The choice of container seems a technical detail, but it determines capacity, price and sometimes whether the deal is even worth it.
The standard 40-foot holds about 67 cubic meters and is the default for general cargo. A high cube gives 30 centimeters of extra height, or about 76 cubic meters at the same freight rate: for bulky, light cargo such as furniture or building panels it is almost always the better choice. The 20-foot suits heavy, dense cargo such as ceramics, metal or liquids, where the weight limit is reached before the volume.
The weight limit matters: on US highways the permitted gross weight of a container is lower than in Europe, roughly 20 tonnes of cargo, and overweight means fines or reloading.
Temperature-sensitive cargo, such as chocolate in summer or beverages in winter, needs a reefer container, which adds noticeably to the freight rate but is a standard service. Open-top and flat rack containers are for oversized cargo, such as machinery.
Every special solution must be priced in early: the reefer rate can change a product's margin significantly.
The best exporters design their packaging around the container: if the product and pallets are dimensioned so that a high cube fills to 95 percent, you have beaten a competitor who is shipping air on freight cost. This is where the engineer and the salesperson should sit at the table together.
The first consultation is free: together we'll see who in the US already buys your product and how to reach them.