GP (General Purpose)

GP (General Purpose) is the most common standard container in international ocean shipping, typically referring to 20-foot or 40-foot general dry containers. It is enclosed, without temperature control or special ventilation, suitable for general cargo such as daily necessities, textiles, and mechanical parts. In terms of usage scenarios, GP containers are the basic container type in booking, quotation, and packing lists, contrasting with special containers like HQ (High Cube), OT (Open Top), FR (Flat Rack), and RF (Reefer). Notes: GP containers have standard internal dimensions and maximum payload; overweight requires applying for an overweight fee; different shipping lines may have slight variations in container type codes, such as 20GP, 40GP; LCL (Less than Container Load) also commonly uses GP containers as carriers. Compared with HQ, GP has lower height and smaller volume, usually with lower freight; compared with RF, GP has no refrigeration equipment and cannot transport temperature-controlled cargo. Foreign trade practitioners need to choose container types based on cargo volume, weight, and whether special handling is required, and accurately indicate GP in contracts and documents to avoid confusion with common terms like general container or dry container.