Quick answer
Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines are the global base for coconut-shell charcoal briquettes, shisha cubes, BBQ lump charcoal and coconut-shell activated carbon. Typical MOQ is 1x20FT container, FOB USD 380-1,650 per tonne, lead time 30-55 days. Ash content, fixed carbon and iodine value decide whether your buyer reorders.
Country fit
| Country | Best for | MOQ | FOB per tonne |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indonesia | Coconut shell briquettes, shisha cubes, BBQ charcoal | 1x20FT | USD 620-1,150 |
| Vietnam | White charcoal, hardwood lump, sawdust briquettes | 1x20FT | USD 380-880 |
| Philippines | Coconut-shell activated carbon, high iodine grades | 1x20FT | USD 1,050-1,650 |
Specs to lock before quoting
- Composition: fixed carbon %, ash %, moisture %, volatile matter, sulphur.
- Performance: burning time in minutes, calorific value in kcal/kg, no-spark and no-odour requirement.
- Activated carbon: iodine number (mg/g), CTC, hardness, mesh size, apparent density.
- Shape: cube 25x25 mm, hexagonal, pillow or lump size range with fines tolerance.
- Binder: tapioca starch percentage; food-grade if used for cooking or shisha.
- Packing: inner box weight, master carton, pallet, 20FT payload and moisture barrier.
Compliance
- EU: EUDR due diligence for wood-based charcoal with geolocation and legality evidence; EN 1860-2 for barbecue charcoal.
- Coconut-shell products are agricultural residue but still need clear origin documentation.
- Food-contact rules where charcoal contacts food, and REACH for treated products.
- Activated carbon for water treatment: NSF/ANSI 61 or AWWA B604 as your market requires.
- Fumigation and phytosanitary certificates where required at destination.
Quality control plan
- Approve a pre-production sample with an independent lab proximate analysis.
- Test every lot: fixed carbon, ash, moisture, and burning time on the actual shape shipped.
- Activated carbon: verify iodine number per lot; it is the single most-faked figure in this trade.
- Loading supervision with moisture check, fines screening and container desiccant.
Landed cost example
| Line | USD / 1x20FT (approx 18 t briquettes) |
|---|---|
| FOB at USD 760/t | 13,680 |
| Ocean freight + insurance | 1,700 |
| Duty and destination charges | 800-2,400 |
| Landed cost per tonne | USD 900-988 |
FAQ
Why does my charcoal spark or smell?
Too much binder, wet product, or mixed feedstock. Fix it with moisture limits and a single verified feedstock.
How do I compare activated carbon suppliers?
By iodine number and hardness from an independent lab, on sealed samples drawn from production.
Is charcoal affected by EUDR?
Wood-based charcoal is in scope for the EU. Coconut-shell products are simpler but still need origin proof.
Work with TUSKO
We handle supplier selection, lab verification, loading supervision, documentation and consolidated shipping under one purchase order and one price, with our fee already built into the landed cost. Send your target specification to contact@tuskoconsulting.com or WhatsApp Business @tuskoconsulting and we reply within 12-24 hours.