Container loading · Ha Hoa, Vietnam
Plywood container loading: up to 18 packs in a 40HC
In short
Minh Thanh Plywood does plywood container loading at the factory in Ha Hoa, Vietnam. A 40HC takes up to 18 packs of Styrax-core plywood: 16 lying in four rows of four, plus 2 standing at the door end. That is about 53–54 m³, or 990 sheets of 18 mm. Acacia-core loads stop at 16 packs and Eucalyptus at 15, because heavier panels reach the payload first. Every container is photographed and filmed before it is sealed.
Watch the film
Plywood container loading: how many packs fit in one 40HC
How Minh Thanh Plywood plans plywood container loading in a 40HC. Packs are about 1,000 mm high (55 sheets at 18 mm), and one 40HC takes up to 18 packs with Styrax core (16 lying in 4 rows of 4, 2 standing at the door end), 16 with Acacia and 15 with Eucalyptus, because heavier cores reach the payload sooner. Every container is photographed and filmed during loading and before sealing.
Film (2:46): packs per 40HC by core, the 16 + 2 loading plan, sheets and m³ at 18 mm, why we never load past the plan, documents and terms, with real loading footage.
Certified and tested
Every container ships with real certificates behind it.
The files your customs broker and customers ask for, from the same factory that loads your container. English originals shown; full copies go to buyers by email.
CARB P2 / TSCA Title VIICTT mill no. 23024 · hardwood plywood, 3–50 mm
ISO 9001:2015Quality management system for plywood manufacturing · KAC25/0185
TCVN 11902:2017Certification for veneer-faced plywood
E0 emission testASTM D6007 chamber, ICTT · repeated every 3 months
PPWR packaging testSGS, September 2026 · heavy metals not detectedWhat is plywood container loading?
From booking to sealed container: who does what, and when.
Plywood container loading is the last step at the factory. It runs on a fixed sequence, and you see the result before the doors close.
In shortPlywood container loading is the planned stowage of strapped plywood packs into a shipping container at the factory, by forklift, in an order that keeps the load inside the payload, stops packs from shifting at sea and makes unloading easy. For plywood the 40HC (40 ft high cube) is the standard container.
| Stage | When | Who | What you receive |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loading plan | With the quotation | Our export team | Packs per container, sheets per pack, m³ and estimated weight |
| Container booking | When production is on schedule | Your forwarder on FOB; us on CFR or CIF | Loading date and the payload allowed on that booking |
| Empty container check | Before the first pack goes in | Our loading team | Photo of the clean, dry, empty container |
| Loading | Loading day | Our loading team; your inspector is welcome | Photos and video while packs go in |
| Final count and sealing | Before the doors close | Our loading team | Photo of the full door end, pack count, seal number |
| Documents | After loading | Our export team | Draft invoice, packing list and B/L for your approval |
Want an inspector at loading? Give us the name and date with the order and we plan the loading around it.
Plywood per container
Plywood per container by core: packs, m³ and sheets in a 40HC.
The core sets how much plywood fits in one container. A 40HC has more room than plywood can use, so the limit is weight: light Styrax panels fill 18 packs, denser Acacia and Eucalyptus panels stop earlier.
| Core | Planning density | Packs per 40HC | Layout | m³ per 40HC (1220 × 2440) | 18 mm sheets, 1220 × 2440 | 18 mm sheets, 1250 × 2500 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Styrax (white core) | about 500 kg/m³ | up to 18 | 16 lying + 2 standing at the door | about 53–54 m³ | 990 (55 per pack) | 954 (53 per pack) |
| Acacia | about 580 kg/m³ | up to 16 | 16 lying | about 46–47 m³ | 880 (55 per pack) | 848 (53 per pack) |
| Eucalyptus | about 650 kg/m³ | up to 15 | 15 lying | about 44 m³ | 825 (55 per pack) | 750 (50 per pack) |
| Film-faced, Acacia core | about 580 kg/m³ | by plan | lying | about 47 m³ | by thickness | by thickness |
| Film-faced, Eucalyptus core | about 650 kg/m³ | by plan | lying | about 43 m³ | by thickness | by thickness |
At the planning densities a full load weighs about 26.5 t with Styrax and 27.3 t with Acacia before pallets; a full Eucalyptus plan is the heaviest. Eucalyptus panels often run 650–750 kg/m³, so we weigh your panels and take sheets off every pack to stay inside the payload on your booking.
40HC plywood loading, step by step
40HC plywood loading in seven steps.
Every 40HC plywood loading at Minh Thanh follows the same seven steps, whether the container carries one product or six.
Loading plan: packs 1–16 lie two-high, 17 and 18 stand at the door end (not to scale). 01Plan the load
We build the loading plan with your quotation: sheets per pack from the thickness, packs per container from the core, then m³ and weight. A Styrax plan is 16 packs lying in four rows of four plus 2 standing at the door end.
- Sheets per pack = 1,000 mm ÷ thickness, rounded down
- Packs per 40HC: 18 Styrax, 16 Acacia, 15 Eucalyptus
- Weight checked against the payload on your booking
The container is checked empty, clean and dry before loading. 02Check the empty container
Before the first pack goes in, the loading team checks the empty container: floor, walls, roof and door seals. A wet, holed or dirty container is sent back, because damp in a sealed box means stained faces on arrival.
- Floor solid, clean and dry
- No holes or light through walls and roof
- Doors close and lock properly
The first four packs, two-high at the front wall. 03Load the front wall first
The first packs go to the front wall, two side by side and two high. The forklift places each pack flat on its bearers, tight against the wall, so the rows behind have a square start.
- First four packs two-high at the front wall
- Packs flat on their bearers, never on the sheet edge
- No gap between the packs and the front wall
Rows of four packs fill the container toward the door. 04Lay the rows of four
Rows of four packs follow toward the door: two across and two high, row behind row. With Styrax core that makes 16 lying packs. Acacia loads finish at 16 lying packs and Eucalyptus at 15.
- Rows of four: two across, two high
- Upper packs centred on the bearers below
- Pack labels facing the door for easy unloading
The last pack stands upright at the door end. 05Stand two packs at the door end
In a Styrax load the space left at the door end takes 2 packs standing upright. They fill the gap, so the lying rows cannot slide toward the doors in transit.
- 2 standing packs in a full Styrax load
- No open gap at the door end
- Straps and edge protection checked on the last packs
Loading filmed from the dock, pack by pack. 06Photograph and film the loading
The loading is photographed and filmed as it happens. Before the doors close you get the full door end, the pack count and the labels by email or WhatsApp.
- Video of packs going in
- Photo of the full door end
- Pack count checked against the packing list
Doors closed and sealed; the seal number goes on the documents. 07Seal the container and send documents
The doors are closed and sealed, and the seal number goes on the packing list and the B/L. The container leaves for Hai Phong, and the draft shipping documents come to you for approval.
- Seal number recorded and photographed
- Packing list matched pack by pack
- Draft documents sent for your approval
Real loading videos
Watch plywood container loading at the dock.
Unedited clips from loading days show how packs go into the container. This is the kind of video you receive before your container is sealed.
Loading mistakes we avoid
What goes wrong in plywood container loading, and how we stop it.
Most loading problems come from forcing more plywood into a box than the plan allows. Extra packs in a 40HC crush the bearers, tilt the stacks and turn unloading into hand work. So we cap packs by core weight: up to 18 with Styrax, 16 with Acacia and 15 with Eucalyptus.
| Mistake | What happens | How we prevent it |
|---|---|---|
| More packs than the plan | Bearers crush or break, packs tilt, unloading turns into hand work | Maximum 18 packs Styrax, 16 Acacia, 15 Eucalyptus; no extra packs |
| Weight not checked | Load above the booking payload: re-stuffing, delay or extra cost at the port | Panels weighed; sheets per pack reduced when the booking allows less |
| Wet or damaged container | Mould and stained faces after weeks at sea | Empty container checked; a wet or holed box is sent back |
| Open gap at the door | Rows slide in transit and corners break | Door end filled with standing packs in a full Styrax load |
| Weak pack bases | Packs crack under the forklift or the pack above | Solid timber bearers under every pack, packs placed flat |
| Mixed load without a plan | Wrong pack at the door, slow sorting at your warehouse | Mixed loads planned pack by pack; 1–2 products normally, 3–6 by agreement |
| Count not checked | Disputes over missing sheets or packs | Pack count matched to the packing list and photographed before sealing |
40HC loading numbers
Plywood container loading numbers at a glance.
These are the reference numbers behind every plywood container loading plan we send. Your quotation repeats them for your thickness, size and core.
| Container | 40HC (40 ft high cube), our standard plywood container |
|---|---|
| Pack height | About 1,000 mm of panels, pallet base not counted |
| Sheets per pack | 1,000 mm ÷ thickness, rounded down: 18 mm = 55 sheets |
| Styrax core | Up to 18 packs (16 lying + 2 standing), about 53–54 m³ |
| Acacia core | Up to 16 packs, about 46–47 m³ |
| Eucalyptus core | Up to 15 packs, about 44 m³ |
| Film-faced plywood | About 43 m³ on Eucalyptus core, 47 m³ on Acacia core |
| Planning density | Styrax about 500, Acacia 580, Eucalyptus 650 kg/m³ (650–750 in practice) |
| Payload | Set by the shipping line, the container and the route; taken from your booking |
| Verified gross mass | Declared under SOLAS from the weighed load before the container is accepted for shipping |
| Products per container | 1–2 normally; 3–6 by agreement |
| Minimum order | 1 × 40HC |
| Incoterms | FOB Hai Phong, CFR or CIF |
Numbers are reference plans for equal packs. The final packing list comes from the actual loading.
Sources: SOLAS verified gross mass (IMO) · Incoterms 2020 (ICC)
Plywood sheets per container
How many plywood sheets fit in a 40HC, by thickness.
Sheets per container = sheets per pack × packs per container. Sheets per pack come from the thickness, packs per container from the core.
A pack holds about 1,000 mm of panels. Divide by the thickness and round down: 18 mm gives 55 sheets, 12 mm gives 83 and 9 mm gives 111. Thin panels change the count, not the volume, so a full Styrax load stays near 53 m³ whatever the thickness.
The core sets the number of packs. Styrax is the lightest core, about 500 kg/m³, so a 40HC takes 18 packs. Acacia, about 580 kg/m³, takes 16. Eucalyptus, about 650 kg/m³ and often heavier, takes 15. That is why many European furniture buyers choose Styrax core: lighter panels, a clean white core and more m³ per container.
Weight is the real limit. Plywood is dense enough to reach a 40HC payload long before it fills the box. The payload depends on the shipping line, the container and the route, so we take it from your booking and weigh your panels before the final plan.
Mixed thicknesses work too. Each thickness gets its own packs and its own line on the packing list; we balance the packs so the load stays inside the payload. The table uses equal packs of one thickness, the way the calculator does.
How to calculate plywood per container
Five steps give you a planning estimate in two minutes.
- Take the pack height. Use about 1,000 mm of panels per pack, without the pallet base.
- Work out sheets per pack. Divide the pack height by the panel thickness and round down: 1,000 ÷ 18 = 55 sheets.
- Multiply by packs per container. 18 packs for Styrax core, 16 for Acacia and 15 for Eucalyptus: 55 × 18 = 990 sheets.
- Check volume and weight. Volume = sheets × length × width × thickness; weight = volume × density. 990 sheets of 18 mm 1220 × 2440 are about 53 m³ and 26.5 t at 500 kg/m³.
- Compare with your booking. If the weight is above the payload on your booking, take sheets off every pack. The packing calculator does this for you.
| Thickness | Sheets per pack | Styrax, 18 packs | Acacia, 16 packs | Eucalyptus, 15 packs | m³ Styrax / Acacia / Eucalyptus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 mm | 333 | 5,994 | 5,328 | 4,995 | 53.5 / 47.6 / 44.6 |
| 4 mm | 250 | 4,500 | 4,000 | 3,750 | 53.6 / 47.6 / 44.7 |
| 5 mm | 200 | 3,600 | 3,200 | 3,000 | 53.6 / 47.6 / 44.7 |
| 6 mm | 166 | 2,988 | 2,656 | 2,490 | 53.4 / 47.4 / 44.5 |
| 9 mm | 111 | 1,998 | 1,776 | 1,665 | 53.5 / 47.6 / 44.6 |
| 12 mm | 83 | 1,494 | 1,328 | 1,245 | 53.4 / 47.4 / 44.5 |
| 15 mm | 66 | 1,188 | 1,056 | 990 | 53.0 / 47.2 / 44.2 |
| 18 mm | 55 | 990 | 880 | 825 | 53.0 / 47.2 / 44.2 |
| 21 mm | 47 | 846 | 752 | 705 | 52.9 / 47.0 / 44.1 |
| 25 mm | 40 | 720 | 640 | 600 | 53.6 / 47.6 / 44.7 |
| 30 mm | 33 | 594 | 528 | 495 | 53.0 / 47.2 / 44.2 |
Before sealing
Every container photographed and filmed before it is sealed.
Plywood container loading ends with a record you can check. Before the doors close you receive photos and video of your container by email or WhatsApp, and we release the shipment against the same record.
- The empty container before loading
- Packs going in, filmed from the dock
- The full door end and the pack count
- Pack labels, straps and edge protection
- The closed doors and the seal number
Your own inspector or a third-party agency is welcome at loading. Tell us the date with the order.
Seal and documents
What you receive after plywood container loading.
The loading record comes first, before the doors close. Draft shipping documents follow for your approval, and the balance is paid against the scanned B/L.
Loading photos, video and seal number
The empty container, packs going in, the full door end, the pack count and the sealed doors.
Commercial invoice and packing list
Pack by pack: product, thickness, size, sheets per pack, m³ and weight, matched to the pack labels.
Bill of lading
Draft for your approval, then the scanned B/L. The 70% balance is due against the scan.
Certificate of origin
C/O for your market, with EUR.1 for shipments to the European Union.
Phytosanitary and fumigation
Plant health and fumigation certificates where the destination requires them.
Insurance on CIF
Insurance certificate on CIF shipments; on FOB and CFR you insure the sea leg yourself.
Compliance files go to you before you confirm the order: CARB P2 / TSCA Title VI, E0 test reports, the SGS packaging test and the EUDR origin dossier.
Capacity
50,000+ m³ a year, shipped in full 40HC loads.
Minh Thanh plans and loads every container at the factory in Ha Hoa, Phu Tho. One 40HC is the minimum order, and buyers in Europe, the Americas, Asia and Africa order by the container.
About the factoryBefore you order
Six lines we need to plan your container.
Send these six lines with your enquiry and the loading plan comes back with the quotation.
- 01
Thickness and size
Nominal thickness and sheet size, e.g. 18 mm 1220 × 2440 or 1250 × 2500.
- 02
Core
Styrax, Acacia or Eucalyptus; it sets packs and m³ per container.
- 03
Quantity
Sheets, m³ or number of containers; a full 40HC is the minimum.
- 04
Product mix
One or two products per container normally; up to six by agreement.
- 05
Payload
The payload on your booking, if your forwarder has given one.
- 06
Incoterm and destination
FOB Hai Phong, CFR or CIF, and your destination port.
Questions buyers ask
Plywood container loading FAQ.
Short answers to the questions buyers ask most about container loading.
How many plywood sheets fit in a 40HC container?
It depends on thickness and core. With 1220 × 2440 panels in 1,000 mm packs, 18 mm gives 990 sheets with Styrax core (18 packs), 880 with Acacia (16 packs) and 825 with Eucalyptus (15 packs). 12 mm gives 1,494 sheets with Styrax core.
How many m³ of plywood are in one 40HC?
About 53–54 m³ with Styrax core and 46–47 m³ with Acacia core. Eucalyptus-core loads are about 44 m³. Film-faced plywood is about 43 m³ on Eucalyptus core and 47 m³ on Acacia core.
How many packs of plywood go into a 40HC?
Up to 18 packs with Styrax core: 16 lying in four rows of four and 2 standing at the door end. Acacia-core loads take 16 packs and Eucalyptus-core loads 15.
Why do heavier cores load fewer packs?
Plywood reaches the container payload before it fills the space. Acacia (about 580 kg/m³) and Eucalyptus (about 650 kg/m³, often more) weigh more than Styrax (about 500 kg/m³), so the load stops at 16 or 15 packs.
What does one sheet of 18 mm plywood weigh?
At the planning densities a 1220 × 2440 × 18 mm sheet weighs about 27 kg with Styrax core, 31 kg with Acacia and 35 kg with Eucalyptus. Real panels vary, so we weigh your panels before the final loading plan.
What is the payload of a 40HC for plywood?
There is no single number. The payload depends on the shipping line, the container and the route. We take it from your booking, weigh your panels and take sheets off every pack if the plan is heavier than the booking allows.
Can you load more than 18 packs to save freight?
No. Forcing extra packs into a 40HC crushes the bearers under the packs and turns unloading into hand work. We cap packs by core weight, up to 18 with Styrax, 16 with Acacia and 15 with Eucalyptus, so your container arrives square and unloads by forklift.
Can I mix products in one container?
Yes. One or two products per container is normal, and three to six by agreement. Each product gets its own packs and its own line on the packing list.
What is the minimum order?
One 40HC container. Production takes 15–45 days after the deposit, depending on quantity and specification.
Do you ship plywood in 20ft containers?
Our loading plans and quotations are for 40HC containers. A 20ft box fills its space before its weight limit, while a 40HC reaches its weight limit first, so the 40HC carries more plywood per freight. Need another container type? Ask the export team and we work out the plan.
Will I see my container before it is sealed?
Yes. Every container is photographed and filmed during loading. You receive the full door end, the pack count, labels and the seal number by email or WhatsApp before the doors close.
Can my inspector attend the loading?
Yes. Your own inspector or a third-party agency is welcome at the factory on loading day. Give us the date with the order and we plan the loading around it.
Which Incoterms do you offer?
FOB Hai Phong, CFR or CIF. On FOB your forwarder books the container; on CFR and CIF we book it. Payment is a 30% deposit and 70% against the scanned B/L.
How do I calculate plywood per container myself?
Divide 1,000 mm by the thickness and round down for sheets per pack, then multiply by 18, 16 or 15 packs for Styrax, Acacia or Eucalyptus core. The free packing calculator also gives m³ and weight.
Is the loading plan my final packing list?
No. The plan sizes your order and quotation. The final packing list comes from the actual loading, pack by pack, and goes to you with the draft documents.
Get a loading plan
Send your specification and get a container plan with the quote.
Tell us the thickness, size, core, face, glue and quantity, plus your Incoterm and destination. Lisa replies within hours by email or WhatsApp with the price and the loading plan for your 40HC. Free samples.
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