+8613295467567
Packaging is the part of an MCT oil order that buyers think about last and pay for first. It decides the freight cost, the loading plan, the documents that accompany the shipment and, in the worst case, how much product is lost to a leaking drum. This article describes how MCT oil is packed and shipped for export, and what a buyer should confirm before the order is placed.
The Packaging Ladder
From the filling line to the destination port, step by step.
MCT oil ships in three standard formats, matched to the quantity and the buyer's filling situation:
- 190 kg steel drums — the standard export unit. Food-grade drums, sealed and marked with the product, grade, batch number and net weight.
- 25 kg drums — for smaller production runs, trials that have passed the sample stage, and buyers without drum-handling equipment.
- 1 kg bottles — for sampling programmes, laboratory work and product development.
Whichever format is quoted, the same batch documentation travels with it: a batch COA is issued with every shipment, and the technical data sheet is provided with shipment or upon request.
Palletising and Container Loading
Palletised drums being loaded for export.
For drum shipments, four drums per pallet, stretch-wrapped, is the standard configuration. The stretch-wrap is not cosmetic: it stabilises the load for the sea leg, where drums are stacked, and it keeps the drum marks visible for receiving inspection at the destination.
The pallet count determines the loading plan. A buyer who knows the pallet configuration can calculate how many drums fit a 20-foot or 40-foot container, and therefore the freight cost per kilogram of oil — which is often where quotations that looked similar turn out to differ.
Marking and Documentation
Palletised drums dispatched from the factory.
Drum marking should let the receiving warehouse identify the batch without opening anything: product name, grade, batch number, production date, net weight and the supplier's details. The shipment documents should agree with the drums and with the COA — batch number for batch number.
The document set that travels with a typical export shipment includes the commercial invoice, the packing list, the batch COA and the transport documents. If your market requires additional certificates or a legalised document set, say so at the order stage; adding a document after the goods have shipped is slow and sometimes impossible. The plant behind these shipments is described in our factory overview, and batch release on the Quality & Compliance page.
Lead Time and What Affects It
Regular orders ship 7 days to port of departure. OEM and ODM orders are 30 days from order confirmation, because the material is produced to an agreed specification rather than drawn from the standard range.
Three things move a lead time: packaging format (bottles take longer than drums), the volume relative to current production, and the document requirements of the destination. Confirming all three in the purchase order is what keeps the promise realistic.
What to Confirm Before Ordering
- The packaging format and the drum weight, in writing, on the order.
- The pallet configuration, if your warehouse or container plan depends on it.
- The marking requirements of your market — language, recycling marks, batch format.
- The document set your customs broker needs, before the goods ship.
- The lead time to your port of departure, not a generic delivery promise.
FAQ
Can I mix drum sizes in one order?
Mixed packaging is common for first orders — drums for the trial production run and bottles for the laboratory. Confirm the split when the order is placed so the packing list and the freight are calculated once.
What is the minimum order quantity for drums?
The minimum order quantity is 1 kg for MCT Oil, MCT Powder and Specialty Esters; the drum format is chosen for the quantity, not instead of it.
Does the COA travel with the goods?
Yes. A batch COA is issued with every shipment, and the TDS is provided with shipment or upon request.
Who arranges freight?
That depends on the trade term agreed in the contract; the payment and delivery terms are agreed upon according to the contract between both parties.
Related Reading
- Evaluating an MCT oil sample before you scale up
- Sourcing MCT oil from China: a practical guide
- How to read an MCT oil COA
Request a Quote
Tell us the packaging format, the quantity and the destination port, and we will quote the complete landed picture — use the request a quote form. The packaging options for each grade are listed on the MCT Oil and MCT Powder family pages.