Metal Storage Tank Suppliers
Source metal storage tanks from verified wholesale suppliers on Towobo — vertical cylindrical, horizontal, rectangular, and conical-bottom tanks in mild steel, galvanised steel, and stainless steel for water, fuel, chemical, oil, and agricultural storage.
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Browse Metal Tank Suppliers →Metal storage tanks — types, materials, standards, and procurement
Metal storage tanks are the backbone of liquid and bulk solid storage across construction, agriculture, oil and gas, food and beverage, chemical processing, water treatment, and industrial facilities. Understanding tank types, material grades, applicable standards, and procurement terminology is essential for effective wholesale sourcing. Tank types: - Vertical cylindrical (upright): The most common configuration for above-ground bulk storage. Capacity from 500 litres to 100,000+ litres. Fixed-roof (cone or dome) or open-top. API 650 governs large field-erected tanks; smaller shop-fabricated tanks use EN 14015 (EU) or equivalent national standards. - Horizontal cylindrical: For road tankers, skid-mounted fuel/oil day tanks, underground fuel storage (UST), and applications where height is constrained. Common in 1,000–15,000 litre range. - Rectangular (cuboid): Space-efficient for indoor installation, basement cisterns, IBC-size liquid storage, and applications requiring easy modular arrangement. Common in 500–10,000 litre range. - Conical bottom (cone-bottom): Facilitates complete drainage; used in food processing, chemical dosing, and pharmaceutical tank applications. - Elevated water towers and header tanks: Rectangular or cylindrical on legs or stands for gravity-fed water distribution. Material grades: - Q235/S235JR mild steel: Economy grade. Adequate for non-aggressive water, non-potable liquids, fuel (with appropriate coating), and general industrial use. Requires internal coating/lining. - Q345/S355JR high-tensile steel: Higher strength — permits thinner walls at equivalent capacity/pressure, used for larger or elevated tanks. - Hot-dip galvanised steel: Good corrosion resistance for agricultural and outdoor water storage. Not suitable for potable water in all jurisdictions (zinc leaching concerns — confirm local regulations). - AISI 304 / AISI 316L stainless: For potable water, food, dairy, pharmaceutical, and chemical applications. See stainless-steel-tank-suppliers for detailed stainless specification. Industry standards: API 650 (field-erected atmospheric above-ground tanks, oil and gas sector, USA/international); EN 14015 (site-built vertical cylindrical tanks, Europe); BS 799 (oil-burning equipment storage, UK); BS 1386 (pressed steel cisterns, UK); UL 142 (aboveground steel fuel tanks, US); AWWA D100 (welded steel tanks for water storage, US). Procurement specifications to provide: Tank type, capacity, diameter (if cylindrical) or L × W × H, material and grade, wall/base/roof thickness, internal coating or lining specification, connection schedule (sizes, locations, ratings), manhole size, pressure rating (atmospheric vs low-pressure vs pressure vessel), finish (primer/topcoat, colour), and applicable standard or certification required.
Frequently asked questions
What is the typical cost of a metal storage tank?
Pricing varies widely by capacity, material, standard, and origin. Indicative FOB China pricing: 1,000 litre mild steel vertical cylindrical tank USD 300–600; 5,000 litre USD 800–2,500; 10,000 litre USD 1,500–5,000; 20,000 litre USD 3,000–9,000. Add 30–60% for 304 stainless steel equivalent. Indian origin pricing is typically 10–20% higher than Chinese. European/Korean pricing 50–100% above Chinese for equivalent specification. Freight and installation are additional costs.
Which metal storage tank standard applies to my market?
USA/North America: UL 142 for above-ground fuel tanks; AWWA D100 for water; API 650 for large oil/gas field tanks. Europe: EN 14015 for large cylindrical tanks; EN 13160 for leak detection; BS 1386 (UK) for pressed steel cisterns; PED for pressure vessels. Australia: AS 1692 / AS 1940. Middle East: Many projects specify API 650 or ASME Section VIII. Nigeria and West Africa: BS standards are commonly referenced alongside local SON/NAFDAC requirements. Always confirm the applicable standard with the end user or local regulatory authority before procuring.
What internal coatings are available for mild steel storage tanks?
Common internal coatings: Epoxy (solvent-based or water-borne): most widely used for water and general liquid storage. NSF 61 / WRAS-approved grades for potable water. Coal tar epoxy: traditional coating for water and petroleum storage — being phased out in some markets due to environmental concerns. Bitumen/bituminous coating: lower cost, common in developing market water tanks. Hot-dip galvanising: for agricultural and rural water tanks. Polyurethane lining: for chemical resistance. Glass-flake epoxy: for aggressive chemicals. Polyethylene/polypropylene liner: for food-grade and high-purity chemical applications.
What lead time should I expect for a custom metal storage tank order?
For standard stock sizes from China or India: 2–4 weeks from order confirmation. For custom dimensions with standard mild steel and epoxy lining: 4–8 weeks. For stainless steel custom tanks: 8–16 weeks. For code-stamped (ASME/PED) tanks: 12–20 weeks, as third-party inspection holds can add time. Tanks requiring imported raw materials (e.g., specialty alloys) or third-party weld inspection may extend further.
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