Can I consolidate steel, hardware, and aluminium into a single container?

A 20ft container holds roughly 25-28 metric tons or 33 cubic metres of cargo. Many buyers do not need a full container of a single SKU, so consolidating multiple product categories sourced from different mills is standard practice. **Typical mixed-container combinations:** - Rebar + binding wire + nails + masonry tools (foundation-stage package) - Roofing sheets + ridge caps + screws + insulation (roofing package) - Aluminium profiles + glass fittings + door/window hardware (fit-out package) - Excavator bucket teeth + hand tools + safety equipment (equipment support package) **Practical considerations:** - **Weight vs. volume balance.** Heavy items (steel, cement-based) should sit at the bottom; lighter cartons on top. A poorly balanced load damages goods and can be rejected by carriers. - **HS code complexity.** Each product class has its own HS code; consolidated containers need a more detailed packing list for customs clearance. - **Documentation.** Mill Test Certificates are required only for the metal portion; other goods need their own product certificates. - **Single B/L.** All goods ship under one bill of lading, which simplifies clearance vs. multiple shipments. Buying mill-direct rarely allows this - one factory generally only produces one product family. Working through an aggregator like Allied Minmetal is what makes consolidated containers possible. See our [9-stage product directory](/construction-solutions) for typical groupings.