For non-hazardous liquids — edible oils, juices, wines, glycerol, latex — the choice is usually between rigid IBC totes and a flexible flexitank fitted inside a container. The economics favour flexitanks at scale.
Capacity and payload
A single 20ft flexitank carries roughly 16,000–24,000 litres, versus about 1,000 litres per IBC tote (so ~20–24 totes for the same volume). Fewer handling units means lower labour and lower contamination risk.
Cost and sustainability
Flexitanks are single-use but lightweight and recyclable; they avoid the cleaning and return logistics of reusable totes. For one-way export lanes they are typically the cheaper option per litre.
When to choose IBCs instead
- Multi-drop deliveries needing intermediate access.
- Hazardous or temperature-critical liquids outside flexitank ratings.
- Short, reusable loops where return logistics are cheap.
Unsure which fits your lane? Send us your volume, product and route and we will model both options.