New & Used Storage Tankers For Sale

What is an industrial storage tank?

An industrial storage tank is a container designed to hold bulk quantities of liquids, gases or dry bulk solids. Tanks are specified by their contents (water, fuel, chemicals, food products, compressed gas), capacity, operating conditions (atmospheric, pressure, vacuum, cryogenic) and material of construction (stainless steel, carbon steel, GRP/FRP, polyethylene, aluminium).

They range from small 500-litre chemical day tanks up to multi-million-litre bulk fuel storage at refineries and ports. Most industrial tanks are subject to regulations on bunding, fire protection, venting and periodic inspection.

How long do storage tanks last?

Well-maintained industrial storage tanks routinely operate for 30-50+ years. Stainless steel and GRP tanks typically last longest; carbon steel tanks in benign service can match this with protective coatings, but may corrode faster in aggressive environments.

Regular inspection, cleaning and coating maintenance extend tank life significantly. Statutory inspection is required for pressure vessels under PED/PSSR at intervals set by a competent person.

Why choose an industrial storage tank?

Reliable bulk storage is the foundation of continuous-process manufacturing, logistics and utility operations.

• Buffer capacity: decouple upstream and downstream operations, supplier deliveries, process batches and shipments operate on different cycles, and tank storage smooths the flow.
• Cost-effective bulk purchase: storage enables buying raw materials in tanker loads rather than IBCs or drums, significantly reducing unit cost.
• Product blending and conditioning: stored products can be blended, heated, cooled or aged before use, essential for many food, chemical and fuel products.
• Redundancy and security of supply: multiple storage tanks provide backup in case of delivery disruption, quality issues or maintenance downtime.
• Compliance and traceability: modern tanks integrate level, temperature and quality instruments with plant control systems for full traceability.

Why buy a used storage tank?

Storage tanks are one of the best used-market categories because the main vessel rarely wears out:

• Major capital savings: used storage tanks typically sell at 30-60% of new-build price, a huge saving on large bulk tanks.
• Immediate availability: new tanks often carry 12-30 week lead times from specification to delivery. Used tanks can be inspected, lifted and relocated in weeks.
• Inspection and certification: reputable used tanks come with pressure test certificates, coating surveys and NDT reports, often as comprehensive as a newbuild.
• Easy refurbishment: re-coating, re-lining, new fittings and new instruments restore most used tanks to effectively-new condition.
• Sustainability: reusing existing tanks avoids the embodied carbon of manufacturing new, significant on large fabrications.

Types of storage tanks for sale

Atmospheric vertical and horizontal tanks

Standard atmospheric tanks for water, process liquids and low-pressure chemical storage. Vertical cylindrical tanks with conical or flat bottoms dominate bulk storage; horizontal tanks suit lower-volume applications or where headroom is limited. Typical capacity: 1,000-500,000+ litres.

Stainless steel sanitary tanks

316L stainless steel tanks with polished internal surfaces, sanitary fittings and CIP compatibility serve food, beverage, dairy and pharmaceutical storage. Silo tanks for flour and sugar, fermentation tanks, mature wine/beer tanks and aseptic storage all use sanitary construction.

Bunded fuel storage tanks

Double-walled construction with integral secondary containment, required under UK Oil Storage Regulations (OSR) and SEPA/CAR regulations for fuel storage over 200 litres in many settings. Bunded diesel, petrol, kerosene and red diesel tanks in capacities from 1,000 litres up to 100,000+ litres.

GRP, polymer and lined tanks

Glass reinforced plastic (GRP) and polyethylene tanks offer excellent chemical resistance for aggressive products that would corrode steel, concentrated acids, caustic solutions, bleach, hypochlorite. Rubber-lined or PTFE-lined steel tanks combine strength with chemical resistance.

Pressure vessels and cryogenic tanks

Pressure-rated vessels for compressed air, nitrogen, LPG and other gas storage. Cryogenic tanks store liquid nitrogen, oxygen, argon, CO₂ and LNG at very low temperatures with multi-layer insulation. All pressure vessels require PED/UKCA certification and periodic inspection under PSSR.

Intermediate bulk containers (IBCs) and totes

Portable 1,000-litre containers, typically with a steel cage frame and HDPE inner bottle, sometimes with stainless steel tanks for chemical or hygienic service. Used heavily in chemicals, food ingredients, lubricants and water treatment for intermediate storage and transport.

Key features to consider when buying a storage tank

• Product compatibility: confirm tank material (and any lining, coating or gasket) suits the stored product across its full temperature and concentration range.
• Capacity and footprint: match working capacity (typically 85-90% of nominal) to process needs. Allow space for bunding, access, delivery and inspection.
• Operating pressure and temperature: atmospheric tanks are typically rated for 0.5-1 bar internal pressure and full vacuum. Any higher pressure or vacuum requires a pressure vessel.
• Secondary containment (bunding): OSR 2001 requires bunded storage for hydrocarbons over 200 litres in most settings. Check your regulatory requirements before buying any tank for chemicals or fuel.
• Venting and breather valves: atmospheric tanks need vents sized for maximum fill and draw rates; pressure/vacuum relief on sealed tanks prevents structural damage.
• Instrumentation and connections: specify level indication, temperature probes, pressure gauges, sample points and high/low alarms. Check connection size and orientation.
• Fire protection: flammable liquids may require fire protection, foam systems, vapour recovery, or spacing requirements under DSEAR.

Industries and use cases for industrial storage tanks

• Food and beverage: bulk ingredient storage, flour, sugar, oil, syrup, milk, beer, wine, juice, plus CIP chemical storage.
• Chemical manufacturing: raw material, intermediate and finished chemical storage in materials matched to product compatibility.
• Fuel and lubricants: diesel, petrol, kerosene, lubricating oil storage at fleet depots, industrial sites, marinas and construction locations.
• Water and wastewater treatment: raw water, treated water, chemical dosing tanks and sludge holding vessels.
• Agriculture and farming: fertiliser storage (AdBlue, liquid fertilisers), feed storage, water tanks and milk bulk tanks.
• Energy and utilities: boiler feedwater, condensate, lubricant, fuel oil and compressed gas storage at power stations and industrial utilities.

What locations do we serve for industrial storage tanks?

As a buyer-to-seller marketplace, we feature industrial storage tanks from sellers across the UK and beyond. Use our location and distance filters to find equipment near your facility, which can significantly reduce transport costs for heavy or awkward machinery.

Why choose The Commercial Trader for your new and used industrial storage tanks?

The Commercial Trader is one of the UK’s largest marketplaces for commercial machinery, bringing together manufacturers, dealers, brokers and end-users on a single searchable platform. Whether you’re sourcing a single machine for a small processing line or specifying equipment for a complete plant build, you’ll find competitive pricing and a wide range of conditions and specifications.

Alongside industrial storage tanks, we also list:

• New & Used Plant Machinery
• New & Used Farm Machinery
• New & Used Commercial Laundry
• New & Used Commercial Printers
• New & Used Smart Technology
• New & Used Catering Equipment

Learn more about us, or contact us if you have any questions.

Can I return a storage tank?

As we operate as a buyer-to-seller marketplace, any returns policy must be agreed directly with the seller before purchase. We’d recommend pre-purchase inspection wherever possible, along with a review of maintenance records and any recent service reports.

What other industrial machinery do we sell?

We list a comprehensive range of industrial machinery sub-categories, including:

• New and Used Industrial Autoclaves
• New and Used Industrial Automatic Lines
• New and Used Industrial Belt Coolers
• New and Used Industrial Blowers
• New and Used Industrial Breakers
• New and Used Industrial Capping Machinery
• New and Used Industrial Centrifuges
• New and Used Industrial Coating Pans
• New and Used Industrial Columns
• New and Used Industrial Compactors
• New and Used Industrial Conveying Systems
• New and Used Industrial De-aerators
• New and Used Industrial Dosing Units
• New and Used Industrial Dryers
• New and Used Industrial Dust Separators
• New and Used Industrial Extruders
• New and Used Industrial Filling Machinery
• New and Used Industrial Filters
• New and Used Industrial Heat Exchanges
• New and Used Industrial Kneaders
• New and Used Industrial Mills
• New and Used Industrial Mixers
• New and Used Industrial Packaging Machines
• New and Used Industrial Plastic Machinery
• New and Used Industrial Presses
• New and Used Industrial Processing Vessels
• New and Used Industrial Pumps
• New and Used Industrial Reactors
• New and Used Industrial Rotary Valves
• New and Used Industrial Sieves
• New and Used Industrial Stirring Vessels
• New and Used Other Industrial Machinery