Bulk Chemical Logistics: 23 MT Flexitank versus IBC

# Bulk Chemical Logistics: 23 MT Flexitank versus IBC > **When is a flexitank cheaper than IBC totes, and when is it the wrong choice?** A flexitank carries around 23 MT in a single 20-foot container and is normally the lowest-cost option per tonne for full container loads. IBC totes and steel drums cost more per tonne but offer flexibility for trial quantities, warehouse storage and installations that cannot unload a flexitank. The right answer depends on volume, unloading equipment and how the material will be stored. ## The three packing options at a glance | Option | Typical quantity | Handling | Best suited to | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | 23 MT flexitank | About 23 MT per 20-foot container | Pumped out through a valve | Full container loads, direct tank or silo transfer | | 1000L IBC tote | About 1 MT each | Forklift and pump or gravity | Trial orders, staged use, multi-site delivery | | 200L steel drum | About 0.2 MT each | Manual or forklift handling | Small volumes, warehouses without tanks, LCL cargo | Liquid plasticizers are supplied in all three formats and are loaded from Ningbo or Shanghai for FOB or CIF terms. The trial order MOQ of 1 MT corresponds to a single 1000L IBC tote or five 200L drums. ## What a flexitank actually involves A flexitank is a food-grade or industrial-grade bladder fitted inside a standard 20-foot container, filled through a top valve and discharged through a bottom valve. It converts a dry container into a bulk liquid carrier, which is why the cost per tonne falls. It also imposes requirements that are easy to overlook. | Requirement | Why it matters | Preparation | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Discharge pump and hose | Material has to leave the bladder | Confirm pump capacity and fitting type | | Container heel | Not all material drains by gravity | Plan for a small residual or use suction | | Temperature at discharge | Viscosity falls or rises with temperature | Consider heated discharge in cold weather | | Liner and valve integrity | A leak is a total loss in transit | Inspect before filling and record | | Documentation | Customs and insurance need consistency | Keep packing list and declaration aligned | ## Unloading and storage planning The decision is often made on unloading rather than on price. A plant with a bulk tank and a pump can take a flexitank directly and avoid intermediate handling. A plant without tanks will need IBC totes, because a flexitank cannot be stored on site once it is opened. Drum packing remains useful where the material has to be carried into a production area in small lots, or where the shipment is consolidated with other cargo. | Scenario | Recommended option | Reason | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Full container to a plant with storage tanks | 23 MT flexitank | Lowest cost per tonne, direct transfer | | First order or qualification batch | 1000L IBC tote, or five 200L drums | Matches the 1 MT trial MOQ | | Multiple sites from one order | IBC totes | Splits easily without repacking | | Site without pumps or tanks | 200L drums | Handled with standard equipment | | Mixed consolidated cargo | 200L drums or IBC totes | Fits LCL and mixed container planning | ## Frequently asked questions **How much does a flexitank hold?** A standard 20-foot flexitank carries about 23 MT of plasticizer. The exact figure depends on density and on the liner specification. **What is the minimum trial quantity?** The trial order MOQ is 1 MT, which can be supplied as a 1000L IBC tote or five 200L steel drums. **Can a flexitank be stored after opening?** No. Once discharged, the bladder is not a storage vessel, so the receiving site needs tanks or the material has to be transferred immediately. **Which port is used?** Shipments are loaded from Ningbo or Shanghai, with FOB or CIF terms available. ## Request a quote and shipping advice Tell us your annual volume, receiving equipment and destination port and our team will recommend the packing that fits, together with a 1kg complimentary testing sample dispatched worldwide via DHL or FedEx for evaluation.