Shipping Frozen Goods from Hong Kong to Montreal via Ocean Freight

Transporting perishable goods successfully demands a continuous cold chain. Use cooler boxes with the right amount of gel packs for refrigerated food or dry ice for frozen goods, pre‑chill products before packing, and choose a Fast transit service. Clearly mark boxes as “Perishable” and specify the required temperature so carriers handle them as temperature-controlled freight.

Yes, frozen goods can in many cases be shipped with dry ice by air, but dry ice is regulated as a dangerous good. Airlines have limits on how much dry ice is allowed per package and per shipment, and labels must show the net weight of dry ice and UN1845 markings. Most experts recommend checking carrier and destination rules in advance and combining dry ice with insulated packaging to keep reefer cargo at temperature while staying within dry‑ice limits.

Standard cargo policies may restrict coverage for temperature-related loss on chilled food and frozen food. Most shippers should arranging a policy that specifically covers temperature deviation and spoilage, and declaring the full value of your refrigerated food shipment. Keep packing records and temperature logs; insurers often require proof that correct handling was used before honoring claims.

Most chilled beverages should stay between 0–4°C, while many frozen goods products must remain at −18°C or colder. Exact ranges depend on the product type and local regulations. Always verify requirements for each item and specify the target range on booking instructions and labels so your temperature-controlled shipment is set correctly.

You can sometimes mix chilled food and frozen goods in the same load, but only if your container or vehicle can maintain separate temperature zones. Chilled food typically needs temperatures above freezing, while frozen food must stay well below zero. If only one temperature setpoint is available, best practice is separating them into different temperature-controlled shipments to avoid freezing Fresh produce or partially thawing frozen items.

Fresh and frozen food must be kept at specific temperature ranges throughout the shipping process. In Hong Kong, proper refrigeration facilities are essential for loading, while in Montreal, the infrastructure must support quick unloading and immediate transfer to cold storage. Additionally, using temperature-controlled containers is crucial to maintain the integrity of the products during the ocean transit.

Shipping fresh and frozen food requires compliance with both Chinese export regulations and Canadian import regulations. Export documentation from Hong Kong must include health certificates, import permits, and customs declarations. In Canada, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) enforce strict guidelines regarding the importation of perishable goods to ensure food safety and quality.

Our ocean freight services include both full container loads (FCL) and less-than-container loads (LCL) shipments.

Our team manages ground transportation including full truckload (FTL), less-than-truckload (LTL), and drayage services, with U.S. and Mexico cross-border coverage, scalable capacity, GPS tracking, and digital documentation.

Our customs brokerage includes tariff classification and valuation as part of our in-house expertise.