REEFER / COLD CHAIN
Reefer Container Shipping from Ningbo 20RF · 40RF · 40RH · −30°C to +30°C
Temperature-controlled cargo shipped with precision: frozen seafood, fresh produce, confectionery, pharmaceuticals and temperature-sensitive chemicals, in reefer containers booked on cold-chain-capable services with full pre-trip inspection.
Reefer Equipment We Book
| Container | Temp Range | Typical Use | Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20RF (20ft reefer) | -25°C to +25°C | Frozen seafood, concentrated cargo | 440V / 60Hz or 380V / 50Hz |
| 40RF (40ft reefer) | -25°C to +25°C | Frozen food, bulk chilled cargo | Same as 20RF |
| 40RH (40ft high-cube reefer) | -30°C to +30°C | Fresh fruit, vegetables, pharma | Same as 20RF |
| Ventilated / CA containers | Ambient to +2°C | Onion, garlic, long-voyage produce | Passive / CA system |
How We Protect Your Cold Chain
Ningbo-Zhoushan is China's largest cold-chain gateway by throughput, with dedicated reefer stack areas, plug capacity and direct services to Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Europe and the Americas.
Pre-Trip Inspection (PTI)
Every reefer unit passes a PTI before gate-in: compressor, sensors, insulation and seal integrity are checked and logged.
Pre-Cooling
Cargo is pre-cooled to setpoint before loading — loading warm cargo into a cold container is the #1 cause of cold-chain failure.
Setpoint & Ventilation Setup
We record your required temperature, ventilation (fresh air exchange) and humidity settings on the booking and the equipment.
Port Plug Monitoring
At Ningbo the container stays plugged in until vessel load; discharge ports keep power on until pickup.
Data Download
On request we retrieve the reefer data logger download after discharge — proof of temperature integrity for your customers.
Commodities We Move
Frozen Seafood
Shrimp, fish fillets, squid and eel at -18°C or colder, exported to Japan, Korea, the US and EU.
Fresh Fruit & Vegetables
Citrus, garlic, ginger and temperate produce with ventilation and controlled-atmosphere options.
Frozen Prepared Food
Dim sum, surimi and ready meals for retail private label programmes.
Pharma & Chemicals
Temperature-sensitive APIs and reagents on routings with validated handling.
Reefer Transit Times from Ningbo (2026 Reference)
| Destination | Transit | 40RH Indicative Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Osaka / Tokyo | 3–6 days | $2,200–$3,600 |
| Busan | 2–3 days | $1,400–$2,400 |
| Singapore / Laem Chabang | 7–12 days | $2,600–$4,200 |
| Jebel Ali | 12–18 days | $3,400–$5,200 |
| Los Angeles | 14–20 days | $5,800–$8,500 |
| Rotterdam | 28–34 days | $6,200–$9,400 |
FAQ
How far in advance should I book a reefer?
10–14 days before ETD. Reefer equipment is scarcer than dry boxes and carriers reposition units by forecast; late bookings risk equipment unavailability or older units.
Can you arrange inland refrigerated trucking in China?
Yes. We arrange reefer trucking from factories across Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Fujian and Shandong to Ningbo, with generator sets where needed.
What is a PTI and why does it matter?
Pre-Trip Inspection: a certified functional test of the refrigeration unit before every booking. Shipping on non-PTI equipment is how cargo arrives thawed.
Do you handle customs and health certificates for food exports?
Yes — export customs, CIQ inspection and health/certificate documentation for food commodities are handled by our in-house team.
Get Your Free Quote
Send your cargo details — commodity, weight, volume, destination — and receive a line-by-line quote within 24 hours.
Common Reefer Set Points by Cargo Type
Typical carrier-recommended temperature and ventilation settings. The exact set point must always follow the shipper’s written instruction and the commodity’s own specification — use this table to sanity-check what you are asking for.
| Cargo type | Typical set point | Ventilation | What usually goes wrong |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fresh fruit & vegetables | 0 °C to +13 °C by commodity | 15–25 m³/h | One set point used for mixed loads; different produce in one box rarely survives the trip. |
| Frozen meat & seafood | −18 °C or colder | Closed | Broken cold chain during stuffing or at transhipment, not during the ocean leg. |
| Dairy products | +2 °C to +6 °C | Closed | Temperature fluctuation causing condensation and spoilage on arrival. |
| Chocolate & confectionery | +12 °C to +18 °C | Closed | Chilling too cold produces sugar bloom; moving from cold to warm air produces condensation. |
| Pharmaceuticals | +2 °C to +8 °C | Closed | No calibrated data logger, so an excursion cannot be proven or defended. |
| Cut flowers | +2 °C to +8 °C | Open | Ethylene exposure and hydration failure during pre-cooling. |
Reefer Shipping FAQ
What importers ask before they put temperature-sensitive cargo into a container.
What is a reefer container?
An insulated container with its own refrigeration unit that holds a set temperature for the whole journey. It plugs into the vessel’s power supply at sea, to a generator set (genset) on land, and to terminal power while waiting at the yard.
How far in advance should I book a reefer?
Earlier than dry cargo. Reefer slots are limited, carriers need the set point and ventilation instructions at booking, and specialised equipment such as controlled-atmosphere containers has to be positioned. Booking as early as your cargo-ready date allows is the safest approach.
Do I need a generator set?
For the road legs and any time the container is not plugged in — yes. Inland trucking from the factory to the terminal and any long yard stay needs genset power. We arrange clip-on gensets and monitor the power handover at each transfer point.
What is controlled atmosphere and when is it worth the cost?
Controlled atmosphere lowers oxygen and raises carbon dioxide inside the box to slow ripening. It costs more but extends shelf life meaningfully on long voyages for avocados, bananas and other high-value produce where arrival condition drives the price you get.
How do I prove the temperature was maintained?
The container’s own data logger is the baseline. For high-value or pharmaceutical cargo we recommend an independent calibrated logger placed in the load, so you have evidence you control if a claim arises.
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