Flexitank, IBC or Drums: Which Bulk Packaging for Olive Oil

In brief. To ship bulk olive oil by ocean container, three packaging types dominate: the flexitank (~22,000 L, 1 per 20', the lowest cost per tonne, single-lot), the 1,000 L IBC (×20 per 20', splittable and reusable) and the 200-216 L drum (×40 per 20', robust, ideal for small quantities). The choice depends on volume, the need for splitting and the order size. You always convert litres to weight using the olive oil density ≈ 0.913 kg/L to check you don't exceed the container's payload.

Bulk packaging isn't a detail: poorly chosen or poorly calculated, it wipes out the margin or ties up a container at port. Let's compare flexitank, IBC and drums on what really matters for an olive oil import.

Flexitank, IBC or drum: which to choose?

Short answer: choose the flexitank for a large homogeneous volume (minimal cost/tonne, no palletising), the IBC when you need to split the lot or allow a tank return, and the drum for small quantities or a first evaluation order. The flexitank fills a 20' with a single lot; the IBC and the drum are palletised and handled unit by unit.

Each format suits a different order profile. There's no "best" packaging in absolute terms: there's the one that matches your volume and your receiving logistics. The technical terms (IBC, demurrage, incoterm, B/L) are defined in the glossary.

The comparison table

Indicative benchmarks for bulk olive oil shipping from Tunisia, in a standard 20' container. To confirm depending on the forwarder and palletising.

Criterion	Flexitank	IBC (1,000 L)	Drum (200-216 L)
Usable capacity / 20'	~22,000 L	20 × 1,000 L = 20,000 L	40 × 200-216 L ≈ 8,000-8,640 L
Cost / tonne	Lowest	Intermediate	Highest
Splitting	No (single lot)	Yes (per 1,000 L tank)	Yes (per drum)
Reusable	No (single use)	Yes (return/deposit possible)	Yes (metal / stainless)
Typical MOQ	1 flexitank	2 IBCs	10 drums
Handling	Simple (no pallets)	Palletised, stackable	Palletised, stackable
Main risk	Fitting fault / leak if poorly installed	Gross weight per tank	Number of units to handle
Ideal for	Large single-lot volume	Medium volumes, multi-customer	Small quantities, samples

July 2026 data, to confirm with your forwarder. Calculate your exact load with the container loading calculator.

Takeaway: the flexitank wins as soon as the lot is homogeneous and large. The IBC prevails when you need to split or return the tanks. The drum remains the solution for small quantities and first orders. The ISO tank exists for very large recurring volumes, but falls outside the scope of a first shipment.

Density 0.913: the key to container fill

Before validating a load, always convert volume to weight. Olive oil is lighter than water: 1 litre ≈ 0.913 kg. This value serves three purposes:

• converting a price €/kg ↔ €/L in a quote;
• estimating the net weight of a flexitank, an IBC or a drum;
• checking you don't exceed the container's allowable payload.

Capacities and net weight per 20' container

Packaging	Volume / 20'	Net oil weight (≈ ×0.913)
Flexitank	~22,000 L	≈ 20,086 kg
IBC (20 × 1,000 L)	20,000 L	≈ 18,260 kg
Drums (40 × 200-216 L)	8,000-8,640 L	≈ 7,304-7,888 kg

A 22,000 L flexitank therefore weighs about 20,086 kg of net oil. In IBCs or drums, a 20' is often limited by gross weight (oil + packaging + pallets) before it's limited by volume. A 40' increases the number of IBCs/drums depending on palletising and allowable gross weight, but the flexitank in principle goes in a dedicated 20'.

Seller / exporter side: quote at net weight and check the payload before confirming. A container announced as "full by volume" may be overloaded by weight — refused at loading. Do the exact calculation per format with the container loading calculator.

Insert: the 3 angles

• Buyer / importer side: the format determines your delivered cost and your receiving logistics. Ask for a price per format and check that your warehouse can handle IBCs or drain a flexitank (pump, suitable dock).
• Seller / exporter side: the format and the incoterm shape the quote and the margin. Quote at net weight (density 0.913) and secure the gross weight before quoting.
• Operational exporter side (Tunisia): the fitting of the flexitank by an approved operator, the palletising and the choice of port (Radès/Sfax) set lead times and charges. Book early and anticipate demurrage.

The classic mistake

Choosing the flexitank "because it's cheapest per tonne" without checking that the lot is indeed homogeneous and that the net weight (≈ 20,086 kg) stays under the payload. A poorly fitted flexitank can leak; a container of IBCs or drums "full by volume" can be overloaded by weight and refused at loading.

The other mistake: ignoring your own receiving logistics. A flexitank requires a pump and a dock suited to draining; IBCs need a forklift. The right format is the one you can receive and handle, not just ship at the best price.

FAQ

How many litres of olive oil in a 20' container?

About 22,000 L in a flexitank (1 per 20'), 20,000 L in IBCs (20 × 1,000 L), or 8,000 to 8,640 L in drums (40 × 200-216 L). By net weight, that gives respectively ≈ 20,086 kg, ≈ 18,260 kg and ≈ 7,304-7,888 kg, using the oil density of 0.913 kg/L.

Why use the density 0.913 for olive oil?

Because the oil is lighter than water: 1 litre ≈ 0.913 kg. This value serves to convert €/kg to €/L, estimate a container's net weight and check you don't exceed its payload. A volume-only calculation can mask a weight overload.

Is the flexitank reusable?

No. The flexitank is single-use packaging: it's installed in the container, filled, then discarded after draining. Conversely, metal/stainless IBCs and drums are reusable and can be subject to a return or a deposit, which weighs in the cost calculation.

Which packaging for a first olive oil order?

The drum (200-216 L) or the IBC (1,000 L), which let you order modest quantities (typical MOQ 10 drums or 2 IBCs) without committing to a full 22,000 L flexitank. It's the logical choice for evaluating a supplier before moving to full-container bulk.

Flexitank or IBC: which costs less?

The flexitank offers the lowest cost per tonne as soon as the lot is homogeneous and large, since there's neither palletising nor multiple tanks. The IBC costs more per tonne but brings splitting and reuse. Compare the full delivered cost with the export cost calculator.

Does the packaging change the insurance or the incoterm?

The incoterm (EXW, FOB, CIF…) allocates who pays freight and insurance, independently of the format. But the leak risk specific to the flexitank and the gross weight of IBCs/drums influence the load calculation and the insurance premium. See the incoterms guide.

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Not sure which format to choose for your volume? Request a free quote: we quote your oil by format (flexitank, IBC, drums) with net weight and loading plan. First calculate your exact load with the container loading calculator, then cost the delivered price incoterm by incoterm.

July 2026 data, indicative and to re-verify before any commitment. Sources: IOC/T.15/NC trade standard, olive oil reference density (≈ 0.913 kg/L), container logistics practices.