Importing Small Quantities of Olive Oil: Part-Container, Air

Q: Can you import less than a full container?

Yes. The full container ( FCL , full container load) is the reference format for bulk, but it is not the only entry point. Below it, there are two options: - Part-container : your order travels in a container that is not filled to capacity, for you only. No goods from other shippers are loaded with yours. You can fill it with a few pallets of IBCs (1,000 L), drums or packed bottles. - Air freight : for very small orders, such as a first batch of bottles. The freight noticeably raises the price per bottle. We do not do groupage: your oil never shares a container with other shippers' goods.

Q: How much fits, and what is the minimum?

There is no minimum order at Zitouna Export. For scale, a 20' container holds 10 pallets: Format Unit Per 20' container -------- ------ ------------------- IBC 1,000 L 20 IBCs Drums Drum ≈ 80 drums Flexitank Full container only 1 flexitank A part-container is any load below these figures. To gauge the gap with a full load, see our article on the number of litres of oil per container. A flexitank always takes the whole container, so it is not an option for small volumes.

Q: The real surcharge: how much more per kilo?

This is the point too many buyers discover too late. The price of the oil stays close to the origin market. But the landed cost climbs faster in small volume, because the fixed costs are spread over fewer kilos. The about USD 1,000 of fixed costs is the same for a full container and for a few pallets, so the fewer kilos you ship, the more each kilo carries. Freight on a part-container and your costs at destination add to that, and they are quoted case by case.

Q: When does small volume really make sense?

A part-container or an air shipment is a testing tool , not an economical way to buy. It is relevant to: - Test a new market : validate demand before tying up the cash of a full container. - Try a variety : compare a mild Chemlali and a more robust Chetoui on a real commercial volume. - Qualify a supplier : check quality, documents and reliability before scaling up. - Ease starting cash flow , when a full container is too heavy a commitment. As soon as your volumes become regular and predictable , the full container is again the most economical format per kilo.

Importing Small Quantities of Olive Oil: Part-Container, Air

Guide

In brief. You do not have to order a full container (FCL) to import olive oil. Zitouna Export sets no minimum order. A small volume ships as a part-container: a container that is not completely filled, loaded for you alone, with a few pallets of IBCs, drums or cases. Very small orders go by air. The catch is cost: every shipment carries about USD 1,000 of fixed costs whatever the quantity, so the cost per kilo is higher than in a full container. Small volume makes sense to test a market, a variety or a supplier before scaling, rarely for recurring volume.

Many SME buyers believe importing olive oil necessarily starts at a full container. It doesn't. You can start much smaller, as long as you know and accept the extra cost per kilo. Here are the real options below the full container, what they cost and when they are worth it.

Can you import less than a full container?

Yes. The full container (FCL, full container load) is the reference format for bulk, but it is not the only entry point. Below it, there are two options:

Part-container: your order travels in a container that is not filled to capacity, for you only. No goods from other shippers are loaded with yours. You can fill it with a few pallets of IBCs (1,000 L), drums or packed bottles.
Air freight: for very small orders, such as a first batch of bottles. The freight noticeably raises the price per bottle.

We do not do groupage: your oil never shares a container with other shippers' goods.

The principle is simple: the lower the volume, the more the fixed costs weigh per kilo. The price of the oil itself doesn't change much; it's the logistics that get pricier.

The part-container: how it works

The container is loaded at our end with your order only, then shipped like any full container. What you need to know:

Fixed costs per shipment: about USD 1,000 (analyses, export formalities, transport from the factory to the vessel), whether you ship 20 IBCs or 2.
Same handling as a full container: no repacking with other goods along the way, so your IBCs or drums are handled no more than in an FCL. Bracing still matters when the container is partly empty.
Your own costs at destination: customs clearance and your freight forwarder's fees are owed whatever the volume.

A part-container is a good fit for a first trial: you receive real pallets, check quality on arrival and validate the supplier before any volume commitment.

How much fits, and what is the minimum?

There is no minimum order at Zitouna Export. For scale, a 20' container holds 10 pallets:

Format	Unit	Per 20' container
IBC	1,000 L	20 IBCs
Drums	Drum	≈ 80 drums
Flexitank	Full container only	1 flexitank

A part-container is any load below these figures. To gauge the gap with a full load, see our article on the number of litres of oil per container. A flexitank always takes the whole container, so it is not an option for small volumes.

The real surcharge: how much more per kilo?

This is the point too many buyers discover too late. The price of the oil stays close to the origin market. But the landed cost climbs faster in small volume, because the fixed costs are spread over fewer kilos.

The about USD 1,000 of fixed costs is the same for a full container and for a few pallets, so the fewer kilos you ship, the more each kilo carries. Freight on a part-container and your costs at destination add to that, and they are quoted case by case. The right method is never to compare two FOB prices, but to compare two landed costs (all-inclusive delivered cost) for the same volume.

Points that widen the gap in small volume:

Fixed costs per shipment: about USD 1,000 on our side, identical whatever the volume.
Customs clearance and freight forwarder fees at destination, also fixed.
Air freight on very small orders, which raises the unit price.
Packaging cost: IBCs or drums cost more per litre than the flexitank of an FCL.

When does small volume really make sense?

A part-container or an air shipment is a testing tool, not an economical way to buy. It is relevant to:

Test a new market: validate demand before tying up the cash of a full container.
Try a variety: compare a mild Chemlali and a more robust Chetoui on a real commercial volume.
Qualify a supplier: check quality, documents and reliability before scaling up.
Ease starting cash flow, when a full container is too heavy a commitment.

As soon as your volumes become regular and predictable, the full container is again the most economical format per kilo. Our article on how to import a full container covers that step. Small volume to learn and test, full container to optimise cost once the market is validated.

The mistake to avoid

Choosing small volume to save per kilo: the opposite happens. A part-container costs more per kilo; it is justified by risk reduction, not by price. The other classic mistake is comparing a small-volume FOB price to a full-container landed price. Always compare equivalent landed costs, otherwise you reach the wrong conclusion.

FAQ

Can you import olive oil without a full container?

Yes. Zitouna Export has no minimum order. A small volume ships as a part-container, a container not completely filled and loaded for you only, with a few pallets of IBCs, drums or cases. Very small orders go by air. The cost per kilo is higher than in a full container.

What is a part-container?

A container that is not filled to capacity and carries only your order. It is not groupage: no goods from other shippers travel with yours. The fixed costs of the shipment stay the same as for a full container, so each kilo carries a larger share.

Is there a minimum order for a small import?

Not with Zitouna Export. You can order a few IBCs or drums. Keep in mind that every shipment carries about USD 1,000 of fixed costs (analyses, export formalities, factory-to-vessel transport), whatever the quantity.

How much does oil cost in small quantities compared to a container?

The oil stays close to the origin market price, but the fixed costs (about USD 1,000 per shipment on our side, plus customs clearance and freight forwarder at destination) are spread over fewer kilos, which noticeably increases the landed cost per kilo compared to a full container.

When should you favour small volume?

To test a market, a variety or a supplier before committing to a full container. Small volume reduces risk and eases starting cash flow; it is not the right choice for regular supply, which is more economical in a full container.

How do you compare a part-container offer and a full-container offer?

Never compare two FOB prices: compare two landed costs (all-inclusive delivered cost) for the same volume and the same destination. That is the only way to see the real surcharge of small volume and decide knowingly.

Want to test a first small volume of Tunisian olive oil? Request a quote: we cost your part-container or air shipment, with a clear landed cost by format and by incoterm. For scaling up, read our guide to importing a full container.