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How Many Liters of Oil Fit in a 20 ft Container in 2025? [Updated Logistics Guide]

by Generic H2 (Embedded) on August 15, 2025

How Many Liters of Oil Fit in a 20 ft Container in 2025? [Updated Logistics Guide]
🌍 1. Volume vs. Weight — Why It Matters in Logistics

Sunflower oil has a density of around 0.918 kg/L. This means 1 metric ton ≈ 1,090 liters, not 1,000 liters as many assume.
A standard 20 ft shipping container can hold roughly 33 m³ and has a maximum gross weight of about 28,200 kg. Depending on how the oil is packaged, either volume or weight will be the limiting factor.

📦 2. Loading Capacity by Packaging Type (20 ft container)

PET Bottles

1 L bottles — up to ~21,000 L per container (~1,746 cartons). Limited by available space (volume constraint).

2 L bottles — around 18,128 L (~2,266 cartons). Volume-limited.

5 L bottles — about 17,640 L (~882 cartons). Volume-limited.

Jerry Cans / Can-in-Box

5 L cans — ~20,000 L (weight constraint, ~1,000 cans).

10 L cans — ~22,000 L (weight constraint).

17 L cans — ~23,766 L (space-limited).

20 L cans — ~23,800 L (efficient bulk fill).

25 L cans — ~24,500 L (~980 cans, mostly space-limited).

Bulk Liquid Packaging

210 L steel drums — up to ~21,000 L (100 drums).

IBC containers (≈1,000 L each) — 20 units ≈ 20,000 L in a 9 ft high cube container.

Flexitank — up to ~23,800 L per standard 20 ft container.

ISO tank container — around 25,000 L capacity, maximum single bulk load.

⚖️ 3. Real-World Logistics: Bottles vs. Bulk

Volume-limited — Small PET bottles (especially 1 L) quickly fill the container’s cubic capacity before hitting the weight limit.

Weight-limited — Large jerry cans and drums often reach the container’s weight maximum before using all available space.

Bulk options — Flexitanks, ISO tanks, and IBCs deliver the best weight-to-volume efficiency, making them ideal for large-scale direct export contracts.

🧠 4. Why This Guide Matters for Exporters and Buyers

Accuracy in planning — EU, MENA, and African buyers expect clear capacity estimates; errors can cause significant cost overruns.

Packaging strategy — Exporters (e.g., from Ukraine or Argentina via platforms like Agrix) can recommend the best format—bulk or retail—based on buyer needs.

Cost control — Packaging choice affects tariffs, insurance, and freight charges.

📋 5. Summary — Best Packaging Options in 2025

1 L PET bottles — up to ~21,000 L; volume-limited, retail-ready.

5 L jerry cans — ~20,000 L; good balance between retail and bulk.

10 L jerry cans — ~22,000 L; bulk-friendly but weight-conscious.

20 L jerry cans — ~23,800 L; highly efficient bulk option.

Steel drums (210 L) — ~21,000 L; durable but labor-intensive loading.

IBC (1,000 L each) — ~20,000 L; versatile bulk packaging.

Flexitank — ~23,800 L; optimal volume/weight balance for bulk shipping.

ISO tank container — ~25,000 L; maximum single-load bulk capacity.

About This Blog Post

This blog post is published by Generic H2 (Embedded), an active participant on our trading platform. The content reflects company insights, product knowledge, or market trends relevant to their industry. Articles like this one help boost SEO visibility and offer valuable information for future visitors and potential partners.