2025 assumptions)

Assumptions you can edit in your sheet:

Ocean + base port costs, 20 ft: USD 2,600 all‑in (illustrative). Transit 22–30 days.
60 kg jute bag cost in Indonesia: USD 0.70–0.90 per bag. We’ll use USD 0.80.
Sewing/handling per bag: USD 0.20. Inner poly not used.
Pallets: none for bags. Floor‑loaded.
Liner kit + desiccants + origin loading: USD 350 + 50 + 150 = USD 550 total per container.
Liner destination discharge (vacuum or belt + labor) in LA: USD 900–1,300. We’ll use USD 1,000. FIBCs/gaylords: USD 250. Disposal/cleaning: USD 100.
Shrink: bagged 0.3%, liner 0.5%.

Capacity and ocean cost per kg

Bags: 19,500 kg loaded. Ocean per kg = 2,600 / 19,500 = USD 0.133.
Liner: 21,000 kg loaded. Ocean per kg = 2,600 / 21,000 = USD 0.124. Gain = USD 0.009/kg.

Packaging and handling per kg

Bags: (0.80 + 0.20) per bag = USD 1.00 per 60 kg = USD 0.0167/kg.
Liner origin costs: 550 / 21,000 = USD 0.0262/kg.
Liner destination costs: (1,000 + 250 + 100) / 21,000 = USD 0.0619/kg.

Shrink adjustment per kg

Extra shrink for liner vs bag = 0.2% of CIF value. If your green coffee is USD 4.00/kg CIF, that’s USD 0.008/kg. If you price by gross weight, this shows up as net kilos received.

Net comparison

Liner advantage = +0.009 (ocean) +0.0167 (avoided bag cost) −0.0262 (liner origin) −0.0619 (liner destination) −0.008 (extra shrink) = −USD 0.070/kg.

Conclusion for this lane and setup: bagged wins by about 7 cents per kg. Liners would need lower discharge costs (≤ USD 600) and/or you’d need to be avoiding pallets or inner liners on bags to pass break‑even.

Where liners can win on this lane: if your standard spec is bagged on pallets (which drops 20 ft capacity to ~16.5 mt) or you require GrainPro in every bag. In that case, the ocean cost per kg for bagged rises to 2,600 / 16,500 = USD 0.158, and bag packaging/pallets can add ~USD 0.045–0.050/kg. In those conditions, a liner often pulls slightly ahead.

Worked example 2: Surabaya → Hamburg, 40 ft (Jan 2025 assumptions)

Assumptions you can edit:

Ocean + base port costs, 40 ft: USD 3,800 all‑in (Asia–EU has been bumpy; adjust to your quote). Transit 28–40 days.
Bags: floor‑loaded. No pallets.
Liner kit + desiccants + origin loading: USD 650 per container.
EU discharge cost: EUR 600–1,000. We’ll use EUR 800 ≈ USD 870. FIBCs/gaylords: USD 220. Disposal/cleaning: USD 90.
Shrink: bagged 0.4%, liner 0.6%.

Capacity and ocean cost per kg

Bags: 25,500 kg. Ocean per kg = 3,800 / 25,500 = USD 0.149.
Liner: 26,500 kg. Ocean per kg = 3,800 / 26,500 = USD 0.143. Gain = USD 0.006/kg.

Packaging and handling per kg

Bags: bag + sewing = ~USD 1.00 per 60 kg = USD 0.0167/kg.
Liner origin: 650 / 26,500 = USD 0.0245/kg.
Liner destination: (870 + 220 + 90) / 26,500 = USD 0.0434/kg.

Shrink adjustment per kg

Extra shrink 0.2% on a CIF of USD 4.20/kg ≈ USD 0.0084/kg.

Net comparison

Liner advantage = +0.006 + 0.0167 − 0.0245 − 0.0434 − 0.0084 = −USD 0.053/kg.

Conclusion: for 40 ft Asia–EU, bagged usually wins unless you’re otherwise forced to palletize bags or add inner liners across the board.

The questions we’re asked most

What shipment size makes bulk liners cheaper than 60 kg bags for Indonesian coffee?

In 20 ft containers, if you’re currently palletizing bags or using inner liners like GrainPro and your destination discharge cost is under USD 700, liners often break even or save 1–3 cents per kg. In 40 ft containers, the break‑even is rare because weight limits cap your liner advantage.

How many metric tons fit in a 20 ft or 40 ft using a coffee liner vs bagged pallets?

20 ft liner: 20.5–21.5 mt. 20 ft bagged on pallets: typically 16–18 mt.
40 ft liner: 26–27 mt. 40 ft bagged floor‑loaded: 24.5–26.5 mt. Palletizing reduces capacity by 2–4 mt depending on pallet footprint and stack.

What extra costs will I pay at destination to discharge a coffee liner?

Budget USD 800–1,500 in the US and EUR 600–1,000 in the EU for labor and equipment. Add USD 150–350 if you need FIBCs or gaylords, and USD 75–150 for liner disposal and a container clean.

Do moisture loss and container sweating erase bulk‑liner savings for Indonesian coffee?

They can if you ignore them. We assume 0.3–0.8% shrink for liners on Indonesia–US/EU routes. Use food‑grade liners with desiccants and ventilated stow when possible. Verify container condition and avoid odor‑contaminated boxes. If your buyers need very tight moisture control, bagged with poly or GrainPro may reduce claim risk.

Is fumigation more expensive for liners from Indonesia compared to bagged coffee?

Not materially. Typical 2025 origin fumigation ranges we see are USD 150–300 for phosphine and USD 350–500 for methyl bromide. Liner fumigation in‑container may add USD 25–50 for gas‑tight prep. Palletized shipments could need ISPM‑15‑compliant pallets, adding USD 1–3 per pallet.

What equipment do I need at my warehouse to unload a coffee liner safely?

A dock that can take a container on chassis, plus a secure door frame.
Vacuum unloader or conveyor belt system into silos, FIBCs, or gaylords.
Forklifts and scales. Two to three staff for 2–4 hours. If you don’t have a setup, contract a transload warehouse near the port. In LA/LB and Hamburg/Bremerhaven, bulk‑capable facilities are common and priced competitively.

Common mistakes we see (and how to avoid them)

Underestimating discharge cost. Don’t assume your bag warehouse can handle liners. Get a written quote first.
Forgetting pallets in the math. If your buyers require pallets at origin, your bag cost per kg jumps. That’s where liners can start to win.
Ignoring shrink and claims. A 0.3–0.5% moisture delta can wipe out thin savings. Use desiccants and clean, odor‑free containers.
Treating 40 ft as a sure win for liners. It rarely is for coffee due to payload limits.

When bags still make more sense

Specialty and microlots where traceability, sample pulls, or multi‑SKU splits matter. For example, our Arabica Bali Kintamani Grade 1 Green Coffee Beans and Blue Batak Green Coffee Beans are typically bagged to preserve lot integrity.
Buyers without bulk discharge capability. If you’ll pay USD 1,200+ every time to offload, bags will be cheaper.
40 ft shipments where floor‑loaded bags already reach 25–26.5 mt.

Where liners can shine: large, uniform lots like Robusta Lampung Green Coffee Beans (ELB & Grades 2–4) or Sumatra Robusta Green Coffee Beans into bulk‑ready facilities. Consistent specs, fewer SKUs, and no pallet requirements are your friends.

Quick checklist and next steps

Confirm your capacity: Will bags be palletized? If yes, model 2–4 mt less in 20 ft and 2–3 mt less in 40 ft.
Price your packaging: 60 kg jute bag cost, sewing, inner liners, pallets, wrap.
Quote your destination discharge for liners. Don’t guess.
Set shrink assumptions: 0.3% bagged vs 0.5% liner is a realistic starting point for Indonesia lanes.
Run both scenarios per kg and include one‑time items like liner disposal.

If you want to see current options by origin and lot type, browse what we’re exporting now. You can View our products. And if you need us to sanity‑check your numbers for a specific lane, just Contact us on whatsapp. We’ll share real quotes and recent outcomes so you can decide with confidence.