Exporting Frozen and Refrigerated Goods: The Importance of Temperature Control and Transportation Routes

In this article, we introduce the latest information and recommended methods for exporting frozen and refrigerated goods.

1: Basics of Exporting Frozen and Refrigerated Goods

Important Points for Exporting Frozen Food

• Temperature Control: Temperature control is crucial when exporting frozen goods. Some items need to be stored at temperatures below -20°C to maintain quality and prevent deterioration during transportation.
• Obtaining Certificates: Health certificates and certificates of origin are necessary. These documents prove the safety and quality of exported food based on the regulations of the importing country.
• Regulation Check: It’s important to understand Japan's export system and check the regulations of the importing country. Regulations vary by item, so prior research is essential.

Methods of Temperature-Controlled Transportation

• Air Transport: Air transport offers services specialized in temperature control, enabling the speedy transport of frozen and refrigerated food. For example, Jet8's service provides high-quality temperature-controlled delivery for food research and product development【15】.
• Cool EMS: Cool EMS is suitable for small businesses and can deliver within two days. This service handles small parcels, making it flexible for small-scale shipments【17】.

2: Recommended Transport Services

Reefer Container Services

• Small Quantity Transport: Using reefer containers allows efficient transport of small quantities of frozen food. For instance, SWF Group’s Hakopit service offers global frozen and refrigerated transportation.
• Regular Services: Nissin’s service ensures thorough temperature control and provides monthly regular services. Especially, their frozen consolidated service is suitable for small shipments requiring temperature control.

Parcel-Level Transport

• Convenience of Cool EMS: Cool EMS can handle small parcels, making it convenient for transporting frozen and refrigerated goods requiring temperature control. It is suitable for small businesses and easy to use even for small shipment volumes.
• Hakopit’s Service: Hakopit’s air transport service offers high-quality temperature-controlled transport for food and samples. It also supports the transport of precision equipment and semiconductors requiring temperature control. This service covers a wider delivery area compared to Cool EMS.

Specific Steps for Exporting

Preparing Necessary Documents

• Creating Export Declarations: Prepare export declarations, invoices, packing lists, and other documents in advance and submit them to customs. These documents detail the contents of the export goods and are necessary for customs inspection in the export country.
• Obtaining Certificates: Obtaining health certificates and certificates of origin takes time, so it’s important to plan accordingly. Certificates are essential, especially for exporting frozen seafood like tuna.

Managing Transport Schedules

• Preparation Before Flights: Obtain the necessary certificates and complete export customs procedures by the day before the flight. Pack, label, and prepare the cargo according to the flight schedule.
• Customs Procedures: To proceed smoothly with export customs procedures, accurate documentation and timely submission are required. Collaboration between the exporter and customs broker is crucial.

Summary

Successful exporting of frozen and refrigerated goods hinges on temperature control and selecting the right transportation methods. Refer to the information introduced in this article to achieve efficient and reliable export.

AnyLogi is a logistics platform that provides comprehensive support for domestic and international logistics. In partnership with the international logistics service Hakopit, we also offer frozen and refrigerated export services. We can provide estimates on the same day at the earliest. Please feel free to contact us.