An FIBC, or flexible intermediate bulk container, is a large bag of woven polypropylene fabric designed to carry between roughly 500 and 2,000 kg of dry, flowable product, and to be lifted by forklift or crane using loops sewn into its corners or sides. It is also called a jumbo bag, bulk bag or big bag. The design covers lifting loops, top and bottom openings, inner liners and a stated safety factor, and the relevant international standard is EN ISO 21898.
FIBCs carry fertiliser, grain, sugar, resin granules, minerals, cement, chemicals and food ingredients. Most Indian production comes from Gujarat, where the polypropylene is made and where the ports of Mundra, Kandla (Deendayal), Hazira and Pipavav are close to the plants.
Main design elements
- Fabric: woven polypropylene, usually in the range of 160 to 220 GSM, coated or uncoated. Coated fabric stops fine powders sifting through; uncoated fabric breathes for products that give off moisture or heat.
- Lifting loops: cross-corner loops are the most common, with four loops sewn into the corner seams; side-seam loops, single-point loops and sleeve lifts suit different handling equipment.
- Top: open top, duffle or skirt top, or a filling spout, chosen by the filling equipment and the need to seal the contents.
- Bottom: flat bottom, discharge spout with tie and cover, or a full-open bottom for fast emptying.
- Liners: polyethylene liners, loose, tabbed or glued in, for moisture-sensitive or very fine products, and form-fit liners for food grades.
- Baffles: internal panels that keep the filled bag square, so it stacks better and fits more efficiently into containers.
- Safety factor: typically 5:1 for single-trip bags and 6:1 for standard multi-trip bags, meaning the bag holds five or six times its rated load in a cyclic top-lift test, with 8:1 used for some heavy-duty multi-trip designs.
Static types to know
Type A bags are plain polypropylene with no static protection and are for non-flammable products in non-explosive environments. Type B bags have a low breakdown voltage to prevent propagating brush discharges but cannot be earthed. Type C bags contain conductive threads and must be earthed during filling and emptying. Type D bags dissipate static without earthing. The product and the filling environment decide which type is needed, and the plant should state it on the label.
What a buyer should specify
State the safe working load, the safety factor, the base and height dimensions, fabric GSM and coating, loop type and length, top and bottom design, liner, and any food-grade or UN requirement for dangerous goods. UN-certified bags for hazardous materials carry a marking and a test certificate from an approved body; ordinary bags do not. Ask for the plant's test reports for cyclic top-lift and stacking, and check whether the plant holds ISO 9001.
Bags are usually shipped folded in bales, and the number per container depends on size and fabric weight. A sealed sample tested at an independent lab for fabric GSM, tensile and seam strength gives a reference for the bulk.
How we help
We visit FIBC plants in Gujarat, audit their weaving, coating and stitching, and send sealed samples to an NABL-accredited lab for fabric and seam tests. Before shipment we inspect the bales, supervise loading and send a weekly update, with one approved supplier and one backup. A free 20-minute sourcing review is a good first step if you are moving bulk bag supply to India.