As global trade continues to expand, reducing logistics costs and improving transportation efficiency have become critical concerns for international trading companies. Flexitanks, a new type of flexible packaging container for non-hazardous liquid cargo, are emerging as an innovative solution for maritime logistics with their unique advantages.
Flexitanks: The Ideal Carrier for Liquid Cargo
A flexitank is a flexible packaging container designed to store and transport various non-hazardous liquid goods. Its ingenious design allows it to fit perfectly within a standard 20-foot international shipping container, with a capacity ranging from 14 to 24 cubic meters (up to 24,000 liters of liquid). This design leverages the advantages of containerized transportation, making it adaptable to multiple transport modes including trains, trucks, and ships, thereby significantly facilitating the maritime export of liquid goods.
Wide Range of Applications
Flexitanks find applications across numerous industries including food, industrial, and chemical sectors:
- Food Products: Wine, edible oils, concentrated fruit juices, food additives, sorbitol, palm oil, soy sauce, rice wine, mineral water, malt extract, various syrups.
- Industrial Oils: Lubricants, lubricant additives, transformer oil, white oil, tung oil, glycerin, coconut oil, hydraulic oil, industrial gear oil, castor oil, high fatty acids, oleic acid.
- Non-Hazardous Liquid Chemicals: Plasticizers, synthetic resins, detergents, disinfectants, surfactants, polyols, feed additives, silicates, saline solutions, propylene glycol, ethylene glycol, polyethers, alkylating agents, herbicides, fertilizers, natural rubber, synthetic latex.
Advantages of Flexitank Shipping
Flexitanks have gained popularity among trading companies primarily because they significantly reduce logistics costs while improving transportation efficiency. Compared to traditional packaging methods like tank containers or steel drums, flexitanks offer several distinct advantages:
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Cost Efficiency:
They replace expensive traditional packaging like tank containers and steel drums, substantially reducing costs associated with loading/unloading, packaging, transportation, and material management.
- 30% lower overall logistics costs compared to ISO tank containers per 20-foot container
- 40% cost savings compared to IBC totes (intermediate bulk containers)
- 50% cost savings compared to steel drums per 20-foot container
Comparative Analysis of Packaging Options
To better understand the advantages of flexitanks, let's examine detailed comparisons with other common packaging methods:
1. Flexitank vs. ISO Tank Container
| Factor | Flexitank | ISO Tank Container |
|---|---|---|
| Shipping Costs | Standard 20-foot container rates | Higher specialized container rates |
| Availability | Not constrained by supply or location | Limited availability affects shipping schedules |
| Additional Costs | No rental or cleaning fees | Daily rental fees (~$15/day) and cleaning fees (~$200) |
| Space Allocation | No space constraints | Limited container availability |
2. Flexitank vs. 200L Steel Drums
| Factor | Flexitank | 200L Steel Drums |
|---|---|---|
| Packaging Cost | Significantly lower | ¥12,000-16,000 per container |
| Capacity | 24,000 liters | 17,600 liters |
| Handling | 2 people can load/unload in 1 hour | Complex, labor-intensive process |
3. Flexitank vs. 1000L IBC Totes
| Factor | Flexitank | 1000L IBC Totes |
|---|---|---|
| Purchase Cost | More economical | ¥21,600 per container |
| Capacity | 24,000 liters | 21,600 liters |
| Loading Requirements | No special equipment needed | Requires forklifts |
Structure and Specifications
Understanding flexitank structure and specifications helps in proper selection and use:
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Structure:
- Outer layer: High-strength wear-resistant coated polypropylene (PP) woven fabric
- Inner layer: Three/four layers of food-grade high-strength modified polyethylene (PE) film
- Loading/unloading ports: 3-inch food-grade butterfly valves or ball valves with stable integrated valve systems
- Model Specifications: Example: "24KL TLTD Flexitank 4layers LLDPE W/PRV" translates to "24,000 liter capacity, top loading and top discharge, 4 layers of LLDPE material, with pressure release valve."
Container Selection Criteria
To ensure safe, legal transport of non-hazardous liquids, proper container selection is essential:
- Containers must meet international standards in design, dimensions, weight capacity, testing, and certification
- Maximum payload capacity should be clearly marked (30,000 kg or 67,000 lbs)
- Container age should not exceed 5 years
- No previous repairs or modifications
- Suitable for multimodal transport (road, rail, sea)
- Must have vertical grooves near door bolts and functional locks
- No prior transport of hazardous materials
- Interior must be free of sharp edges, contaminants, or damage risks
Container Liners for Dry Bulk Shipping
For dry bulk cargo, container liners (also called dry bulk bags or container liners) offer similar advantages:
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Applications:
- Food Products: Soybeans, coffee beans, barley, wheat, corn, cocoa powder, fish meal, flour, milk powder, peanuts, lentils, nuts, peas, rice, salt, seeds, starch, sugar, tea, animal feed
- Industrial Products: PVC powder, ABS resin, PTA, zinc powder, polyethylene pellets, polypropylene pellets, nylon polymers, polycarbonate pellets, aluminum powder, fertilizers, glass beads, polyester pellets, soda ash, detergents, kaolin, titanium dioxide powder
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Advantages:
- 75% cost savings compared to small packaging
- 50% cost savings compared to bulk bags
Shipping Considerations
When using flexitanks for maritime export, several factors require attention:
- Only door-to-door truck transport is available for flexitank shipments
- Suitable for general cargo liquids, food liquids, and chemical liquids (not hazardous materials)
As an innovative logistics solution, flexitanks are helping international trading companies reduce costs and enhance competitiveness through their economic, efficient, and convenient features. With ongoing technological advancements and expanding applications, flexitanks are poised to play an increasingly significant role in maritime logistics.