How to decide: cold chain vs ambient
The right choice is not “always refrigerated.” It’s the lowest-risk method that still makes commercial sense. Start by scoring three factors: time, temperature exposure, and handling holds.
Key takeaways
- Ambient is often viable for baklava if packaging manages humidity and you avoid long, hot holds.
- Cold chain adds protection on high-heat routes, longer sea transit, or premium SKUs where texture must be perfect.
- Most failures happen at handover points (warehouse → truck → terminal → customs) rather than during smooth transit.
On this page
Decision matrix (rule-of-thumb)
- Air (2–5 days door-to-door) + mild climate: Ambient is usually fine with good packaging.
- Air + hot climate / summer peak: Consider controlled ambient (thermal liner + fast service). Cold chain if holds are expected.
- Sea (15–40+ days): Refrigerated (reefer) or validated ambient only if product/packaging and route are proven.
- Any route with weekend holds / slow customs: Cold chain or premium protective packaging becomes much more valuable.
Ambient shipping: how to make it work
Ambient is not “no control.” It’s risk control without refrigeration. Your goal is to reduce peak exposure and keep moisture stable.
- Choose faster lanes: avoid economy services if your destination has unpredictable clearance times.
- Avoid weekend dead time: plan dispatch so arrival doesn’t hit Saturday/Sunday storage.
- Request indoor storage: “keep shaded/indoors” at terminals and warehouses whenever possible.
- Use controlled ambient packaging: thermal liners + humidity control + sturdy cartons.
Cold chain options (air & sea)
Air: “cool” handling vs full cold chain
- Thermal protection (recommended baseline for hot lanes): insulated carton or liner, quick transit, minimal holds.
- Temperature-controlled handling: booked as temperature sensitive, prioritized storage where available.
- Full cold chain: cold storage at origin + airline + destination, plus refrigerated last mile (highest cost, highest protection).
Sea: reefer vs controlled ambient container strategy
- Reefer container: best for long transit and hot routes; stability is the advantage.
- Controlled ambient: feasible only with validated shelf life, strong moisture barriers, and careful routing away from heat peaks.
Sea shipping adds risk not just from time, but from port dwell times, transshipment waits, and variable container temps.
Packaging upgrades by risk level
- Low risk: strong carton + tight inner tray + good sealing.
- Medium risk (most exports): add humidity control (desiccant where suitable), reduce headspace, reinforce corners.
- High risk (hot lanes / long holds): thermal liner or insulated shipper + fast lane + clear “keep cool” handling notes.
- Extreme risk (summer + long sea): reefer or full cold chain + validated stability testing.
The “handover” checklist (where quality is won or lost)
- Dispatch timing: ship early week; avoid Friday pickup when possible.
- Pre-cool / stabilize product: load product only after it reaches stable room temperature (avoid warm-from-oven loads).
- Pallet discipline: no overhang, corner boards, stretch wrap tension balanced (too tight can crush trays).
- Labeling: “Keep in cool, dry place” + “Do not stack” + orientation arrows for delicate assortments.
- Clear receiving SOP: buyer should store indoors immediately and avoid direct sunlight at dock.
FAQ
Is cold chain always better?
Not automatically. Cold chain adds cost and complexity; if mishandled (temperature breaks, condensation), it can still cause quality issues. The goal is consistency—choose the method you can execute reliably.
What should I tell my supplier/forwarder to quote correctly?
Share destination, preferred mode (air/sea), target shelf life, expected delivery window, and whether you want ambient, controlled ambient, or temperature-controlled service. Mention any weekend/holiday constraints.
Related: Export Packaging • Incoterms for Sweets • Logistics & Export