Speiseöl im Flexitank — Bulk-FCL-Liquid-Öl

Flexitank supply for cooking oil: how it works and who uses it

A flexitank is a large single-use polyethylene bladder installed inside a standard 20-foot dry shipping container. Once loaded, it holds between 16,000 and 24,000 litres of liquid edible oil (oil density varies: sunflower oil ~916 kg/m³; palm olein ~900 kg/m³; soybean oil ~920 kg/m³). The flexitank maximises the liquid cargo capacity of a standard container — typically 20–25% more volume than the same container loaded with 200-litre steel drums. Flexitanks are the dominant bulk liquid format for international edible oil trade for FCL volumes below ISO tank or parcel tanker thresholds. They are used by: **Edible oil importers and distributors:** Buying in FCL quantities from origin refineries in Ukraine, Argentina, Malaysia, Indonesia, or other producing countries to supply local food manufacturers, food service distributors, or for re-packing into drums or IBCs. **Food manufacturers with liquid oil infrastructure:** Large bakeries, snack manufacturers, frying operations, and oleochemical plants receiving FCL volumes on a monthly or quarterly basis. **Trading houses:** Taking physical delivery of bulk oil for storage and redistribution. **How a flexitank supply chain works:** 1. The empty flexitank is transported to the origin filling point (oil refinery or blending facility) 2. The flexitank is installed in the shipping container and inflated 3. The oil is pumped in through the filling port — typically at 15–25°C for liquid oils; for palm olein or other oils that may be viscous at ambient, the oil is pumped while hot (40–60°C) 4. The filling port is sealed and the container is loaded for ocean freight 5. At destination, the container is unloaded to a tank farm or pump-out facility — a discharge pump connected to the flexitank outlet valve transfers the oil to a receiving tank 6. The empty flexitank bag is removed from the container and disposed of (most flexitanks are non-reusable single-use bags) **Infrastructure requirements at destination:** The buyer must have a liquid oil receiving tank (capacity ≥ one flexitank volume, typically 20–25 MT) and a food-grade pump rated for edible oil. If receiving palm olein or other oils that may partially solidify during transit in cold climates, heated pump-out capability is required.