Yes. Indian chemical plants routinely ship liquids in drums, intermediate bulk containers (IBCs) and ISO tanks, and solids in bags, jumbo bags and fibre or steel drums. The right choice depends on your volume, the product's hazard class and how your site unloads.
Not every plant offers every pack. Ask early, because the pack affects price, lead time, freight and paperwork.
The main options for liquids
- Drums are usually 200 to 250 litres, in steel or HDPE. They suit small volumes, many products and sites without bulk tanks.
- IBCs are about 1,000 litres in a plastic bottle inside a steel cage. They fit more product into a container and are easier to empty than drums.
- ISO tanks are stainless steel tanks in a container frame, typically holding somewhere between about 17,000 and 26,000 litres. They suit regular large volumes and sites with bulk storage.
- Flexitanks are single-use bladders inside a standard container. They suit non-hazardous liquids only.
Hazardous products
For a dangerous good, the pack must be UN-approved for the product's class and packing group, and it must be marked accordingly. Drums and IBCs must carry the UN specification mark. ISO tanks must be approved for the product under the tank codes in the dangerous goods rules. See UN-approved packaging for detail.
Flexitanks are not used for dangerous goods. Our article on flexitanks for chemicals explains which products can use them.
How to choose
- Volume per shipment: drums for small lots, IBCs for medium, ISO tanks for a full tank load.
- Your unloading: an ISO tank needs a bulk storage tank, a pump or pressure discharge and trained staff.
- Contamination risk: an ISO tank must be cleaned between loads, and you should ask for the cleaning certificate.
- Product sensitivity: some products need lined drums, nitrogen blanketing or heating during transit.
- Return logistics: ISO tanks are returned and reused, while drums and IBCs are usually one-way for export.
What to check on the pack
Ask the supplier for photos of the exact pack, its UN marking if relevant, and the label layout. Check that the drums are new or properly reconditioned, that closures are tight and that pallets are wrapped and strapped. For ISO tanks, ask for the cleaning certificate and the previous cargo. Read ISO tank shipping and cleaning before your first bulk order.
Solid products
Powders, flakes and granules travel in different packs. Common choices are 25 kg multi-wall paper or woven polypropylene bags with a liner, fibre drums for high-value or moisture-sensitive products, and jumbo bags holding around 500 to 1,000 kg for bulk powders. Ask for the liner material, the seal method and the pallet pattern. Moisture is the main risk for solids in a sea container, so ask about desiccants and container liners for hygroscopic products. If the product is a dangerous good, the bag or drum must also be UN-approved for it.
Next step
We check the pack, labels and loading for each shipment. Book a free sourcing review to choose the right format for your product.