Supermarkets, restaurant suppliers and BBQ distributors need charcoal that lights reliably, holds heat and arrives in sellable condition. Egypt supplies two strong options: natural lump charcoal made from citrus and other hardwoods, and dense hexagonal charcoal briquettes made for long, steady heat. This guide compares them, shows which suits which customer, and explains packing, container loads and ordering from our factory.
- Lump charcoal lights fast and gives a natural wood flavour; hexagonal briquettes burn for about 5 to 6 hours with steady heat.
- Retail and supermarkets mostly sell lump charcoal in bags; restaurants value briquettes for long service hours.
- A 40ft container takes about 18 tons of lump charcoal or about 27 tons of hexagonal briquettes.
- Order ahead of your BBQ season so stock is on the shelf when demand starts.
- Selim Charcoal produces both in New Damietta, Egypt, packed plain or under your own brand.
Two kinds of BBQ charcoal from Egypt
| Feature | Lump charcoal | Hexagonal briquettes |
|---|---|---|
| Raw material | Orange wood, casuarina or a hardwood mix | Citrus wood charcoal, compressed |
| Shape | Natural irregular pieces | Uniform hexagonal sticks, 10 to 30 cm |
| Lighting | Fast | Slower, then very stable |
| Burn time | Shorter | About 5 to 6 hours |
| Best for | Home grilling, retail | Restaurants, long cooking, heating |
| Packing | 5 and 10 kg laminated bags | 2, 5 and 10 kg cartons |
Many distributors carry both: lump charcoal for consumers who want a quick, flavourful fire, and briquettes for professional kitchens that grill all day.
Lump charcoal: orange wood, casuarina and mixed
Our natural lump charcoal is screened of dust and fines before packing, so buyers open a bag of clean, usable pieces.
- Orange wood charcoal: made from citrus wood, our most requested lump charcoal for grilling.
- Casuarina charcoal: hard, dense pieces with strong heat, popular in Arab markets.
- Mixed hardwood charcoal: casuarina, eucalyptus, ficus and guava at a competitive price.
Hexagonal briquettes: long, steady heat
Hexagonal charcoal briquettes are made by compressing citrus wood charcoal into dense, uniform hexagonal sticks. Once lit they burn for about 5 to 6 hours with steady heat, which is why restaurants and grill houses favour them: fewer refills during service and predictable cooking.
Read more on choosing charcoal for professional kitchens in our guide to charcoal for restaurants.
Which product for which customer?
- Supermarkets and DIY stores: lump charcoal in 5 and 10 kg branded bags; consider briquettes for customers who grill for long periods.
- Restaurants and grill houses: hexagonal briquettes in 10 kg cartons for long, steady heat.
- Distributors and wholesalers: a mix of both, often under a private label.
- Heating markets: hexagonal briquettes, and our split acacia and olive firewood.
Container loads and planning
| Product | 20ft container | 40ft container |
|---|---|---|
| Hexagonal briquettes | 15 tons | 27 tons |
| Lump charcoal | On request | 18 tons |
For Incoterms, documents and payment, see our step-by-step guide to ordering charcoal from Egypt.
Sell it under your own brand
Both lump charcoal and briquettes can be packed in bags or cartons printed with your design. A branded bag on the shelf builds repeat sales season after season. Learn how it works in our guide to private label charcoal.
Why import BBQ charcoal from Selim Charcoal
We are a manufacturer, not a broker, with four warehouses in New Damietta near Damietta port. We quote in US dollars per ton ex-works and export to Europe, the Middle East, the USA and Canada. See our factory.
How to order BBQ charcoal
- Send your requirementsProduct, packing, quantity and destination port.
- Specs and quotationWritten specifications and a price per ton from the factory.
- Production and packingPacked plain or in your brand, as agreed.
- Loading and shippingWe load the container and coordinate shipping with you.
Get a factory quote for BBQ charcoal
Tell us which charcoal, packing and quantity you need, and we will reply with specifications and a price per ton.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between lump charcoal and hexagonal briquettes?
Lump charcoal is natural wood charcoal in irregular pieces that lights quickly; hexagonal briquettes are compressed citrus wood charcoal that burns for about 5 to 6 hours with steady heat.
How long do your hexagonal briquettes burn?
About 5 to 6 hours once fully lit.
Which lump charcoal types do you supply?
Orange wood charcoal, casuarina charcoal and a mixed hardwood charcoal of casuarina, eucalyptus, ficus and guava.
How much fits in a 40ft container?
About 27 tons of hexagonal briquettes or about 18 tons of lump charcoal.
Can BBQ charcoal be packed under my brand?
Yes. Lump charcoal in 5 and 10 kg bags and briquettes in 2, 5 and 10 kg cartons can be printed with your design.
