Exporting handmade clay items from one country to another is not just about getting things from one place to another It is an art form Every single clay pot that is picked up every planter that is wrapped and every cooler that is put inside a piece shows that skilled artisans and dedicated people who export goods are working together to send Pakistans best clay items to buyers all over the world.
If you are curious about what it takes to send a container full of handmade clay pottery to another country you will find out now From picking up a container at the MT yard to closing the doors at midnight this blog will show you every step of the process of loading clay items like pots, planters, coolers, jars, bottles, cups, plates and more to be sent to other countries.
This guide is based on what Narendra Maheshwari, a person who exports clay goods experienced when he was loading a shipment He wrote down everything that happened The problems, the delays, the checks to make sure everything is good So that buyers, people who export goods and people who love pottery, over the world can understand what it really takes to get each shipment ready.
- 8 hours or more to load one container
- 2 containers are loaded each time
- 7 AM is the time to start loading
- Every single piece is. Checked to make sure it is good
- 100 percent of the pieces are checked for quality
What Kind of Clay Products Are Exported?
The variety of clay things that can fit in one export container is really amazing These are not things that are made by machines Every single item is made by hand finished by hand and packed by hand Here is what you can usually find in a container of clay products that is being exported:
- 🏺 Clay Pots
You can get clay pots and decorative clay pots in different sizes - 🪴 Planters
There are planters for your garden and planters for inside your house - ❄️ Clay Coolers
These clay coolers are shaped in a special way and can hold a lot of things - 🫙 Jars and Bottles
These are small containers that are nice to look at - ☕ Cups and Glasses
These are cups and glasses that people made by hand for drinking - 🍽️ Plates and Dishes
This includes plates and dishes for people and also special water dishes for birds
Clay products like these come in different colors and plain versions too Some things like clay coolers are made in shapes so they look nice and work well When we export clay products we send amounts to stores and special groups of things to people who import items to decorate homes, in other countries We export different kinds of clay products to many places.
Step-by-Step The Complete Container Loading Process
Loading a container of fragile clay items is a big job It needs planning, precision and a team of people Here is how it is done:
1. Getting the Container Release (CR) Document
The process starts before loading day The freight forwarder gives us the Container Release (CR) document It has all the shipping details Which empty container yard to pick up from the name of the shipping vessel, port departure schedule and more This document is given to the transporter who picks up the container.
2. Picking Up the Empty Container from the MT Yard
containers are stored in big MT yards The yard watchman checks all the paperwork before releasing the container A big challenge here is that MT yards open at 9:00 AM By the time the lifter crane loads the container onto the truck and it drives through the city it can be 1:00-2:00 PM before the container even reaches the loading site.
3. Pre-Loading the Container the Day Before
To save time it is best to pick up the container one day before loading Then it can be parked at the loading site overnight This way the loading team can start at 7:00 AM the next morning instead of waiting until noon for the container to arrive.
4. Preparing All Clay Goods for Loading
Before the container arrives all clay goods are laid out counted and organized at the loading site Each piece is counted by size and category Someone sits with a copy of the inventory list Records each item Packing is also done in advance Items are tied together with straps Padded with cardboard to prevent collision and breakage during transit.
5. Loading with Professional Labor
Only professional laborers experienced in container loading are used These workers handle clay goods every day They know how to position, stack and secure each item Each piece must be lifted and carefully placed This is why loading takes 8+ hours It is not a task for workers A single mistake can result in losses for the exporter.
6. Continuous Quality Control During Loading
Two dedicated quality controllers inspect every piece before it is loaded No cracked, chipped or defective item is allowed into the container The exporter also inspects the loading personally Any item that is already damaged or broken is Set aside.
7. Smart Space Utilization. Nesting Items Inside Coolers
Large clay coolers have a lot of space inside Of wasting that space small bottles, jars, cups and other compact items are placed inside the large coolers before they are loaded This maximizes the containers space Helps the buyer receive more goods per shipment It also reduces unit shipping costs for both parties.
8. Packing Straps, Cardboard Padding & Cotton Filling
After goods are placed in the container plastic straps are applied to prevent movement Cardboard is used between items to absorb shock and prevent contact At the end cotton filling is packed tightly at the door-side of the container This is a step Without cotton any slight jolt could cause the door-side items to topple when the container door is opened at the destination.
9. Final Item Count & Sealing the Container
Before the container doors are sealed a final count is done against the inventory sheet The exporter decides which items should be held back (if any excess was manufactured) They ensure the container is loaded up to capacity with the highest-priority goods Once confirmed the container is The documentation is completed Both containers in this shipment were sealed by midnight.
💡 Pro Tip for Exporters:
Always make a few clay goods If the container runs short of material and space remains unused buyers question why their allocated space was left empty Shipping costs, per unit go up A small surplus ensures you fill every foot efficiently.
Common Problems With Loading Clay Into Export Containers
When you are exporting clay you have to deal with a lot of issues These problems happen every time you send a shipment It is good for buyers to know about these problems so they can plan ahead.
Transporters Not Showing Up On Time
Sometimes transporters do not pick up containers when they are supposed to This can happen because a machine breaks down or there are many trucks at the yard It can also happen because the transporters did not plan well When this happens it can make the loading process late by half a day.
Heavy Vehicles Not Allowed In Cities
In some cities in Pakistan big trucks are not allowed to drive in the city during the day This means transporters have to take a way around the city which can add a lot of time to the trip This makes it even later when the container gets to the place where it will be loaded.
Loading At Night
Even if you want to start loading at 7:00 AM things do not always go as planned Sometimes you have to load the containers at night One time a container was closed at 11:30 PM. Another one was closed at 12:23 AM. That is 17 hours after they started The people who export clay and their teams have to work all night to meet the deadline for the ship.
Every piece of clay that goes into the container is special because it takes a time to make You have to load it into the container the way This is the step in making sure the clay is taken care of.
Narinder Maheshwari, Clay Goods Exporter
Loading Two Containers At The Same Time
When you are loading two containers at the same time the person, in charge has to go back and forth between the two places where the containers are being loaded. They have to make sure everything is okay count the clay decide how to use the space in the containers and supervise the workers This is very tiring. It is necessary to make sure nothing goes wrong with the clay export containers.
Why Professional Labor Is a Must for Loading Clay Containers
Clay products are very fragile and are often exported in quantities Unlike electronics that come in foam packaging or textiles that can be stacked easily each clay item is:
- Individually handmade and one-of-a-kind
- Can crack or break easily if moved wrong
- Has a shape that needs careful placement
- Often can’t be replaced if broken
- Sold to buyers who may resell them at a high price
People who load containers with clay items every day know how to distribute the weight prevent items from moving and fit as many items as possible in a container without damaging them. Using people who don’t have experience with this task can lead to losses that can ruin the relationship between the exporter and buyer.
A single container can hold thousands of clay items. If they are not loaded correctly and 10% get broken that means hundreds of items are lost. Which is a financial loss, for both the exporter and importer.
Packing Best Practices for Exporting Clay Items
The way you pack things is what makes the difference between things that get to where they’re going in one piece and things that get there broken. Here are the main things to keep in mind when packing clay items for export:
Cardboard Separation
Every batch of clay items needs to be separated by sheets of cardboard or wrapping that has cardboard in it This stops the pieces from touching each other which is usually what makes them chip or crack when they are being shipped by sea.
Binding
We use plastic straps to hold together groups of pots and plates and planters before we put them in the container This turns a bunch of things into bundles that will not move around on their own when they are being shipped.
Utilizing Interior Space of Large Items
Big things like coolers and pots are hollow so we can use that space We put things like bottles and cups and jars inside the bigger clay items before we load them into the container This is a way to make the most of the space we have without making it more likely that the smaller clay items will get broken.
Door-Side Cotton Buffer
The last thing we pack in the container is a layer of cotton padding at the door This is really important because when the door of the container is opened things that are right at the door could fall out The cotton padding stops this from happening It also helps to absorb any bumps or shocks during the trip.
Avoid Overpacking the Topmost Layer
The top layer of clay items in the container should not be stacked high If it is too high it can be unstable Might fall over The top layer should have the flattest clay items, like plates and little decorative dishes This is the way to pack clay items so they get to where they are going safely.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
It usually takes 8 to 12 hours to load a 20-foot or 40-foot container of clay goods. We do it carefully. Delays can happen. For example picking up the container taking prayer breaks inspecting the quality and packing all take time. If we have two containers it can take up to 16–18 hours from start to seal.
To export clay pots we need some documents. These include the Container Release from the freight forwarder the bill of lading, packing list, commercial invoice, certificate of origin and any relevant customs declarations. The freight forwarder and shipping company help with most of this paperwork.
We protect clay items in ways. We use layered cardboard padding, plastic strapping to make bundles and nest smaller items inside larger hollow pieces. We also use cotton buffer packing at the container door. Our loaders carefully plan the stacking order to distribute weight properly and keep the clay items safe.
Yes you can order both colored clay products in the same container. A typical export container has both colored clay items. Pots, planters, coolers, jars, plates and more. We. Load them together making sure each batch is properly labeled and packed to match the buyers purchase order. We load clay items and clay pots together.
The best time to start loading is 7:00 AM. This gives us daylight and time to complete an 8–12 hour loading process. To achieve a 7 AM start we pick up. Pre-position the empty container, at the loading site the day before. We load clay items in the morning.
The Care That Goes Into Every Clay Export Shipment
When you see a shipping container you might think it’s a simple box Inside it’s a different story It takes a lot of care, skill and hard work to load clay pots, planters, coolers and handmade pottery for export It’s a process that can take a full day or even a full night It needs people who know what they’re doing, checking, smart packing and attention to detail.
For people who buy clay products from abroad knowing how much work goes into each shipment can make you appreciate it more If you’re also exporting clay products here are some things to remember: get the container ready the day before start early count each item carefully use workers who are experienced and always use cotton padding at the door.
Pakistans handmade clay industry is known over the world. It’s the attention to detail, in every shipment that makes this possible Clay products are made with love and care in Pakistan Every container load is prepared with dedication.
