Deep Frozen via air freight to China

Deep frozen by air freight: maintaining quality over long distances

At first glance, deep frozen products may not seem like a logical choice for air freight — sea freight in refrigerated containers is much cheaper after all. But for certain deep frozen products, air freight is the right choice due to quality, freshness, or urgency reasons.

When deep frozen by plane?

• High-quality seafood: deep frozen lobster, scallops, tuna, and other premium seafood for the restaurant sector — where quality deteriorates too much during prolonged sea freight transport
• Pharmaceutical deep frozen products: vaccines, biologicals, and certain blood products require -20°C or lower and cannot be transported by ship
• Seasonal urgency: if a specific deep frozen product must be urgently available — e.g., for a major buyer or a retail chain that missed stock
• Small, high-value batches: where the value per kg justifies the higher air freight rates

Aircargo.nl is fully equipped for deep frozen transport: from dry ice calculation to veterinary notifications and NVWA clearance.

Exporting to China

China is the second largest importer in the world and one of the most sought-after destinations for Dutch air freight. Schiphol has direct cargo flights to Shanghai (PVG), Beijing (PEK), and Guangzhou (CAN), enabling most shipments to be cargo-to-cargo within 12–14 hours.

Customs & Regulations

Chinese customs are known to be strict. Each shipment requires a correct commercial invoice, detailed packing list, and in many cases a Certificate of Origin. For foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics, mandatory registration with the GACC (General Administration of Customs China) applies. Electronics intended for the Chinese market must comply with CCC certification.

Practical Tips

• Ensure all documents are provided in English and preferably also in Chinese
• Dual-use goods require an export license from the Netherlands
• Chinese holidays (including Golden Week and Chinese New Year) cause significant delays — plan accordingly

Aircargo.nl handles shipments to China daily and is familiar with the pitfalls. We arrange the complete export documentation and coordinate with our local agents for smooth handling.

Deep frozen air freight considerations

Uninterrupted frozen cold chain

Deep frozen products must be kept at a minimum of -18°C throughout the entire transport. This requires dry ice (carbon dioxide, UN1845 — DGR-classified), certified freezing containers (unit load devices), or a combination of both. Aircargo.nl arranges the correct cooling based on flight duration and product.

Dry ice — DGR consideration

Dry ice is a dangerous good (UN1845, class 9) and must be documented on the AWB and Shipper’s Declaration. The amount of dry ice per shipment is limited by airline regulations. Aircargo.nl always calculates the required amount of dry ice based on flight time plus buffer hours and documents this correctly.

Health certificates

Deep frozen products of animal origin (meat, fish, shellfish) require a veterinary health certificate upon import into the EU and are inspected at designated border inspection posts (BIPs). Aircargo.nl pre-notifies the shipment to the NVWA for smooth clearance.