1. 7.Calculating Units of Quantity of the Goods

2. Introduction Quantity of Commodity
Any business deal consists of a certain quantity of goods supplied by the seller and a certain sum of money paid by the buyer. Without a certain quantity of goods, any business deal would be groundless. Thus, quantity clause is one of the essential terms and conditions for the conclusion of a transaction in the contract.

3. Definition of Quantity of Goods
refers to the weight, number, length, volume, area, capacity, etc. which are indicated by different measuring units.

4. Examples 1 中国大米，500公吨，麻袋装，以毛作净
China Rice in gunny bags of 500 m/t, gross for net
2 中国大米，1000公吨，卖方可溢装或短装5%
China Rice 1000 m/t, with 5% more or less at seller’s option
3 AAA 精密高速自动冲床机一台
AAA’s precision high speed automatic press 1 set. 4

5. Because different countries have different systems on calculating units such as length, capacity and weight, the units of measurement vary from a country to another. Furthermore, the same unit of measurement may represent different quantities.

6. 1 metric ton = 长吨
1 metric ton = 短吨
1 metric ton = 磅

7. Therefore, it is greatly important for trader to know the units of measurement in different systems and the way how they are converted into another. The commonly used systems in the world are the Metric System, the British System and the U. S. System.
What unit of measurement should be chosen in the contract should go in accordance with the nature of goods. The units of measurement generally used in international trade are listed in the following table

8. Units of Measurement Weight
gram (g), kilogram (kg), ounce (oz), pound (Ib), metric ton (M/T), long ton, short ton, etc.
Number
piece (pc), package (pkg), pair, set, dozen (doz), gross (gr) ream (rm),etc.
Length
meter (m), centimeter (cm), foot (ft), yard (yd),etc.
Area
square meter (sq m), square foot (sq ft), square yard (sq yd) ,etc.
Volume
ubic-meter (cu m) cubic centimeter (cu cm), cubic foot (ct ft), cubic yard (cu yd) ,etc.
Capacity
liter (1), gallon (gal), pint (pt), bushel (bu),etc.

9. Britain/American System
长度换算
Metric System公制
Chinese
System 中国 市制
Britain/American System 
英美制
Meter 米
Centimeter 厘米
Chi 尺
Yard 码
Foot 英尺
Feet 英寸 1
100 3
1.094
3.2808
0.01
0.03
0.3937
0.3333
33.33
0.3646
13.123
0.9144
91.44
2.743 36
0.3048
30.48
0.3334 12
0.0254
2.54
0.0762
0.0278
0.0833

10. 面积换算 Metric System 公 制 Britain/American System英 美 制 Chinese System
公    制
Britain/American System英     美     制
Chinese
System
中国市制
Squaremeter
平方米
Square
Centimeter
平方厘米
Yard
平方码
Square feet
平方英尺
Square foot
平方英寸
meter
平方尺 1
10000
1.196
1550 9
0.0001
0.155
0.0009
0.8361
8361
1296
7.525
0.0929
929
0.1111
144
0.836
6.45
0.0058
0.111
1111
0.133
172.2

11. 容积换算 Metric System 公 制 Chinese System 中国市制 Britain 英 制 American 美 制
Liter 升
Chinese Liter升
Britain Gallon
American Gallon 1
0.22
0.264
4.546
1.201
3.785
0.833

12. 体积换算 Metric System公 制 Britain/American System英 美 制 Chinese System 中国市制
Cubic-meter
立方米
Cubic
centimeter
立方厘米
Cubic yard
立方码
Feet 立方 英尺
Cubic foo
立方英寸
Meter
立方尺 1
1.303
61024 27
0.7636
764555
46656
20.643
28317
0.037
1728
0.7646
16.387
37037
0.0484
1.308
2260

13. 1．Weight（重量）
It is usually used for mineral products, agricultural and by-products such as wool, cotton, grains and ore products.
When it is used in the contract, there are metric ton or kilo ton, long ton or gross ton, short ton or net ton, gram(g), kilogram(kg), ounce(oz), pound(lb), gram, quintal(公担), hundred (weight or cwt) (英担) , etc.

14. 2．Number（个数）
Constantly used for measurement of industrial products and general products：
ready-made clothes, stationery, paper, toys and so on
piece(pc), package(pkg), pair, set, dozen(doz), gross(gr), ream(rm), roll or coil, etc.

15. 3．Length（长度） 4．Area（面积）
It is mostly used for textile products, metal cords, electric wires, ropes and so on, such as meter(m), foot(ft), yard(yd), etc.
4．Area（面积）
It is often used in trade of glass, textile products such as carpets, etc. like square meter, square foot, square yard and the like. Often we add thickness in the contract.

16. 5．Volume（体积） 6．Capacity（容积）
It is generally used for timber/wood, chemical gases, etc., it includes cubic meter, cubic foot, cubic yard, etc.
6．Capacity（容积）
It is mostly used for grain, petroleum/oil, etc. The commonly used capacity units are liter, gallon, bushel and so on.

17. Thank You