REGIONAL TERMINOLOGY
Same Fabric, Different Names: a Buyer's Reference by Region
One of the most common points of confusion in jute procurement is that buyers from different markets ask for "hessian," "burlap," or "gunny" and expect completely different things, yet in most cases they are specifying the same woven jute fabric. The table below maps the term to the region, the trade context, and any subtle differences in what each name implies in practice.
Jute Fabric Terminology by Region and Trade Context
| Term |
Primary Region |
Trade / Consumer Context |
Typical Product Form |
| Hessian |
UK, EU, Australia, South Africa |
Industrial packaging, retail fabric |
Woven cloth by the roll or finished bags |
| Burlap |
USA, Canada, Latin America |
Agricultural sacking, craft & décor |
Fabric rolls, coffee bags, potato sacks |
| Gunny / Gunny sack |
South Asia (BD, IN, PK), GCC |
Bulk commodity trade, farm-gate storage |
Heavy-duty sacks (grains, oilseeds, sugar) |
| Crocus cloth |
Caribbean |
Agricultural produce (sugar cane, root crops) |
Woven sacking cloth and bags |
| Jute cloth / jute sacking |
International trade (neutral) |
Export specifications, shipping documents |
Any of the above, preferred in B/L and L/C |
Practical note for importers: When issuing a purchase order or letter of credit, use "jute woven fabric" or "jute sacking" with explicit GSM, weave type (plain, twill), and bag dimensions. This avoids customs or inspection disputes that can arise from regional nomenclature differences.
Weight Specification: Converting Between oz/yd², oz/40" (Bangladesh), and GSM
Bangladesh mills traditionally quote hessian cloth weight in ounces per 40-inch width (oz/40"), while European buyers work in GSM (grams per square metre) or oz per square yard (oz/yd²). These are three different units for the same property, fabric areal density, and conflating them causes significant specification errors.
Hessian / Burlap Weight Conversion Reference
| Bangladesh oz/40" (traditional) |
oz/yd² (US/EU) |
GSM (g/m²), EU standard |
Typical use |
| 6 oz/40" |
~5.4 oz/yd² |
~183 GSM |
Lightweight hessian cloth, backing fabric |
| 8 oz/40" |
~7.2 oz/yd² |
~244 GSM |
Standard bags, craft burlap |
| 10 oz/40" |
~9.0 oz/yd² |
~305 GSM |
Heavy sacking, potato / onion bags |
|
10 oz/yd² |
~339 GSM |
EU specification benchmark (10 oz/yd² = 339 GSM) |
| 12 oz/40" |
~10.8 oz/yd² |
~366 GSM |
Heavy-duty grain sacks, B-Twill export bags |
Conversion formula: To convert oz/yd² to GSM, multiply by 33.91 (1 oz/yd² = 33.91 g/m²). To convert Bangladesh oz/40" to oz/yd², multiply by 0.9 (approximate, based on 40" = 1.11 yd width). Always confirm with the mill's test certificate, fabric construction, finishing, and moisture content affect the final figure.
BUYER FAQ
People Also Ask, Hessian, Burlap & Gunny
Is hessian the same as burlap?
Yes, hessian and burlap are different regional names for the same woven jute fabric. "Hessian" is the standard term in the UK, EU, and Australia; "burlap" is used in North America. Both describe a plain-weave jute textile used for sacking, packaging, and industrial applications. There is no material difference between the two.
What is a gunny sack and how does it differ from a hessian bag?
A gunny sack is a heavy-duty bag made from jute fabric (hessian or plain-weave jute cloth), primarily used in South Asia and the GCC for storing and transporting bulk commodities, grains, oilseeds, sugar, and animal feed. The word "gunny" comes from the Sanskrit "goni" (sack). In practice, a gunny sack is the finished bag product; hessian refers to the fabric itself. A hessian bag is a bag made from hessian fabric, so the terms overlap completely when discussing finished packaging.
What GSM is standard burlap / hessian for export sacks?
Standard export jute sacking typically falls in the 300–530 GSM range, depending on the application. Lighter hessian cloth (250–320 GSM) is used for coffee and cocoa bags where breathability matters. Heavier sacking (380–530 GSM) covers grain, sugar, and oilseed bags that must resist tearing during mechanical handling. Always specify GSM alongside weave type (plain, B-Twill) and bag weight in grams on your purchase order.
Why does Bangladesh quote fabric weight in oz/40" rather than GSM?
The Bangladesh jute industry inherited British imperial measurements from the colonial era, when Dundee, Scotland, was the world's dominant jute-weaving centre. Mills in Chittagong and Dhaka adopted the same convention: weighing a one-yard length of the standard 40-inch loom width. Today, most exporters can provide both units, but the oz/40" figure remains the internal production standard. Always ask for the GSM test certificate (typically BSTI or SGS tested) if supplying to EU buyers.
Is jute / hessian packaging sustainable enough for the European market?
Yes. Jute is a rapidly renewable crop (harvest cycle 4–6 months), biodegradable, and compostable. Hessian sacks do not contain PFAS or other restricted substances and are classified as natural textile packaging under EU PPWR 2025/40, which exempts textile-based materials from certain design-for-recycling requirements. EU buyers increasingly prefer jute over polypropylene sacks to meet Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) targets and corporate sustainability commitments.
Can I import jute hessian cloth rolls and have bags sewn locally?
Yes, many importers source hessian cloth by the roll (typically 100 m rolls in 40" or 60" widths) and convert locally to reduce shipping volume and customise bag dimensions. Bangladesh exporters can supply pre-cut pieces, hemmed mouth cloth, or finished bags. Rolling and baling cloth gives better container utilisation than shipping sewn bags in compressed bales, but requires a local sewing operation at destination.
Related Products & Guides
Zayin Trade International supplies hessian cloth and finished jute bags to buyers in the EU, UK, and GCC. Explore our hessian cloth and bags product range, or compare construction types in our guide to B-Twill vs Binola vs Double-Warp jute sacks. For coffee-specific packaging specifications, see our guide on 60 kg coffee jute bag specifications. Request a quote with your required GSM, dimensions, and port of discharge.
