Bottling, Drums and Freight: Planning a Bulk Delivery
What changes at each packaging tier, and the freight questions to settle before you place the order.
Know what changes with the volume
Below 25 kg we usually ship in aluminium or steel drums. From 25 kg upwards, IBCs become viable and the freight per kilogram drops sharply. Above a tonne, the freight plan and the drum plan have to be designed together, because the packaging choice affects the container space you need.
Drums are specified by the substance, not by habit
Oxidising or photoreactive materials need lined or coated drums, and some materials need nitrogen flushing. Tell your supplier the storage time and the destination climate before you agree packaging.
Ask for the freight quote on the real destination
Freight is quoted on the actual destination city and the declared cargo, not on a generic port. A quote to Hamburg is not a quote to a warehouse near Hamburg, and the difference includes the last-mile leg.
Plan for the demurrage clock
Customs clearance failures are the most common cause of demurrage on imports. Make sure the commercial invoice, the packing list, the COA and the SDS are consistent with each other before the container arrives.
Split the first order, then grow
For a new material, the sensible pattern is a sample, then a small drum to confirm performance in your own formula, then the production volume. It costs a little more freight per kilogram and saves a great deal more in reformulation.