Lasts Longa
SAFIRE CHARKA (Pty) Ltd
For over 45 years, CHARKA has been the trusted name in South African charcoal and briquette manufacturing. First to market with briquettes. FSC Certified. Available nationwide and export-ready.
It is more than 45 years since CHARKA, the iconic and proudly South African charcoal and briquette manufacturer, first transformed the country's relationship with fire. CHARKA Briketts were the first briquettes on the South African market — and for a long time, the only such product available.
Today, the CHARKA range — including Braaimeester — is available at all leading retail stores nationwide. The SAFIRE CHARKA charcoal operation remains the leading charcoal manufacturer in South Africa, FSC Certified (Chain of Custody) with documentation available on request.
In 2015, the company became SAFIRE CHARKA (Pty) Ltd when SAFIRE Insurance Company Limited, together with a syndicate of timber farmers and existing management, became major shareholders. The partnership is synergetic: CHARKA uses wood from burnt plantations, maximising salvage recoveries from timber fires — reducing net losses for SAFIRE's timber-farming clients while supplying CHARKA's production.
The CHARKA production process is sustainable and environmentally responsible. Invasive alien Black Wattle (inter alia) is used as the primary raw material, contributing to environmental management while providing premium feedstock.
The original South African briquette — first on the market and still the benchmark. Pillow-shaped for consistent, long-lasting heat.
| Configuration | Capacity |
|---|---|
| Balers / 40' FCL | 16.00 MT |
| Palletised 5 kg bags | 15.75 MT |
| Pallets / 40' FCL | 42 pallets |
Pure, natural lump charcoal from the largest kiln-sorted pieces. The choice of discerning braai masters for an authentic wood-fire flavour.
| Configuration | Capacity |
|---|---|
| Without pallets / 40' FCL | 11.00 MT |
| Palletised / 40' FCL | 8.40 MT |
All the quality of Braaimeester Lump Charcoal with built-in instant-light technology. No firelighters needed.
| Configuration | Capacity |
|---|---|
| Without pallets / 40' FCL | 12.00 MT |
| Palletised / 40' FCL | 9.07 MT |
Instant lighting briquettes. Eliminates the need for firelighters entirely. Braai-ready in just 20 minutes — premium performance, maximum convenience.
| Configuration | Capacity |
|---|---|
| Without pallets / 40' FCL | 800 balers |
Brown and White quick-flame firelighters. Reliable, fast-lighting, and odourless. Available in both brown and white variants.
| Configuration | Capacity |
|---|---|
| Boxes per pallet | 90 boxes |
| Pallets / 40' FCL | 42 pallets |
| Product | Configuration | Metric Tons / 40' FCL |
|---|---|---|
| CHARKA Briketts | Balers (loose) | 16.00 MT |
| CHARKA Briketts | On pallets (5 kg bags) | 15.75 MT |
| Braaimeester Lump Charcoal | Balers (loose) | 11.00 MT |
| Braaimeester Lump Charcoal | On pallets (5 kg bags) | 8.40 MT |
| Braaimeester Instant Lighting Charcoal | Balers (loose) | 12.00 MT |
| Braaimeester Instant Lighting Charcoal | On pallets | 9.07 MT |
| CHARKA Instabriks | Balers (loose) | 800 balers |
| CHARKA Firelighters | Palletised | 42 pallets |
Contact our sales team for custom configurations, pricing, and freight terms. All container specs are approximate and subject to packaging verification.