This page sits under the Mulia Charcoal Logistics pillar. UN 1361 is the dangerous-goods classification for coconut charcoal by sea — a timeless definition. For what changed under the 2026 rules, see the regulation page; here we define the cargo itself. Logistics overview
Classification at a glance
The dangerous-goods identity of coconut shell charcoal.
- UN number
- UN 1361
- IMDG class
- Class 4.2 (spontaneous combustion)
- Proper shipping name
- CARBON, animal or vegetable origin
- Packing group
- III
- Governing code
- IMDG Code (sea transport)
- Self-Heating Test
- Supporting evidence, not an exemption
What UN 1361 is
UN 1361 is the United Nations dangerous-goods identifier for "Carbon, animal or vegetable origin" — the entry that covers coconut shell charcoal, wood charcoal, and similar carbonized organic materials shipped by sea. Cargo declared as UN 1361 is IMDG Code UN 1361 Class 4.2 (spontaneous combustion), and the IMDG Code governs how it is packed, marked, documented, and stowed.
Cargo details
The dangerous-goods data your carrier and broker need, in one place.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Substance | Coconut shell charcoal briquettes |
| UN number | UN 1361 |
| IMDG class | Class 4.2 (spontaneous combustion) |
| Packing group | III |
| Proper shipping name | CARBON, animal or vegetable origin |
| Flash point | Not applicable (self-heating solid) |
| HS code (international) | 4402.20 |
Self-heating, fire risk — and how it is managed
Class 4.2 means the material can self-heat: it may warm in contact with air and, in the wrong conditions, ignite without an external spark. Contained-cargo self-heating fires have occurred days after loading, which is why the classification exists and why carriers take it seriously.
The answer is prevention. The Special Provision 978 controls — weathering, a packing-temperature limit, and container headspace — are designed to stop self-heating before it starts, and incidents are rare. Honesty matters here: self-heating fire is inherent vice and is not covered by marine cargo insurance. You cannot insure your way out of it — you prevent it, with the controls and a documented compliance record.
The SP 978 controls in detail What insurance does and does not cover
The Self-Heating Test, after 2026
The Self-Heating Test (UN Test N.4) measures whether a substance self-heats. Since IMDG Amendment 42-24 it no longer exempts UN 1361 from dangerous-goods carriage — a passing result is supporting hazard evidence only, a point the regulation page explains in full.
Why some lines refuse charcoal
Because it is Class 4.2 self-heating cargo, charcoal needs a carrier that accepts declared dangerous goods and the factory audits that go with it. Some major lines have stepped back from charcoal, which is why we book with carriers that do.
Every export carton and container carries the UN 1361, Class 4.2 dangerous-goods markings and placards. Dangerous-goods markings on the packaging
Can I just ship charcoal as non-dangerous goods and save the surcharge?
The honest counter-argument is commercial: declaring UN 1361 adds dangerous-goods surcharges and narrows the carrier list, so a buyer naturally asks whether a non-DG booking is possible. It is a fair question — before 2026, a passing Self-Heating Test could test the cargo out of dangerous-goods carriage, and some suppliers still quote freight on that basis.
That route no longer exists. Since 1 January 2026, IMDG Amendment 42-24 (Res. MSC.556(108)) removed the test-out for UN 1361: a passing SHT is now supporting evidence, not an exemption. A non-DG quote today is a misdeclaration, and the exposure lands on the importer — carrier blacklisting, port-state detention, and, because self-heating fire is inherent vice, no marine-cargo cover if the container ignites. Packing Group III is the lowest severity in Class 4.2, and the SP 978 controls keep incidents rare, so the compliant path costs a surcharge, not your cargo. We ship declared, every time.
Entry formalities by destination
UN 1361 sets how the cargo is classified and declared for the sea voyage; the customs duty, taxes and entry steps then depend on where it lands. These guides cover the import mechanics market by market.