Legal Definitions - kintal

The term kintal is an alternative spelling for quintal, a traditional unit of weight. While its precise value can vary depending on the region and historical context, a quintal most commonly refers to:

• 100 kilograms (approximately 220.46 pounds) in countries that use the metric system or have historically traded with such regions.
• Less frequently, 100 pounds (approximately 45.36 kilograms) in some historical contexts, particularly in areas influenced by the imperial system.

It is primarily used for measuring bulk commodities, especially in agriculture and commodity trading.

Here are some examples illustrating the use of kintal:

• Agricultural Sales: A farmer in a rural market in Southeast Asia might sell their rice harvest, stating, "I have 50 kintals of paddy rice available for sale." In this scenario, the farmer is indicating that they have 5,000 kilograms (50 x 100 kg) of rice to sell, using a common local unit of measure for bulk agricultural products.

• International Commodity Trading: When a trading company in a country like Spain imports a large shipment of raw sugar, the bill of lading might specify the quantity as "2,000 quintals of sugar." Here, the term quintal (or kintal) would signify 200,000 kilograms (2,000 x 100 kg) of sugar, reflecting a standard unit used in international trade for bulk goods.

• Historical Record Keeping: An old inventory record from a colonial trading post in the 18th century might list "30 kintals of dried fish." Depending on the specific colonial power and region, this could refer to 3,000 kilograms or 3,000 pounds of fish, demonstrating its historical use as a significant unit for tracking substantial quantities of goods.