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Food and Beverage Shipping from China

Reefer and dry container shipping for frozen, chilled, fresh and shelf-stable food, with temperature settings, prior notice and health certificates checked first.

Get My Food Shipping Quote

Reefer from −40 °C to +30 °C

Set to your product's carrying temperature, humidity and ventilation.

Pre-Cooling and Dataloggers

Temperature recorded from stuffing to delivery.

Dry FCL with Liners

Desiccants and liners against condensation for shelf-stable goods.

Food Documents Checked First

Registration, prior notice, certificates and labels reviewed before loading.

Quick Answer: How to Ship Food and Beverages from China

Food from China ships in reefer containers when it is frozen, chilled or fresh, and in dry containers with liners and desiccants when it is shelf-stable. Reefers hold a set temperature between about −40 °C and +30 °C, but cargo must be pre-cooled or pre-frozen before loading, because the unit only maintains temperature.

For the US, the manufacturer needs an FDA food facility registration, renewed between 1 October and 31 December of each even-numbered year, including 2026. Prior notice must reach FDA at least 8 hours before arrival by sea or 4 hours by air.

Food Shipping from China: Check Container, Cost & Quote Details

Food is checked by health authorities as well as customs. Use the four cards to see when a cold chain plan applies, what it costs, what changes the quote and what to send.

❄️ When Food Needs a Cold Chain Plan

Best for importers who want less customs hassle
  • Reefer: Frozen meat and seafood, chilled food, dairy and fresh produce.
  • Dry with control: Groceries, spices and confectionery that can mould or melt.
  • Monitored: Pre-cooling, dataloggers and powered handoffs at every terminal.
  • Choose this if: Your product has a carrying temperature or shelf-life limit.

💵 What Food Shipping Costs

Air per kg • Sea per CBM • All-in quote
  • Freight: Reefer or dry container rate, plus reefer surcharges.
  • Terminals: Plug-in time at origin and destination.
  • Extras: Pre-cooling, dataloggers, inspection and temperature-controlled delivery.
  • Choose this if: You want plug-in and inspection costs listed upfront.

📋 What Changes Your Quote

Weight • CBM • HS code • Customs risk
  • Temperature range: Decides equipment and space on the sailing.
  • Dwell: Terminal time and plug access affect shelf-life risk.
  • Inspection: Destination inspection rates for the food category.
  • Choose this if: Your product is near the end of its shelf-life window.

✅ How to Get an Accurate Food Quote

More accurate quote • Fewer price changes
  • Send these details: Product type, packaging, carrying temperature and humidity.
  • Add: Carton dimensions, weights and the manufacturer's registration details.
  • Dates: Destination, Incoterms, and any shelf-life or delivery deadlines.
  • Choose this if: You want documents confirmed before the reefer is booked.

Send your product and temperature details and we will confirm the container, documents and cold chain plan.

Get My Food Shipping Quote

Most food shipping questions come down to three things: which container and temperature the product needs, which documents the destination checks, and how the cold chain stays intact from factory to door.

This page answers them in that order: a container table, six document checks, then the five cold chain steps.

Pre-cooling matters as much as the reefer.

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Food Cargo by Container, Temperature and Risk

Food Type Container Temperature Handling Main Risk
Frozen meat and seafood Reefer Pre-frozen, fresh-air vents closed Power interruption, long dwell
Chilled food and dairy Reefer Pre-cooled, set at carrying temperature Shelf-life loss if settings drift
Fresh fruit and vegetables Reefer, CA if needed Humidity 50–95%, ventilation in m³/hour Ripening, phytosanitary holds
Dry groceries and spices Dry with liners Desiccants and loading controls Condensation and mould
Confectionery and chocolate Dry with thermal liner, or reefer in summer Protected from heat Melting and bloom
Canned goods and bottled drinks Dry FCL Ambient, braced Breakage and leakage
Raw agricultural products Dry or reefer Treatment or fumigation as required Missing treatment records

In simple words: frozen, chilled or fresh goes reefer and must be cooled before loading; shelf-stable food goes dry but still needs protection from moisture and heat.

6 Food Import Documents and Checks

  1. FDA food facility registration: manufacturer, packer or warehouse registered, renewed every even-numbered year between 1 October and 31 December.
  2. FDA prior notice: confirmed at least 8 hours before arrival by sea, 4 hours by air or rail, 2 hours by road.
  3. Health and phytosanitary certificates: from the Chinese authority, matching destination requirements.
  4. Treatment and fumigation records: for raw agricultural products and wood packaging.
  5. Labelling: language, ingredients, allergens and date marking to destination rules, matching the invoice.
  6. Shelf life: enough remaining life for transit, clearance and sale; for FBA, Amazon's expiry rules.

How Cold Chain Shipping from China Works

1. Product and Document Review: temperature range, packaging, registrations and certificates checked before booking. 2. Pre-Cooling and Equipment Setup: cargo pre-cooled or pre-frozen; reefer set to temperature, humidity and ventilation. 3. Loading with Dataloggers: airflow spacing, dataloggers placed, stuffing checked before sealing. 4. Terminal Handoff and Transit: plug-in, gate-in timing and route milestones tracked so the reefer stays powered. 5. Release and Delivery: prior notice and certificates confirmed, temperature-controlled delivery booked.

Your Questions
Answered
What temperature should my reefer be set to?

The carrying temperature specified for the product. Do not set it lower to cool cargo faster; reefers maintain temperature rather than pull it down.

Can I ship small volumes of chilled or frozen food?

Yes, through specialised cold chain LCL, segregated and kept within range.

Do confectionery and chocolate need a reefer?

Often in summer or through hot regions; a thermal liner can be enough on cooler, shorter routes.

What happens if FDA prior notice is missing?

The shipment is likely to be held at entry, and the food can be refused, re-exported or destroyed.