LET Flexitank Overcomes Extreme Temperatures & Multimodal Transport to Ensure Safe Palm Oil Delivery to Russia

In international bulk liquid logistics, every step presents unique challenges – especially when cargo must endure high heat, heavy humidity, sub-zero cold, rough rail conditions, and multiple transshipments. Conventional flexible packaging often falls short. Recently, Qingdao LET Flexitank successfully provided customized flexitank solutions for a Russian client at the Wilmar factory in Surabaya, Indonesia. The palm oil was transported via truck, sea, and rail to Russia. As a true factory-direct supplier, LET delivered tailored solutions that solved the core pain points of cross-border transport.

The Challenge: A “Fire and Ice” Journey with Rigorous Multimodal Demands

The route from Surabaya, Indonesia to Russia spanned dramatically different climates, with multiple loading and transshipment phases. Three major difficulties stood out:

Challenge 1: Extreme Temperature Swings – Standard Flexitanks at Risk

High heat & humidity (Surabaya, Indonesia): The flexitank was exposed to tropical conditions during filling and initial shipping stages, demanding exceptional resistance to material aging and permeation.

Severe cold (Russia): Upon entering Russia, temperatures plummeted well below freezing. Standard flexitanks become brittle, crack, and suffer seal failure under such cold, leading to leaks, cargo loss, detention fees, and heavy compensation.

LET's Solution 1: Specially Formulated Cold-Resistant Flexitank – Unfazed by Extreme Heat & Cold

LET upgraded the raw material formulation and manufacturing process to develop a purpose-built cold-resistant flexitank. It maintains excellent flexibility and barrier properties in Indonesia’s hot, humid environment. When exposed to Russia’s freezing conditions, it remains stable, non-brittle, leak-free, and fully sealed – eliminating temperature-induced product failure.

Challenge 2: Russian Rail Standards – Standard Fittings Fail to Meet Requirements

Russian rail transport is known for intense vibration, shock, and compression forces. Ordinary flexitank fittings (door bars and uprights) often lack the strength to meet local acceptance standards. Loose or deformed fittings create safety hazards and can even lead to shipment rejection.

LET's Solution 2: Strict Compliance with Russian Rail Standards – Reinforced Anti-Vibration Performance

Instead of generic fittings, LET strictly followed Russian rail transport standards:

• Door bars: increased from the standard 5 to 6 bars

• Uprights: increased from the standard 5 to 6 uprights

Every set of fittings was inspected individually. The result is significantly enhanced resistance to vibration and compression, fully meeting Russian acceptance requirements and eliminating safety risks at the source.

Challenge 3: Heating Required for Palm Oil Discharge – Paper Door Jamb Deforms Under Heat

Palm oil solidifies at low temperatures and must be heated before discharge. Conventional paper door jambs soften and warp when heated, failing to secure the flexitank properly. This allows the bag to shift and squeeze, resulting in leakage.

LET’s Solution: Precision Customization, One by One

Facing these industry-level difficulties, the LET technical team responded rapidly with a full suite of customized solutions.

Added Highlight: 26KL Flexitank – Higher Capacity per Container

Notably, this project used a 26KL (26,000-liter) flexitank, while the conventional solution for similar scenarios is 24KL. LET’s proven customization capability safely increased payload per shipping container, further reducing the client’s unit transport cost and improving logistics efficiency.

LET Flexitank: Your Partner for Solving Cross-Border Transport Pain Points

From Indonesia to Russia, from scorching heat to freezing cold, from ocean to rail – Qingdao LET has demonstrated professional strength: complex transport conditions demand professional customization. As a factory-direct supplier, LET not only delivers high-quality flexitanks but also offers fast response, precision customization, and full-process support.

No matter what extreme environments or complex intermodal routes your cargo must cross, LET Flexitank is your most reliable partner.

Contact us today for your custom flexitank transport solution.

Qingdao LET Flexitank Co., Ltd. – Specialist in Custom Flexitanks & Cross-Border Solutions