Why the minimum is a per-model number
MOQ in this category does not exist as a single figure for a brand, and a supplier who quotes one number for every model is not describing how the goods are actually produced. Each series is built in its own production run, with its own front panel, carton, label and manual, and each of those items has a print or tooling step below which the run is not practical. A wall-mounted split in a fast-moving capacity class is normally easier to place than a cassette or a monoblock, which is why the minimum differs between them. The useful question for an importer is therefore not what the brand MOQ is, but what the minimum is for the exact series, capacity and electrical variant you intend to order.
- The series and capacity class, for example the SD, FB, FD, FM, HA, TFD and CQ wall-mounted platforms, or the floor-standing, portable, cassette and monoblock ranges
- Whether the units are Shinco branded or OEM private label under your own name
- The power supply variant and plug standard for your market
- Whether a spare parts or accessories bundle shares the same buying slot
What moves the minimum up or down
Three items usually decide whether the practical minimum rises: a custom panel or colour, a private-label carton and manual in a new language, and a power supply or refrigerant variant that is not part of the configuration currently running. Each one adds a separate production step, and a separate step needs its own quantity to be worth setting up. In the other direction, staying with a model that is already produced in the standard configuration and packed in standard cartons is the simplest way to work with the smallest quantity. Buyers who accept the standard specification for a first order generally reach the market faster and can move to a custom configuration once volumes justify it.
Planning a mixed container
Most first orders are mixed, and that is normal in this product group. A distributor covering residential and light-commercial demand might load wall-mounted splits for retail, a smaller number of floor-standing units for halls and restaurants, and portable units for rental and seasonal demand in one container. The real limit is not the number of models but the volume, weight and stacking combination they create, because cartons of different sizes leave different amounts of unused space. Mixing a tall floor-standing carton with short split cartons can waste more volume than a simple loading table suggests unless the plan is checked against real carton data. Our Shinco model list shows the categories and series offered for export, which is the starting point for assembling a mix.
- Group models by carton footprint first, then by weight
- Keep one electrical variant per market to avoid mixing plugs and labels
- Leave room for spare parts cartons rather than adding them after the plan is fixed
Loading data to confirm in writing
The figures that decide an order are the ones that belong to the exact units you are buying, so ask for them in writing before the deposit rather than after. Carton dimensions, gross and net weight, unit volume, and the loading quantity per 20GP and per 40HQ for your specific mix are the core set. Ask as well how the container will be packed, whether cartons are loose stacked or palletised, and how the final row is secured, because that affects both the loaded quantity and the damage risk in transit. If a figure is still open for a model, it should be marked as confirmed with the quotation instead of being carried in from an earlier shipment.
- Carton length, width and height, with gross and net weight per carton
- Loading quantity per 20GP and per 40HQ for the exact model mix requested
- Stacking height, pallet or loose loading, and the securing method for the last row
- Container weight limit checked against the road limit on your inland route
- Every open item marked as confirmed with the quotation
The confirmation sequence that avoids surprises
Container planning works best as a short sequence of documents rather than as one long conversation. The enquiry fixes the model mix and quantities; the quotation returns prices with the minimum and loading quantity per model; the loading plan then places that mix in a specific container size. Once production is scheduled, the packing list is built from the same carton data, and the loading photographs taken at the container reconcile what was actually shipped against what was planned. Carrying the same model codes and carton figures through all four documents is what makes the file auditable if a shipment is inspected or arrives short. Which certification documents travel with the shipment is confirmed with the quotation, because it depends on the destination and on the model itself.
How to start a container plan
Send the destination country and port, the model mix with quantities, the capacity classes you want in each category, your inverter or fixed-speed preference, the power supply and frequency at the site, and whether you want Shinco branding or OEM private label. Add the container size you intend to book and any inland transport limit at your end, because both constrain the plan from the first reply. If you already buy this category, include the model codes you use today so the mix can be matched to the closest current platform, as listed in our Shinco model list. You can send this through the RFQ form on this site, by email to info@shinco-air.com or by WhatsApp on +86 153 4228 1855, and our market pages for Central Asia and Africa describe the climate and power supply context that shapes selection for each destination. UNITECH GROUP CO., LTD operates as an independent export supplier of Shinco-brand air conditioners and is not the brand owner.