Jute Grading and Testing

SGS offers an independent jute grading and testing service that assesses the quality of both raw jute and finished goods containing jute. Our textile labs – accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) – use a standardized testing approach.

A natural bast fiber obtained from two plants (chorchorus capsularis L and chorchorus olitorius), jute is grown in tropical countries. In India and Bangladesh – the two major producers – capsularis L is better known as white jute and olitorius as tossa jute.

Also called “the golden fiber”, jute varies in quality according to geography and season. It can differ in terms of length, strength, color, luster, weight, softness and smoothness, as well as the distinctiveness and uniformity of the fibers. The proportion of cuttings, hard-centered fibers, harsh crop and faults (e.g. roots, barks, sticks, specks, knots, runners and water marks) are additional factors that can reduce the grade.

Quality is affected by growing practices; humidity; the nature of the soil and water; rainfall; the methods used for extracting the fiber (retting); topography; washing, drying and storage.

Services for raw jute

On behalf of buyers, shippers and sellers, we offer a pre-shipment service that includes supervising the stuffing of containers within the port premises and testing the moisture content of the jute. We also perform the following inspections:

• Containers
• Packing/markings
• Quality
• Quantity/weight

Services for jute goods

We offer a range of services on finished articles containing jute:

• Quality/quantity inspection
• Final random inspections once goods are ready for shipment
• Identification of selected packing with SGS stencils/seals
• Random sampling of packed goods
• Sampling for food grade testing of unsaponifiable (unsap) matter – the non-triglyceride part present in the plant oil
• Quality assurance (offered directly to the mills for jute yarn, cloth and bags)
• Regular checking on quality parameters
• Reduces the number of manufactured goods that are rejected
• Stuffing supervision
• Checking of containers for cleanliness
• Containers must be watertight, to avoid damage to the finished goods
• Verification of quantity shipped
• Compliance with buyers’ specific requirements
• Testing
• Performed in our NABL accredited labs
• Criteria include oil content
• Special testing – in accordance with International Jute Organization (IJO) 98/01 – to determine the unsap matter in food grade jute products
• Witnessing of test analysis in manufacturing mills, as required

Inspection parameters (jute yarn)

• Breaking strength and its count variation percentage (CV%)
• Count and its CV%
• Marking
• Moisture regain %
• Oil %
• Quality ratio
• Spool defect
• Total quantity
• Twist per inch
• Yarn fault

Inspection parameters (jute fabric)

• Construction (porter and shots)
• Dimension (width)
• Fabric faults
• Marking
• Moisture %
• Oil %
• Packing
• Quantity (weight and metrage)
• Strength

Inspection parameters (jute bags)

• Construction (porter and shots)
• Dimension (length ,width, height)
• Fabric faults
• Food grade testing
• Marking
• Moisture %
• Oil %
• Packing
• Seam strength
• Stitching faults

For more information on our independent jute grading, testing and other services, contact SGS now.