Export & Logistics for International Buyers
How shipping terms, packaging, documents and inspection work for edible oil exports. New to importing? Read the guide for importers and distributors.
Shipping Terms
Shipping terms (Incoterms® 2020 rules) decide who pays for freight and insurance, and where risk passes from seller to buyer.
| Term | What the seller does | Where risk passes | Buyer arranges |
|---|---|---|---|
| EXW (Ex Works) | Makes goods available at its premises | At the seller's premises | Collection, export clearance, freight, insurance |
| FOB (Free On Board) | Clears goods for export and loads them on the vessel at the named port | Once goods are on board at the loading port | Sea freight and insurance |
| CFR (Cost and Freight) | As FOB, plus pays sea freight to the destination port | Once goods are on board at the loading port | Insurance and import clearance |
| CIF (Cost, Insurance and Freight) | As CFR, plus buys minimum cargo insurance for the buyer | Once goods are on board at the loading port | Import clearance; extra insurance if needed |
What to send for an accurate export quotation
- Shipping term
- FOB, CFR, CIF or EXW, as defined above
- Destination port
- Needed for any CFR or CIF price
- Container and packaging
- 20ft or 40ft container; flexitank, drums, IBCs or packed cartons
- Required shipment date
- When the first load must sail, and how often after that
- Contract type
- A single shipment or regular supply over a period
Packaging & Container Options
Formats commonly used in the edible oil trade. Tell us your preferred format and pack size, and availability is confirmed with your quotation. Each product page explains the oil and its grades, and Industries shows which formats each type of buyer usually needs.
Retail bottles
PET bottles for supermarket and retail shelves, often packed in cartons and palletised.
Jerry cans and tins
Mid-size packs for wholesale, food service and markets where bulk buyers repack.
Drums
Steel or HDPE drums of around 200 litres for smaller bulk orders and factories without tank intake.
IBC totes
Reusable intermediate bulk containers of around 1,000 litres, handled by forklift.
Flexitanks
Single-use bags inside a 20-foot container: the usual low-cost way to ship bulk oil.
ISO tanks
Stainless-steel tank containers for bulk liquids, used for regular or specialised supply.
Export Documents
Documents importers commonly ask for with edible oil shipments. Requirements vary by destination country and product.
Tell us which of these your market requires, and the document set is confirmed in writing before the order is agreed.
- Commercial invoice: the sale value and terms
- Packing list: quantities, packages and weights
- Bill of lading: the shipping line's receipt and title document
- Insurance certificate: evidence of cargo insurance, issued by the seller under CIF
- Certificate of origin: proves where the goods come from; some forms reduce import duty under trade agreements
- Certificate of Analysis (COA): test results for the shipped batch (what a COA shows)
- Health certificate: issued by the exporting country's food authority where required
- Halal certificate: required by some markets and buyers
- Inspection report: from an independent inspection company, where agreed
Shipping Methods
How edible oil is commonly shipped. The right method depends on volume, packaging and the equipment at your receiving site; it is confirmed with each quotation.
Full container load (FCL)
A 20ft or 40ft container filled with one buyer's palletised bottles, jerry cans, tins or drums. The usual choice for regular packed-oil orders.
Less than container load (LCL)
Smaller shipments consolidated with other cargo. Useful for trial orders and samples, with higher cost per unit and more handling.
Flexitank
A single-use food-grade bag inside a 20ft container, typically holding up to around 24,000 litres of one bulk oil.
ISO tank
A reusable stainless-steel tank container for bulk liquids, suited to regular high-volume contracts.
Port-to-port vs door delivery
FOB, CFR and CIF end at a port. Delivery to your warehouse needs a forwarder and inland transport; say if you need it.
Shipment planning
Allow for packing, vessel schedules and transit time, and agree a shipment calendar for recurring supply.
Payment Terms Explained
Payment terms are agreed in each contract. These are the methods most often used in international edible oil trade.
Terms available for your order are confirmed with the quotation.
- Letter of credit (L/C)
- The buyer's bank guarantees payment once compliant shipping documents are presented. Secure for both sides, with bank fees and strict document checks.
- Telegraphic transfer (T/T)
- A bank transfer, often split into a deposit before production and a balance before or against shipping documents.
- Cash against documents (CAD)
- Documents are released through the banks when the buyer pays, giving the buyer title to collect the goods.
Why Source Vegetable Oil from Thailand
Thailand is one of the world's largest palm oil producers and a major rice producer, giving it an established edible oil and rice bran supply base.
- Laem Chabang, Thailand's main deep-sea container port, and Bangkok port handle most of the country's container exports.
- Shipping routes connect Thailand with buyers across Asia, the Middle East, Africa and beyond.
- THAI AGRO OILS is based in Bang Phli, Samut Prakan, on the south-eastern edge of Bangkok.
From Order to Shipment
The order of events for a typical export order.
Enquiry and quotation
You share product, quantity, packaging, port and shipping term. We reply with a quotation.
Contract
Specification, documents, payment terms and shipment date are confirmed in writing.
Packing and booking
Goods are packed or filled, and space is booked with the shipping line.
Loading and documents
The container is loaded and sailed, and the documents are sent to you.
Export FAQ
What is the difference between FOB and CIF?
Under FOB the buyer arranges and pays for sea freight and insurance; under CIF the seller pays freight and minimum insurance to the destination port. In both cases risk passes to the buyer once the goods are on board at the port of loading. Read the full guide.
What is a flexitank?
A flexitank is a single-use bag fitted inside a standard 20-foot container to carry bulk liquids such as edible oil. It is a common low-cost way to ship non-hazardous oils in bulk.
Which documents will I receive?
The document set depends on the product, destination and your import requirements. List the documents your customs authority and bank require in your enquiry, and they will be confirmed before the order is agreed.
Can you arrange pre-shipment inspection?
If you need an independent inspection company, such as one nominated by your bank or importer, include this in your enquiry so it can be planned into the order.
Request a FOB or CIF Quotation
Send your destination port, preferred shipping term, product, quantity and packaging. We will reply with a quotation or the questions needed to prepare one.
- Product and grade
- Quantity
- Packaging
- Destination port
- Private label: yes or no