- +66 95 881 6730
- thai@narisaralookoil.asia
- Narisaralook Oil Export Co., Ltd., Soi Mu Ban Chom Thong, Chom Thong, Bangkok 10150, Thailand
Cooking Oil Container Loading Guide: 20ft vs 40ft
Planning container loads correctly is one of the largest cost levers in edible oil importing. Because cooking oil is a dense cargo, containers reach their weight limit before they are full by volume - which changes how 20ft and 40ft equipment should be used compared with lighter consumer goods. This guide explains container options, how packaging format interacts with capacity, and how we plan loads for buyers shipping from Thailand.
It forms part of our buyer guide series together with the packaging and bulk supply guide, the FOB vs CIF comparison and the step-by-step import guide.
Container Types at a Glance
| Container | Approx. Internal Volume | Typical Role for Cooking Oil |
| 20ft General Purpose | ~33 cbm | Flexitank bulk (~21 MT), drums, palletized bottles, first orders |
| 40ft General Purpose | ~67 cbm | High-volume bottled and packaged loads within payload limits |
| 40ft High Cube | ~76 cbm | Lighter carton configurations needing extra stacking height |
Weight limits vary by shipping line, route and destination port regulations. The exact payload applied to your shipment is confirmed with the booking, and your loading plan is included in every quotation.
Why Oil Is Weight-Limited, Not Volume-Limited
Cooking oil weighs roughly 0.9 kg per liter. A 20ft container with about 33 cbm of internal volume could theoretically hold around 30 tons of oil by volume - more than containers are rated to carry. In practice, the shipment reaches the container's weight limit first.
This has two practical consequences for importers:
- Flexitank loads live in 20ft containers: a flexitank carries approximately 21 metric tons per 20ft container, which sits at the practical weight ceiling for this equipment and trade lane.
- 40ft containers suit packaged formats: with bottles, cartons, drums and pallets taking up space, packaged loads use volume efficiently - and the doubled floor area of a 40ft allows more cartons when total weight stays within the payload limit.
Loading by Packaging Format
- Flexitank (20ft): one flexitank per container, approximately 21 metric tons, discharged by hose into bulk storage at destination.
- PET bottles (20ft / 40ft): cartons of 1L, 2L or 5L bottles loaded floor-stacked or palletized; the count per container depends on bottle size and carton dimensions, and the minimum bottled order is approximately 800 cartons.
- Jerry cans (20ft / 40ft): 10L, 20L and 25L cans packed for stable stacking and straightforward discharge at destination warehouses.
- Steel drums (20ft): 210L drums loaded in rows and secured; drums pair well with 20ft equipment given their weight.
- IBC totes (20ft): 1,000L totes positioned for forklift handling and gravity or pump discharge at destination.
- Mixed loads: combining formats in one container is common practice; the mixed plan is confirmed by our sales team at quotation.
Full packaging details for each format are in the packaging and bulk supply guide.
Temperature and Climate Considerations
Refined cooking oils are shipped in standard dry containers, and the cargo should be protected from prolonged extreme heat or cold during transport and storage. For palm olein moving to cooler climates, route temperature matters more than equipment type: lower cloud point grades stay clear longer in the cold. See our CP8 vs CP10 palm olein comparison when selecting a grade for temperate destinations.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many metric tons of cooking oil fit in a 20ft container?
With flexitank packaging, a 20ft container carries approximately 21 metric tons of cooking oil. Bottled and drummed quantities vary with bottle size and carton or drum configuration, and the exact loading plan for your order is confirmed in the quotation.
Should I ship cooking oil in 20ft or 40ft containers?
Bulk flexitank shipments use 20ft containers because oil is a dense cargo that reaches container weight limits before filling the volume. 40ft containers suit bottled and packaged formats, where the doubled floor area allows more cartons when the total weight stays within the payload limit. Your sales contact recommends the best combination for your packaging and destination.
Do cooking oil shipments need refrigerated containers?
Refined cooking oils are shipped in standard dry containers. The cargo should be protected from extreme temperature exposure during transport and storage. For palm olein shipped to cooler climates, cloud point grade selection matters more than container type - see our CP8 vs CP10 comparison.
What determines the exact quantity loaded into my container?
The final quantity depends on your packaging format and sizes, carton configuration, any mixed-format plan, and the weight limits applied by the shipping line and ports on your route. All of these are settled in the loading plan included with your quotation.
Can drums and bottles be loaded in the same container?
Mixed packaging loads are common practice in edible oil exports. Tell our sales team which formats and volumes you need, and we will confirm the mixed loading plan and freight utilization for your destination port.
Related Buyer Guides
Plan Your Container Load with Us
Send your packaging preference and destination for a loading plan and quotation.