Bitumen Packing List Template
Last updated: 2026-10-02
A compliant bitumen packing list must declare the net weight, drum count, batch number, HS code (2713.20), and flash point for every shipment — and it must reconcile with the bill of lading to within ±0.5% on tonnage. Standard export drums hold 150 kg or 181 kg of penetration-grade bitumen, so a 20ft FCL carries 80 drums (12 MT) to 110 drums (19.9 MT) depending on drum size and max gross weight limits. Missing any one of those fields is the single most common cause of 3–7 day customs holds at destination ports.
What a Bitumen Packing List Template Must Contain
A bitumen packing list is not a generic shipping document. Customs authorities in Nigeria, India, Brazil, and the GCC treat bitumen as a hazardous, temperature-sensitive commodity (UN 1999, Class 3, Packing Group III when shipped above its flash point), so the packing list has to carry data that a carton-goods list never would.
Mandatory fields for every bitumen packing list:
| Field | Why It Matters | Typical Value / Format |
|---|---|---|
| HS Code | Determines duty and import licensing | 2713.20 (petroleum bitumen) |
| Net weight per drum | Basis for customs valuation | 150 kg / 181 kg |
| Gross weight per drum | Basis for container loading | 165 kg / 196 kg |
| Number of drums | Reconciliation with B/L | 80–110 per 20ft FCL |
| Batch / lot number | Traceability and quality claims | e.g., B-2403-17 |
| Penetration grade | Confirms spec (40/50, 60/70, 80/100) | 60/70 pen |
| Softening point | Buyer QC verification | 46–54 °C |
| Flash point | Dangerous goods classification | ≥230 °C (most grades) |
| Drum tare weight | Net weight audit | 15–16 kg steel drum |
| Container / seal number | Customs seal integrity | e.g., MSCU1234567 / SL0098231 |
The critical rule: net weight × drum count must match the bill of lading tonnage within 0.5%. A 19.9 MT, 110-drum shipment that lists 150 kg net per drum reconciles to 16.5 MT — a discrepancy that will trigger a customs query in most jurisdictions.
Standard Bitumen Drum Specifications and Container Loading
Drum size drives everything else on the packing list. The two dominant export formats are the 150 kg drum and the 181 kg drum, and the difference changes your container count, freight cost per ton, and documentation math.
| Parameter | 150 kg Drum | 181 kg Drum | 200 kg Drum (bulk-bag) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Net bitumen weight | 150 kg | 181 kg | 200 kg |
| Drum tare weight | 15 kg | 16 kg | ~4 kg (bag) |
| Gross weight | 165 kg | 197 kg | 204 kg |
| Drums per 20ft FCL | 110 | 80 | 100 (on pallets) |
| Total net per 20ft | 16.5 MT | 14.48 MT | 20.0 MT |
| Typical use | West Africa, India | Middle East, SE Asia | Africa bulk-bag buyers |
| Freight cost per MT | $48–$62 | $58–$74 | $42–$55 |
Indicative ocean freight from Jebel Ali / Bandar Abbas to Lagos or Nhava Sheva, 2024–2025 range. Rates move ±15% with bunker and peak-season fluctuations.
Loading rules that belong in your template notes:
- A 20ft GP container maxes out at 24 MT gross for road-legal drayage in most markets — plan drum counts against gross, not just net.
- 110 × 150 kg drums = 16.5 MT net + 1.65 MT tare = 18.15 MT gross, comfortably under the 24 MT ceiling.
- Always add 1–2 spare empty drums to the packing list as "returnable packaging" if the buyer requests samples or replacements.
- Stack no more than 5 drums high for hot-climate routes; bitumen softens and deforms drum walls above 60 °C ambient.
Packing List vs Bill of Lading vs Commercial Invoice: Field-by-Field
Buyers confuse these three documents constantly, and the confusion costs demurrage. Here is the reconciliation table to embed in your SOP.
| Data Point | Packing List | Bill of Lading | Commercial Invoice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quantity (drums) | ✓ Exact count | ✓ Stated as packages | ✓ Stated |
| Net weight | ✓ Per drum + total | ✓ Total only | ✓ Total |
| Gross weight | ✓ | ✓ | Sometimes |
| Batch numbers | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Unit price | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| HS code | ✓ | Sometimes | ✓ |
| Incoterm | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Shipping marks | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
The practical takeaway: your packing list is the only document that proves what is physically inside the container. When customs weighs a container and finds 18.2 MT gross against a declared 16.5 MT net, the packing list is the document they read to explain the 1.7 MT tare gap. If it does not itemize tare, you get a hold.
Free Template Structure (Copy-Ready Fields)
Below is the field structure for a working bitumen packing list. Reproduce these rows in Excel or your ERP export.
Header block:
- Exporter name, address, and tax ID
- Consignee and notify party
- Invoice number and date
- Container number, seal number, vessel, and voyage
- Port of loading / port of discharge
- Incoterm (FOB, CFR, CIF)
Line-item block (repeat per drum batch):
| Item | Description | Drums | Net kg/unit | Gross kg/unit | Total net kg | Total gross kg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bitumen 60/70, batch B-2403-17 | 55 | 150 | 165 | 8,250 | 9,075 |
| 2 | Bitumen 60/70, batch B-2403-18 | 55 | 150 | 165 | 8,250 | 9,075 |
| Total | 110 | 16,500 | 18,150 |
Footer block:
- Total packages: 110 steel drums
- Total net weight: 16,500 kg (16.5 MT)
- Total gross weight: 18,150 kg (18.15 MT)
- Measurement: 33.2 CBM
- Declaration statement and authorized signature
Three template mistakes that cost money:
- Rounding net weight to 0.1 MT — customs brokers in Nigeria and Kenya want kilograms to the drum.
- Omitting batch numbers — voids quality claims if penetration or softening point fails at destination.
- Mixing grades in one table without separate subtotals — creates valuation disputes on mixed 60/70 and 80/100 loads.
Country-Specific Packing List Requirements
Packing list rules are not universal. These five markets account for the majority of bitumen import volume and each has a distinct requirement.
| Country | Extra Requirement | Format Note | Typical Clearance Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nigeria | Form M / PAAR reference on documents | Net weight in kg per drum | 5–10 days |
| India | BIS registration number for 60/70 | Grade must match IS 73:2013 | 4–8 days |
| Brazil | NCM code (2713.20.00) + LI import license | Portuguese description required | 7–14 days |
| UAE / GCC | SASO or ESMA conformity certificate | Arabic label on drums | 3–6 days |
| Kenya | KEBS PVoC certificate | Pre-shipment inspection mandatory | 6–12 days |
For Nigerian and Kenyan routes specifically, build 5 extra working days into your packing list timeline for pre-shipment inspection and certificate issuance. Documentation errors at that stage are the number one cause of demurrage claims, which run $85–$140 per container per day at Lagos and Mombasa.
FAQ: Bitumen Packing List Template
How many drums of bitumen fit in a 20ft container?
A standard 20ft GP container holds 110 drums of 150 kg (16.5 MT net) or 80 drums of 181 kg (14.48 MT net), staying under the 24 MT road-legal gross ceiling. Bulk-bag configurations can reach 20 MT net using 100 × 200 kg bags on pallets.
What HS code goes on a bitumen packing list?
Use HS 2713.20 for petroleum bitumen under most national tariff schedules; Brazil uses the extended NCM 2713.20.00. Always confirm the six-digit code against the destination country's tariff book before issuing documents, because misclassification triggers revaluation and penalties.
Does a bitumen packing list need batch numbers?
Yes — batch or lot numbers are essential for traceability and are required to enforce quality claims on penetration, softening point, and flash point. Without them, a failed QC test at destination becomes an unwinnable dispute over whether the shipped goods matched the contracted spec.
What is the difference between net weight and gross weight on a bitumen packing list?
Net weight is the bitumen alone (150 kg or 181 kg per drum); gross weight includes the steel drum tare of 15–16 kg. A 110-drum shipment weighs 16.5 MT net but 18.15 MT gross, and customs weighs the gross figure at the port gate.
How long does customs clearance take with a correct packing list?
With a fully reconciled packing list matching the B/L within 0.5%, clearance typically takes 3–6 days in the GCC and 4–10 days in Nigeria, India, and Kenya. Missing batch data or weight mismatches add 3–7 days of holds and demurrage fees.
Price Your Shipment Correctly Before You Write the Packing List
A packing list is only as accurate as the numbers behind it — and getting tonnage, drum count, and CIF cost wrong means rewriting documents after the container is sealed. Run your route through the 6Tar cost calculator to lock in freight, insurance, and landed cost per metric ton before you finalize the packing list template. Accurate pricing upstream eliminates the weight and value discrepancies that cause 70% of bitumen customs holds downstream.