Deep Freeze by Air Freight to Singapore

Frozen Goods by Air Freight: Maintaining Quality Over Long Distances

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

When Ship Frozen Goods by Air?

• High-End Seafood: deep-frozen lobster, scallops, tuna, and other premium seafood for the restaurant industry—where quality deteriorates too much during long sea transport
• Pharmaceutical Frozen Products: vaccines, biologicals, and certain blood products that require -20°C or lower and cannot be shipped by sea
• Seasonal Urgency: when a specific frozen product must be available urgently—for example, for a major buyer or a retail chain that has missed stock
• Small, High-Value Batches: where the value per kilogram justifies the higher air freight rates

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

Exporting to Singapore

Singapore is one of the most business-friendly countries in the world and a top choice for European companies looking to enter Asia. The country has no import duties on most goods and features a simple, fully digitized customs system (TradeNet). Changi Airport (SIN) ranks among the most efficient air freight hubs globally.

Customs & Documentation

Singapore applies a 9% Goods and Services Tax (GST), but no traditional import duties. Documentation is straightforward: AWB, commercial invoice, packing list, and for certain goods, an import permit via TradeNet. Pharmaceuticals and medical devices require approval from the HSA (Health Sciences Authority).

Why Singapore?

• No import duties on most goods — resulting in low total import costs
• Ideal as a regional distribution hub for Southeast Asia
• Flight time approximately 12 hours — one of the longest routes, plan accordingly
• The EU-Singapore FTA provides additional tariff benefits for EU exporters

Key Considerations for Frozen Air Freight

Uninterrupted Cold Chain

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

Dry Ice — DGR Considerations

Dry ice is classified as dangerous goods (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 properly records this in the documentation.

Health Certificates

Frozen products of animal origin (meat, fish, shellfish) require a veterinary health certificate when imported into the EU and are inspected at designated border inspection posts (BIP). Aircargo.nl pre-notifies the shipment to the NVWA for smooth customs clearance.