Why standard units matter
International trade documents move between suppliers, forwarders, carriers, and customs in many
countries. Using a standard unit and its code avoids confusion between, for example, a metric
tonne and a short ton, or a piece and a set. The codes below come from UN/CEFACT Recommendation
20, the standard list of units of measure used in international trade.
Mass and weight
| Unit | Symbol | UN/CEFACT code |
|---|
| Kilogram | kg | KGM |
| Gram | g | GRM |
| Metric ton (tonne) | t | TNE |
| Pound | lb | LBR |
| Ounce | oz | ONZ |
Length
| Unit | Symbol | UN/CEFACT code |
|---|
| Metre | m | MTR |
| Centimetre | cm | CMT |
| Millimetre | mm | MMT |
| Kilometre | km | KMT |
| Foot | ft | FOT |
| Inch | in | INH |
Area and volume
| Unit | Symbol | UN/CEFACT code |
|---|
| Square metre | m² | MTK |
| Cubic metre | m³ | MTQ |
| Litre | L | LTR |
| Millilitre | mL | MLT |
Quantity and count
| Unit | Symbol | UN/CEFACT code |
|---|
| Piece | pc | H87 |
| Unit (one) | — | C62 |
| Number of pairs | — | NPR |
| Dozen | — | DZN |
| Set | — | SET |
Shipping containers
| Unit | Symbol | UN/CEFACT code |
|---|
| Twenty-foot container (TEU) | — | 20 |
| Forty-foot container (FEU) | — | 21 |
Important note
Codes follow UN/CEFACT Recommendation 20 (Codes for Units of Measure Used in International Trade).
For the complete and authoritative list, see the
UNECE Code List Recommendations. Customs declarations may require a
specific statutory unit, so always confirm the required unit with the customs authority or your
broker.