Measurement Ton

Measurement Ton (M/T or FT) is a billing unit used in ocean freight calculation, typically defined as 1 cubic meter (approximately 35.3147 cubic feet) per measurement ton, used to measure the volume of light cargo. When cargo is bulky but light, the shipping company charges freight by measurement ton; otherwise, it charges by weight ton. Use cases include: less than container load (LCL), bulk cargo transportation, and situations where freight quotes explicitly specify charging by volume. Notes: Different shipping companies or routes may have slight differences in the definition of a measurement ton (e.g., some use 40 cubic feet), and it is necessary to distinguish between weight ton and measurement ton, charging the higher of the two (i.e., W/M). The difference from weight ton is that measurement ton focuses on volume while weight ton focuses on weight; the relationship with freight ton is that freight ton is the collective term for weight ton and measurement ton, taking the higher of the two. Foreign trade practitioners should confirm the billing standard before booking to avoid increased freight costs due to the volume-to-weight ratio.