Knowledge Base & Technical FAQ

MASK Associates exports three primary varieties of raw natural bast fiber:

• Tossa Jute (Corchorus olitorius)Golden-brown to reddish in hue with soft, silky, high-tensile fibers. It is the premier variety for fine spinning, yarn production, and premium burlap.
• White Jute (Corchorus capsularis)Light cream to off-white in color. It offers high natural stiffness and structural rigidity, making it ideal for standard sacking, twines, and paper pulp.
• Meshta Jute (Hibiscus cannabinus / Kenaf)Coarse, highly resilient fibers offering exceptional resistance to moisture and rotting. Meshta is frequently blended with Tossa or White jute to enhance structural durability in heavy sacking and marine ropes.

Raw jute is classified using the official Bangla Jute Association (BJA) and BJMA export grading system:

• GradesBangla Tossa (BT) / Bangla White (BW) / Bangla Meshta Raw (BM) — Special, C, D, and E grades.
• Grading CriteriaFiber length, tensile strength, color, natural luster, freedom from specks or roots, and fiber fineness.

Standard commercial moisture content for export-pressed raw jute bales is strictly capped at 13% to 15% regain. Maintaining precise moisture levels prevents mold, biological degradation, and sweating inside maritime shipping containers, while avoiding dry-fiber brittleness during mechanical processing.

VOT stands for Vegetable Oil Treated. In traditional jute mill processing, mineral hydrocarbon oils are applied to soften raw fibers during batching. For food packaging—specifically for cocoa beans, coffee, cashew nuts, and food grains—mineral oil leaves harmful residues (MOSH/MOAH) and unwanted odors. VOT replaces mineral oil with 100% natural, odorless, non-toxic vegetable oil emulsions, rendering the finished jute sacks and yarns completely safe for direct food contact.

Yes. MASK Associates manufactures VOT Food-Grade yarns, fabrics, and bags that strictly comply with international Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) regulations and global cocoa/coffee trade requirements. Each shipment is tested and certified to ensure zero mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOSH/MOAH) and zero chemical taint.

We produce a comprehensive range of jute yarns precision-spun on conical spools or formed in hanks:

• Single-Ply Yarns3 LBS – 72 LBS.
• Multi-Ply TwinesUp to 5 PLY.
• Garden Twines2 kg coreless mini-spools (6-inch height) featuring a center-pull design for tangle-free handling.

• Hessian Cloth (Burlap)A plain-weave, lightweight fabric ranging from 7 oz to 14 oz per square yard. It is widely used for eco-bags, wrapping, geotextiles, and agricultural packaging.
• Sacking ClothA thick, heavy-density double-warp twill fabric (e.g., A-Twill, B-Twill, L-Twill). Sacking is designed to construct heavy-duty 50 kg to 90 kg agricultural sacks capable of enduring severe weight stress and rough handling.

Yes. We offer custom high-definition screen printing. All branding, corporate logos, country-of-origin marks, and batch codes are printed using non-toxic, food-grade water-based inks that will not bleed or contaminate stored goods.

• BiodegradabilityJute degrades naturally into organic soil matter within months, whereas polypropylene (PP) plastic persists for centuries, breaking down into microplastics.
• Carbon FootprintJute cultivation is carbon-negative; one hectare of growing jute absorbs 15 tons of CO₂ in just 120 days. Plastic manufacturing is petroleum-derived and emission-heavy.
• Crop ProtectionJute's natural cellular weave allows stored agricultural commodities (like coffee and cocoa) to "breathe," preventing internal moisture condensation, sweat damage, and mold growth—a common problem with non-breathable plastic sacks.

During the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, MASK Associates developed an innovative oil spill containment system using specially treated raw jute and jute ropes. Unlike synthetic plastic absorbent booms, jute trapped heavy petroleum oil while remaining 100% biodegradable—a solution recognized by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

• Port of OriginChittagong Port (Chattogram Sea Port), Bangladesh.
• IncotermsFOB Chittagong, CFR, or CIF to major global ports worldwide.
• Inland Transit ProtectionAll cargo is transported from our mills to port logistics yards in covered, dry-body trucks to guarantee protection from rain and ambient humidity.

• Raw Jute BalesApprox. 12.5 MT per 20' FCL & 25 MT per 40' FCL.
• Jute Yarns (Spools/Trusses)Approx. 13 MT to 15 MT per 20' FCL; 24 MT to 26 MT per 40' HQ FCL.
• Jute Bags / BalesApprox. 35 to 45 compressed bales (approx. 18,000 to 22,000 bags depending on bag weight) per 20' FCL.

Every consignment undergoes mandatory Statistical Quality Control (SQC) as per the ISO-declared manual of the company. Official Quality, Weight, Moisture, and VOT Hydrocarbon-Free Certificates are issued prior to vessel departure.

We accept Irrevocable Letters of Credit (At-Sight L/C) or T/T (Telegraphic Transfer) in accordance with standard international commercial rules governed by the Bangladesh Jute Mills Association (BJMA) and Bangladesh Jute Association (BJA).