Update - Malaysia Charcoal Commodity

As part of our ongoing commitment to enhancing operational safety and improving network reliability, we have established a set of requirements that must be met to obtain loading acceptance for exporting charcoal from Malaysia with Maersk. Below is a detailed outline of the requirements, along with any relevant additional information, effective for shipments booked from 1st May 2025 onwards.

Initial Acceptance

The local Maersk office will request approval from our principals on behalf of the charcoal producer for loading either restaurant or barbecue charcoal.

A charcoal manufacturer can only book a shipment after successfully passing the initial acceptance process through a factory audit conducted by a Maersk's approved surveyor. Customers who have never shipped charcoal with Maersk can contact Maersk’s approved surveyor directly to arrange the manufacturer’s audit. Based on the result of this company audit, Maersk will determine whether the manufacturer is eligible to export/ship charcoal.

Maersk’s Approved Surveyor

• LINKS SURVEY (M) SDN BHD
• ALTITUDE (M) SDN BHD
• SGS MALAYSIA

Prohibited Charcoal are:

• Dangerous goods
• Wet charcoal
• Charcoal in bulk
• Instant grill
• Charcoal fines <50mm, charcoal="">
• Small particle/fraction
• Charcoal scrap
• Contaminated charcoal
• Packaging more than 50kg
• If cargo packed into 1 KG box
• Cargo is used for waterpipes / shisha / hookah / Nargila or similar
• Non active reefer not allowed
• Exceeding 45 days total transit time

The following 10 mandatory documents must be submitted to my.export@maersk.com for loading approval prior the deadline declared by Maersk Customer Experience Representative.

Approval for container loading will only be granted if all documents are complete, accurate, and no anomaly or misdeclarations. If any discrepancies or incomplete are found, the container will not be loaded, and all associated costs and consequences will be the responsibility of the shipper and/or booking party. For more details, please refer to the Terms of Carriage here.

1. . Material Safety Data Sheet

   The MSDS must have the same entity (producer) indicated as the Self-Heating Certificate, Weathering certificate, Shipper's declaration and Commercial invoice. It must indicate the use of the charcoal (only one use) and be written in English.

2. Self-Heating Certificate

   The Self-Heating certificate must not be older than 6 months and must be accompanied by an official accreditation letter of the laboratory with below details:

• Laboratory conducting self-heating test must be officially accredited.
• Test certificate is invalid if sample was not collected by trained staff from laboratory.
• The customer must request trained laboratory staff to collect the sample of the self-heating test after the weathering process is complete. After production, the unpacked material was subjected to weathering (stored under cover, but in the open air) for a minimum period of 14 days before being packaged.
• Self-Heating test certificate shall remain valid until the consignment completes the ocean passage and the validity shall not be more than 6 months.
• Must mention charcoal production batch/lot number.

The following must be available on the SHT certificate:

• Dated, signed and stamped on laboratories letterhead with test reference no.
• Detailed information about cargo and customer.
• Description of test, duration and tested cargo size.
• 24 hours temperature diagram of oven and cargo temperature.
• Conclusion as per IMDG code SP 925 - A consignment of carbon if it passes the tests for self-heating substances as reflected in the United Nations Manual of Tests and Criteria (see 33.4.3.3.1), and is accompanied by a certificate from a laboratory accredited by the competent authority, stating that the product to be loaded has been correctly sampled by trained staff from that laboratory and that the sample was correctly tested and has passed the test.
• Confirmation of weathering process with reference to Date of Completion of Charcoal production i.e. if after production the unpacked material was subjected to weathering (stored under cover, but in the open air) for a minimum period of 14 days before being packaged.

3. Accreditation letter of laboratory

   Official accreditation letter by the competent authority of the country of origin with proper Date of expiry, signature, stamp and Name of the authorize person who will sign the document.

4. Business Presentation / Company Profile

   The Business Presentation should indicate the type of charcoal produced as well as the intended use of said charcoal. This is submitted only once as part of the initial acceptance procedure. (We need Company Profile with detail information about company when started, what kind of business, turnover, product information, use of commodity, Production process, Company website, etc.)

5. Weathering and Packing Certificate

   This certificate is to be issued by the producer with the following:

   a. Confirmation of the weathering process with reference to date of completion of charcoal production i.e. if after production the unpacked material was subjected to weathering (stored under cover, but in the open air) for a minimum period of 14 days before being packaged.

   b. Photos and detailed information about weathering process with start and end date.

   A detailed explanation is required to observe the weathering process. Image documentation of the weathering process is required to see unpacked charcoal spread on open floor/ground but under the roof. Ensure the full clear images must be captured in daylight with a straight angle, including all weathering process areas with roofs.

   b. Dated, signed and stamped from shipper (real producer of the cargo) + Name of the person who will sign the document.

   c. Date of Production.

   d. Charcoal packaging start and end date with photos of cargo temperature.

   After the weathering process, when the customer will start the charcoal packing process, the customer needs to mention the date of the charcoal packing process Start and date of charcoal packing process end. Also, the customer needs to capture two clear cargo temperature images during the packing process, at the start and end of packing process.

   e. The material shall be packed into packaging only when the temperature of the material does not exceed 40°C on the day of packing.

   f. Weathering process must be done before packing into the bags.

   g. Booking number + container number = + batch number.

6. Vanning Certificate

   The Vanning Certificate must be issued by an official and independent Marine Surveyor after a physical inspection of the vanning of the cargo, and must be dated, signed and stamped by same. The Shipper is reminded that any misdeclaration of information shall remain his responsibility. Vanning Certificate must mention booking number + container number.

   Following criteria must be checked and confirmed:

   • Container is packed in accordance with IMDG code and CTU packing guide.
   • As per Maersk Policy, the consignment is Vacuum packed with a Thermal Jacket supplied by Shipper’s preferred Maersk Recommended Supplier (Supplier name).
   • Packings are new, airtight, intact and suitable for the cargo.
   • Temperature of cargo is not exceeding ambient temperature by more than 5°C.
   • Packaging and interior atmosphere is clean and odorless, no presence of fumes or smoke.
   • Sufficient photos:
   • Photos of cargo during stuffing, including minimum one photo of the cargo without the outer packing.
   • Cargo temperature and Ambient Temperature photographs of each container.
   • Send us one door shut photograph as in one picture we wanted to see the commodity stuff inside the container + container no. (In this photo complete container must be visible along with its border and edges and the commodity inside must be clearly visible. The photos must be clicked straight and not is any other angle.)
   • Weight of each bag.
   • Charcoal particle size in Millimeter.
   • Weight per bag and type of packing.
   • A 1 kg sample has been taken during stuffing and cargo has been identified as declared by shipper. The sample retained for minimum 3 months in surveyors office and is always available for Maersk review.

7. Shippers Declaration

   Stating real end user and use of the cargo at final destination and must mention booking number + container number. Duly dated, signed and stamped on shipper’s letterhead with name of the authorized person who will sign the document.
   Charcoal particle size in Millimeter.

8. Commercial Invoice

   Must be on Cargo Manufacturers letter head with proper date, sign, stamp, Consignee details with name of the authorized person who will sign the document and must mention booking number + container number + charcoal production batch/lot number.

9. Factory Audit Report

   The Factory Audit Report must be generated at the end of the audit by a Maersk-appointed surveyor and forwarded to Maersk.
   (Please see the attached file - Factory Audit Report for Charcoal and Carbon Customers)

10. Packing & Stuffing Remarks:

    Effective from the date listed below, all charcoal shipments must be fully vacuum packed with a thermal jacket, supplied by the shipper's preferred Maersk Recommended supplier listed below.

Should you have any questions or require further information, please do not hesitate to contact your local Maersk representative or reach out via Maersk.com.

Our team is always ready to assist you whenever possible.