Business & Export · Bag Encyclopedia
Importing Bags from Sialkot
Landed cost, not FOB cost, is the number that matters. This is the importer's playbook — Incoterms decisions, HS code accuracy, cubic-metre planning per SKU and how to fill a 40HC without leaving 10 CBM of dead air.
Incoterms — pick before you quote
Incoterms decide where cost and risk hand over. For bags out of Sialkot, three matter:
- EXW (Ex-Works) — you collect from the factory door. Cheapest on paper, most work for you. Only make sense if you have a Sialkot-based agent.
- FOB Karachi — factory handles export clearance and trucking to Karachi port; you take over on the vessel. The standard for import-experienced buyers.
- CIF (destination port) — factory arranges freight and insurance to your port. Simplest, but you lose control of freight rate and route.
- DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) — factory handles everything to your warehouse. Convenient for small first orders; expect a 15–25% premium over FOB.
HS codes for sports bags
| Product | HS heading | Typical face material |
|---|---|---|
| Travel/sports duffel, textile face | 4202.92 | Polyester, nylon, canvas |
| Backpack, textile face | 4202.92 | Polyester, nylon |
| Sports bag, plastic-sheeting face | 4202.12 | PVC tarpaulin, coated PE |
| Bag with leather face | 4202.91 | Leather / composition leather |
| Toiletry / wash bag | 4202.32 | Textile face, pocket-sized |
Always confirm the exact subheading with your destination customs broker — duty rates and preferential agreements (EU GSP+, UK DCTS) hinge on the last two digits.
Cubic-metre planning
Bags ship by volume, not weight. Get the per-SKU CBM before you commit to quantities; freight forwarders quote per CBM (LCL) or per container (FCL) and it drives 15–25% of your landed cost.
- 60L soft duffel, folded, polybag + hangtag — ~0.035 CBM
- 25L gym backpack, semi-structured — ~0.045 CBM
- 35L structured backpack with EVA back panel — ~0.06 CBM
- 120L wheeled team trunk — ~0.14 CBM (compressible: none)
- Roll each SKU into a master carton of 10–20 units, then master cartons stack cleanly to the 2.4m container ceiling.
Container fill target
| Container | Usable CBM | 60L duffels | Structured 30L backpack |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20ft standard | ~28 | ~800 units | ~500 units |
| 40ft standard | ~58 | ~1,650 units | ~1,000 units |
| 40ft high-cube | ~76 | ~2,150 units | ~1,300 units |
Small first PO? LCL (Less-than-Container-Load) makes sense up to ~15 CBM. Beyond that, half a 40HC is usually cheaper than LCL on the same volume once port fees are counted.
Documents at export
- Commercial invoice — value per SKU, Incoterm, HS code, country of origin (Pakistan).
- Packing list — carton count, per-carton units, gross/net weight, CBM.
- Bill of Lading — original from the shipping line; needed to clear at destination.
- Certificate of Origin — GSP+ / DCTS Form A for EU/UK importers to claim preference duty.
- Fumigation/phyto certificate — needed only if wooden pallets are used; ISPM-15 stamped pallets skip it.
Need a landed-cost worksheet for your bag PO?
Send us the styles and quantities — we'll return FOB Karachi, CBM per SKU and full container fill options.