A COMPARISON OF BURLAP AND PAPER BAGS IN EXPORTING DRY EDIBLE BEANS BY VAN CONTAINERS

Three experimental export shipments of dry edible beans loaded in van containers were made. Temperatures and relative humidities were recorded during the voyages. The performance and cost of multiwall paper bags and burlap bags were measured and compared. Temperatures in the bags in the two van containers in each test shipment were similar. In test shipment No. 1, the average temperature was slightly higher in the multiwall paper bags than in the burlap bags. In test shipment No. 2, the opposite was true. Humidities in the load in the two van containers in each test shipment also were similar. In both test shipment No. 1 and No. 2, the average humidity in the load was slightly higher in the van container loaded with burlap bags than in the van container loaded with paper bages. In the shipments of beans packaged in paper bags, an average of 1.83 percent of the bags suffered serious damage. It was estimated that the equivalent of one bag of beans (100 pounds) was lost through spillage. No burlap bags were seriously damaged in any shipment. Analyses and tests of the beans after their arrival in the United Kingdom indicated that their moisture content ranged from 15.5 to 18.0 percent, an acceptable range, and that their flavor also was acceptable. The cost for burlap bags at shipping point was $60 more per 400 bags than the cost for paper bags (based on carload lot orders). However, when the resale value of the burlap bags ($20) was considered, along with the loss of about 100 pounds of beans per shipment ($10) when paper bags were used, the net difference in the cost of exporting beans in burlap bags as opposed to paper bags was reduced to $30 per 400 bags or 7 1/2 cents per bag. These tests indicate that the use of multiwall paper bags in containerized export shipments of dry edible beans is feasible.

• Corporate Authors:

  Agricultural Research Service

  Agricultural Marketing Research Institute
  Beltsville, MD  United States 
• Authors:
  • Goodard Jr, W F
  • Hinds Jr, R H
• Publication Date: 1973-4

Media Info

• Pagination: 7 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bulk cargo; Containerization; Cost effectiveness; Loss and damage
• Uncontrolled Terms: Bagged cargo
• Old TRIS Terms: Cargo damage prevention; Containerized cargo
• Subject Areas: Finance; Freight Transportation; Marine Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00051978
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: ARS-NE-10
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Apr 9 1974 12:00AM