Case Study: Delivery of 20 Containers of Steel Channels from China to Dnipro

Task: A metal distribution company from Dnipro purchased a shipment of steel channels in China consisting of 20 forty-foot containers. The company sells carbon and stainless steel products wholesale and retail, so the shipment was intended for its warehouse for further distribution. The cargo was shipped from Xingang, the port of Tianjin. The neighboring Hebei Province is China’s largest steel-producing region, which is why steel for export is often shipped from this area.

Cargo: No. 22 steel channels made of Q235B steel — a heavy, long-length structural profile that occupies almost the entire length of the container.

Why containers are loaded by weight rather than volume: Steel channels occupy only part of the container floor, leaving the rest of the container empty. For steel products, weight is the limiting factor. The payload capacity of a 40-foot container is approximately 26–28 tonnes, depending on the model. In addition, after sea transport, the container is moved by road, and the gross weight of a truck and trailer combination in Ukraine is generally limited to 40 tonnes. Therefore, the weight allocated to each container is calculated before loading to ensure compliance with both limits.

Loading and securing: The steel channels were arranged in two tightly packed stacks along the length of the container. Wooden blocks were placed between the layers and beneath the bottom row, while each bundle was secured with steel wire. The wire holds each bundle together, while the wooden blocks prevent metal-to-metal movement and create clearance for forklift forks.

Unloading: Long-length profiles can only be loaded and removed through the container’s end doors. Therefore, a forklift with extended forks was used for unloading: the forks are inserted into the gap above the wooden blocks and the entire bundle is pulled out at once.

Result: All 20 containers of steel channels were delivered to Dnipro in September–October 2026. The metal distribution company received the shipment at its warehouse on time.

If you purchase steel products in China, confirm the profile length and the weight per container with the supplier before booking transportation. A 12-metre profile fits only in a 40-foot container, while the weight determines how many containers will be required for the shipment. Learn more on our pages about container transportation from China and metal and steel structure transportation.