200-216 L drums for olive oil: small lots, trials and

In brief

The drum of 200 to 216 liters (food-grade steel or HDPE) is the format for small lots. About 40 fit per 20' container, i.e. ~8,000 to 8,640 L (~7,300 to 7,900 kg at 0.913 kg/L). A 216 L drum weighs ~197 kg of oil. It is the ideal format for a first trial, a market test, a volume sample or an emerging brand: you validate the quality and logistics before moving to IBC or flexitank. In exchange, it is the format with the highest cost per tonne of the three, with the most handling.

Zitouna Export delivers drums out of Tunisia (Sfax / Radès), with a COA per lot, for extra virgin as well as organic.

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What is an olive oil drum?

The drum (or barrel) is a cylindrical container of 200 to 216 liters, made of steel (often with a food-grade interior coating) or HDPE (food-grade high-density polyethylene). It is filled and emptied through the bung (top plug), and handled individually or palletized (4 drums per pallet).

It is the smallest of the bulk formats: it allows ordering modest volumes without going through packaged goods (bottles, cans).

Characteristic	Indicative value
Capacity	200 to 216 L
Weight of oil (0.913 kg/L)	~183 kg (200 L) to ~197 kg (216 L)
Per 20' container	~40 drums
Total 20' capacity	~8,000 to 8,640 L (~7,300 to 7,900 kg)
Reusable	Depending on material (steel reusable)
Discharge	By bung, individually
Indicative MOQ	10 drums (~2,000 L)

Density used: 0.913 kg/L. Indicative capacities, excluding load tolerances and permissible gross weight. July 2026 �.

Calculate liters ↔ kg and the number of drums per container with our packing calculator.

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Why choose drums: the entry point

The drum is often the first format of a business relationship:

• Accessible small volume: from 10 drums (~2,000 L), without committing to a full container.
• Quality and logistics test: you validate the oil, the COA, the lead times and the documentation before scaling.
• Simple handling: individually, with a hand truck or a pallet truck for pallets.
• Suited to emerging brands and HORECA that do not need large volumes.

The classic pattern: you test in drums, then scale up in IBC (flexibility) or in flexitank (cost/tonne).

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Advantages and limitations

Advantages	Limitations
Ideal first trial / market test	Highest cost per tonne of the three
Accessible small volume (from 10 drums)	More handling (40 units per 20')
Individual handling, no pump	Less total volume per container
Suited to emerging brands, HORECA	Partial container fill (~8,000 L)
Reusable steel	40 bungs to open at discharge

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For whom? Typical use cases

The drum is aimed at buyers with small volumes or in a testing phase:

• Brand creators and private label projects at launch.
• E-tailers testing a range.
• HORECA (restaurants, caterers) with moderate consumption.
• Importers who validate quality before moving to flexitank.

As soon as the volume grows, the IBC brings flexibility and the flexitank the best cost per tonne.

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Logistics and transport

The drum travels upright, secured and braced in the container, often palletized (4 per pallet). Key points:

• ~40 drums per 20', depending on their diameter and palletization.
• The container is not filled by weight (~7.5 t of oil): it is space that limits, not the payload.
• Plan for a dock and a means of handling (hand truck, pallet truck).
• Check the condition of the bungs and seals on receipt.

Maritime details in our sea transport guide and choice of incoterm.

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Density and load calculation

Remember the density: ~0.913 kg/L.

• 1 drum of 216 L ≈ 197 kg; of 200 L ≈ 183 kg.
• 40 drums of 216 L ≈ 7,890 kg (~8,640 L).
• To convert €/kg ↔ €/L, apply the factor 0.913.

Our packing calculator does the calculation for 20' and 40'.

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Buyer side / seller side

Buyer side (emerging brand, HORECA)	Seller side (exporter, brand)
Order a small volume to test quality and logistics, calculate the delivered price per tonne, verify the incoterm, plan for individual handling before scaling.	Quote the entry-level format, guarantee the integrity of the food-grade drums, document the net weight on the COA per lot, support the volume ramp-up to IBC/flexitank.
CTA: request a quote	CTA: train for export

Golden rule: validate the format and gross weight before quoting — a packing error wipes out the margin.

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FAQ — Drums for olive oil

How many liters in an olive oil drum?

A drum holds 200 to 216 liters, i.e. about 183 to 197 kg of oil at 0.913 kg/L. It is the smallest of the bulk formats, between packaged goods (bottles, cans) and the 1,000 L IBC.

How many drums in a 20' container?

About 40 drums of 200 to 216 L, i.e. ~8,000 to 8,640 L (~7,300 to 7,900 kg). The number depends on the diameter of the drums and palletization. Use the packing calculator.

What is the MOQ for drums?

The indicative MOQ is 10 drums (~2,000 L). It is the minimum volume for a first test without committing to a full container. We can also combine formats in the same shipment.

Is the drum the best format for a first order?

Yes. The drum allows ordering a small volume to validate quality, the COA and logistics before moving to IBC or flexitank. It is the classic entry point of an export relationship.

Steel or HDPE: which drum material to choose?

Both are food-grade. Steel (interior coated) is robust and reusable; HDPE is lighter and resistant to corrosion. The choice depends on your logistics, reuse and your market's requirements.

Why does the drum cost more per tonne?

Because it combines packaging (40 containers per container) and handling (unit by unit, 40 bungs). It also carries less volume per 20' (~8,000 L versus ~22,000 L in flexitank). It is the format with the highest cost/tonne.

Is the drum suitable for extra virgin olive oil?

Yes, with a food-grade drum (coated steel or HDPE), away from light. To preserve an extra virgin, store cool and away from air, and empty within a reasonable time after opening the bung.

Can drums be loaded into a 40' container?

Yes: a 40' accommodates more drums depending on palletization. Here it is space that limits (the weight remains moderate). The packing calculator handles both sizes.

Which incoterm for a drum order?

For a first order, FOB (loaded at Radès) is the standard; CIF includes freight and insurance up to the destination port. See our incoterms guide.

Does each drum correspond to a single lot?

Not necessarily: the same lot can fill several drums. Each shipment is accompanied by the COA (certificate of analysis) per lot, issued by an accredited laboratory, with the net weight documented.

How to move from drums to a larger format?

Once quality and logistics are validated in drums, you move to the 1,000 L IBC for flexibility, or the ~22,000 L flexitank to minimize the cost per tonne on a full container.

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Request your drum quotation

Volume, destination market, category (extra virgin / virgin), organic or conventional, incoterm, material (steel / HDPE): give us your needs, and we will send you a dated quotation and a reference sample with its COA.

Request a free quote — drawer pre-filled "Drums 200-216 L".

Lead magnet: download our Guide to Exporting Olive Oil (formats, packing, incoterms, documentary checklist).

See also: all formats · ~22,000 L flexitank · 1,000 L IBC.