Hessian Bag

A Hessian Bag is a woven jute bag made from relatively fine, breathable hessian fabric for packing agricultural commodities, food products, vegetables, coffee, cocoa, nuts, grains, and other compatible goods. Hessian bags are also commonly called burlap bags, particularly in North American markets.

For bulk orders, the bag can be produced according to the required dimensions, fabric weight, porter and shot, carrying capacity, sewing method, treatment, printing, and bale packing specification.

What are the standard specifications of a Hessian Bag?

Hessian Bags are produced in several specifications rather than one universal size. A commonly traded agricultural or commodity hessian bag uses approximately 40 × 28 inch dimensions, an 11 × 12 porter and shot construction, and about 465–500 g bag weight.

Specification	Typical / Available Specification
Product	Hessian Bag
Material	Woven jute
Fabric	Hessian / Burlap
Common Size	Approx. 40 × 28 inches
Approx. Metric Size	101–102 × 71 cm
Bag Weight	Approx. 465–500 g depending on specification
Porter & Shot	Commonly 11 × 12
Capacity	Depends on commodity and bag specification
Mouth	Selvedge or hemmed
Sewing	Herakles sewn or buyer specified
Colour	Natural jute
Treatment	Normal, VOT, MOT, hydrocarbon-free, or buyer specified
Printing	Plain or custom printed
Packing	Commonly up to 1,000 bags per bale depending on specification
Custom Sizes	Available

The exact weight, dimensions, weave density, capacity, treatment, and packing should be confirmed against the buyer’s approved technical specification before production.

What are Hessian Bags used for?

Hessian Bags are used for agricultural, food commodity, industrial, landscaping, and general-purpose packaging where a breathable woven jute fabric is suitable for the product being packed.

Common applications include:

• Coffee beans
• Cocoa beans
• Cashew nuts
• Groundnuts and peanuts
• Rice
• Wheat
• Grains and cereals
• Pulses
• Potatoes
• Onions
• Seeds
• Other agricultural produce
• Sand and construction applications

Different commodities require different bag sizes and constructions. For example, a coffee bag may use a 40 × 28 inch format, while vegetable or sand bags can use smaller dimensions and different bag weights.

Why is Hessian fabric used for commodity bags?

Hessian fabric has a relatively fine, open woven structure that allows air movement through the bag while providing a practical package for handling and transporting compatible dry commodities.

This construction makes hessian useful where buyers need:

• Breathable packaging
• Relatively lighter fabric than heavy sacking
• Flexible bag dimensions
• Custom printing
• Natural-fibre packaging
• Different sewing and closure options

Fabric weight and weave density should still be selected according to the actual commodity, filling weight, handling conditions, and transport method.

What is the difference between Hessian and Sacking Jute Bags?

Hessian and sacking are both woven from jute, but they use different fabric constructions. Hessian is generally a finer and lighter weave, while sacking is heavier and coarser for demanding bulk commodity applications.

Feature	Hessian Bag	Sacking Bag
Fabric	Finer jute weave	Heavier, coarser weave
Typical Weight	Relatively lighter	Relatively heavier
Common Applications	Coffee, cocoa, nuts, vegetables, grains	Heavy agricultural and bulk commodities
Typical Construction	Often 11 × 12 or similar	B-Twill, Binola, Cees and other constructions
Custom Printing	Available	Available
Treatment Options	Available	Available

The correct bag should be selected from the purchase specification rather than assuming that hessian and sacking bags are interchangeable.

Is Hessian the same as Burlap?

Yes. Hessian and burlap generally refer to the same type of woven jute fabric, but the preferred term differs by market. “Hessian” is widely used in the UK and many Commonwealth markets, while “burlap” is commonly used in North America.

For international product pages and quotations, both terms can be used where appropriate:

Hessian Bag / Burlap Bag

The technical specification should still define the actual fabric weight, weave density, dimensions, sewing, and treatment.

What sizes are available for Hessian Bags?

Hessian Bags can be manufactured in different dimensions according to the commodity and filling requirement. There is no single size suitable for every agricultural or industrial application.

Current commercial examples include:

• 40 × 28 in: Coffee and commodity bags
• 40 × 22 in: 50 kg rice-type hessian bags
• 50 × 80 cm: Potato and vegetable bags
• 90 × 36 cm: Hessian sand bags
• 76 × 45 cm: Sand and field-use bags

Custom dimensions can also be produced against the buyer’s approved specification.

What does 11 × 12 porter and shot mean in a Hessian Bag?

The 11 × 12 porter and shot specification describes the woven fabric construction and is commonly used for several hessian commodity bags. It should be considered together with fabric weight, bag dimensions, yarn specification, and intended carrying requirement.

A complete specification should identify:

• Bag dimensions
• Fabric or bag weight
• Porter and shot
• Yarn construction where required
• Mouth type
• Sewing method
• Treatment
• Filling capacity
• Production tolerance

Two hessian bags with the same external dimensions can perform differently if their fabric weight or weave construction differs.

Can Hessian Bags be customized?

Yes. Hessian Bags can be manufactured according to buyer-specific dimensions, fabric weight, weave construction, sewing, printing, treatment, closure, and packing requirements.

Customization may include:

• Size: Custom length and width
• Fabric weight: Selected according to application
• Porter & shot: Required weave density
• Capacity: Based on the intended commodity
• Mouth: Selvedge, hemmed, folded, or specified finish
• Sewing: Herakles, lock stitch, or buyer-specified construction
• Printing: Logo, commodity information, weights, and shipping marks
• Treatment: VOT, MOT, hydrocarbon-free, or approved buyer requirement
• Colour: Natural, dyed, or other available finish
• Packing: Buyer-specific bale configuration

Buyers who need to reproduce an existing bag can send a reference sample or technical specification for review before quotation.

What printing options are available for Hessian Bags?

Hessian Bags can be supplied plain or printed with branding, commodity information, handling details, and export markings.

Printing may include:

• Company name
• Brand logo
• Commodity name
• Product grade
• Net weight
• Gross weight
• Country or origin information
• Lot or batch number
• Handling instructions
• Shipping marks

The artwork should specify the number of colours, dimensions, print position, and whether printing is required on one or both sides.

For food-related applications, printing ink requirements should also be included in the approved specification.

What treatment options are available for Hessian Bags?

Hessian Bags can be produced with different treatment specifications according to the commodity and buyer requirements. The term “Hessian Bag” describes the fabric and bag type, not a specific treatment grade.

Available requirements may include:

• Normal treatment
• Vegetable Oil Treatment (VOT)
• Mineral Oil Treatment (MOT), where specified
• Hydrocarbon-free requirements
• JBO-free requirements where applicable
• Buyer-defined treatment

Treatment should be confirmed before quotation because food commodities such as coffee, cocoa, nuts, and grains may require specific oil or hydrocarbon limits.

Are Hessian Bags suitable for coffee and cocoa?

Hessian bags are widely used for coffee and cocoa packaging because the woven construction provides breathable packaging for dry beans during handling and transport.

A commonly offered coffee hessian specification is approximately:

• 40 × 28 inches
• 60 kg capacity
• 475–500 g per bag
• 11 × 12 porter and shot
• Selvedge mouth
• Herakles-sewn sides and bottom
• VOT treatment where required

Current commercial coffee-bag specifications show both approximately 475 g and 500 g versions, so buyers should provide the exact required construction rather than relying only on the term “coffee bag.”

Are Hessian Bags suitable for potatoes and vegetables?

Hessian bags are also used for potatoes, onions, and other compatible agricultural produce where ventilation through the woven fabric is useful during handling and storage.

Vegetable bags can use a lighter construction than coffee or grain bags. For example, one current potato hessian specification uses a 50 × 80 cm size, approximately 193 g bag weight, and 9 × 7 porter and shot.

The bag size, weave, weight, and capacity should therefore be selected according to the vegetable and required filling weight.

How are Hessian Bags checked during production?

Hessian Bags should be checked against the approved purchase specification so the finished production matches the buyer’s required dimensions, fabric construction, sewing, treatment, printing, and packing.

Typical inspection points include:

• Bag length and width
• Individual bag weight
• Fabric GSM where specified
• Porter and shot
• Weave consistency
• Mouth construction
• Side and bottom sewing
• Printing position and clarity
• Treatment requirements
• Quantity
• Bale packing
• Shipping marks

If the order requires a specific strength or performance value, the test method and acceptable result should be agreed before production.

How are Hessian Bags packed for export?

Hessian Bags are commonly compressed into export bales. Because hessian constructions are usually lighter than heavy sacking, some specifications use as many as 1,000 bags per bale.

For example, current trade specifications show:

• Coffee Hessian Bag: approximately 1,000 bags per bale
• Potato Hessian Bag: approximately 1,000 bags per bale
• Rice Hessian Bag: approximately 1,000 bags per bale

The final bale quantity depends on the dimensions, individual bag weight, fabric construction, compression, and buyer requirements.

Container loading should therefore be calculated from the approved bag and bale specification rather than treated as one fixed value for every Hessian Bag.

Who typically buys Hessian Bags?

Hessian Bags are sourced by businesses that pack, process, trade, distribute, or export agricultural and industrial commodities.

Typical B2B buyers include:

• Coffee exporters and importers
• Cocoa traders
• Nut processors
• Grain companies
• Rice mills
• Agricultural distributors
• Vegetable growers and packers
• Seed companies
• Packaging wholesalers
• Commodity traders
• Construction and sandbag suppliers
• Industrial packaging companies

Each buyer type may require a different combination of dimensions, weight, treatment, sewing, printing, and bale packing.

What information is required for a Hessian Bag quotation?

An accurate Hessian Bag quotation requires the technical specification, commodity, order quantity, customization, and shipment destination. “Hessian Bag” alone does not define enough information for accurate bulk pricing.

Provide:

• Required bag size
• Bag weight or fabric GSM
• Porter & shot
• Commodity to be packed
• Required filling capacity
• Order quantity
• Mouth construction
• Sewing requirement
• Treatment requirement
• Printing artwork
• Packing requirement
• Destination country and port
• Inspection or testing requirement
• Required shipment schedule

If you already use a Hessian Bag, send the existing specification sheet or physical sample so the dimensions, weave, weight, sewing, and treatment can be compared before quotation.

How do you order Hessian Bags in bulk?

Bulk Hessian Bag sourcing begins by defining the required bag construction rather than selecting only a product name. The specification can then be reviewed against the commodity, filling weight, quantity, treatment, printing, and shipment requirements.

A typical order process includes:

1. Send the required bag specification.
2. Confirm the commodity and filling capacity.
3. Provide the order quantity.
4. Confirm treatment requirements.
5. Submit printing artwork or shipping marks.
6. Confirm sewing and mouth construction.
7. Select bale packing requirements.
8. Provide the destination country and port.
9. Review the quotation and final specification.
10. Approve the sample or artwork where required.
11. Proceed with production, inspection, packing, and shipment.

Using an approved specification throughout the order helps maintain consistency between samples, bulk production, inspection, and repeat orders.

Request a quote for Hessian Bags

Send your required size, fabric or bag weight, porter and shot, commodity, capacity, quantity, treatment, printing, sewing, packing, and destination details for bulk pricing.

For a typical commodity Hessian Bag, 40 × 28 inches with 11 × 12 construction can be used as a starting reference, but final bag weight, capacity, treatment, and sewing should be selected according to the actual packing application.

CTA: Request a Bulk Quote