New ZealandLump charcoal for New Zealand buyers
Wholesale hardwood lump charcoal for New Zealand importers
Virovo Promet supplies hardwood lump charcoal, Marabu and charcoal briquettes to New Zealand by the 20 ft or 40 ft container, quoted per order. Typical buyers are importers, foodservice and restaurant-supply distributors, restaurants with charcoal grills and BBQ retailers in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and across the country who want a written specification before they order.
Who buys lump charcoal in New Zealand
Restaurants with charcoal grills buy restaurant-grade lump through foodservice distributors, and BBQ retailers stock 10 to 20 kg bags for the summer season. Marabu is our longest-burning restaurant charcoal, indicatively up to around 8 hours and varying by lot; oak and beech give long, even heat, and briquettes give a uniform burn for retail.
Every lot is described in a written specification with indicative figures, and private-label bags with your brand are available on request.
Bags, pallets and containers
Standard bags are 10, 15 and 20 kg, the sizes restaurants and caterers usually buy, with 2 to 5 kg retail bags on request. Agree the bag size first, then the quotation states bags per pallet and net kilograms per pallet.
A 20 ft container takes about 10 to 11 Euro pallets and a 40 ft high-cube about 22 to 24, indicative figures. Charcoal fills the box by volume before it reaches the weight limit, so the exact net load is confirmed in the quotation before loading.
How the container ships
Containers load at Thessaloniki, the deep-sea port about 230 km from Skopje, for Auckland, Tauranga, Lyttelton or another New Zealand container port. The port of discharge and Incoterm (FOB, CFR or CIF) are agreed per order, and the shipping line confirms routing and transit time at booking.
Charcoal is sea cargo under the IMDG Code (UN 1361, class 4.2), which Maritime Rules Part 24A apply in New Zealand waters. Since 1 January 2026 a self-heating test no longer exempts charcoal, so the carrier confirms acceptance and the dangerous-goods documents for every booking.
New Zealand import checklist
Duty: wood charcoal under tariff item 4402.90.00 is Free in the New Zealand Working Tariff (effective 20 October 2026), and GST of 15% applies to the customs value plus duty, freight and insurance. Your customs broker confirms the classification for the actual product.
Biosecurity: wooden pallets must carry the ISPM 15 mark under MPI's import health standard for wood packaging material. Ask your broker or MPI which requirements apply to the charcoal itself before the first shipment, and we agree the documents for the lot in the quotation.
What to include in your enquiry
Send the charcoal type, the number of containers, the bag size, the port of discharge or warehouse address, the Incoterm you prefer and any private-label needs. We reply with a written offer naming the product, pallet count, net load and terms.
Is charcoal duty-free into New Zealand?
Wood charcoal under tariff item 4402.90.00 is Free in the New Zealand Working Tariff (effective 20 October 2026). GST of 15% applies, and your customs broker confirms the classification for the actual product.
What does MPI require for charcoal imports?
Wooden pallets must carry the ISPM 15 mark under MPI's wood packaging import health standard. Confirm with MPI or your broker which requirements apply to the charcoal itself before the first shipment.
Which New Zealand ports can you ship to?
Containers can be quoted to Auckland, Tauranga, Lyttelton and other New Zealand container ports; the shipping line confirms routing and transit time at booking.
Can you supply Marabu charcoal to New Zealand?
Yes. Marabu is available for New Zealand orders, subject to availability for the lot.
How much charcoal fits in a 40 ft container?
About 22 to 24 Euro pallets in a 40 ft high-cube, indicative. Net weight depends on bag size and pallet height and is confirmed in the quotation.