Safe handling of your critical Chilled Food cargo
China
Costa Rica
The ocean route from Xiamen to San Jose is particularly advantageous for transporting fresh produce and chilled food, ensuring optimal conditions for maintaining quality during transit. This method utilizes refrigerated containers that provide a consistent temperature, preserving the freshness of perishable items. Additionally, the extended journey allows for careful handling and monitoring, reducing the risk of spoilage. Such reliability is essential for suppliers and retailers focused on delivering the best to consumers.
Xiamen boasts a state-of-the-art port equipped with advanced cold chain facilities, facilitating the seamless loading and unloading of refrigerated goods. The infrastructure supports efficient handling of fresh and frozen food, ensuring that temperature controls are maintained throughout the process. In San Jose, the logistics network is well-established, with warehouses designed specifically for storing chilled and frozen products, allowing for quick distribution to local markets. This synergy between the two locations enhances the overall supply chain efficiency for fresh produce and frozen food.
Comparative analysis of origin and destination capabilities.
Exporters must comply with Chinese customs regulations, including proper HS coding and full commercial documentation.
All imports require customs clearance with complete commercial invoices, packing lists, and tariff classification.
DNA Expert Assessment
Very High - Complex Regulatory Environment
Very High - Requires Specialized Care
When shipping from Xiamen, China to San Jose, Costa Rica, consider the East Asia Rainy Season (May-October) and the Western Pacific Typhoon Season (June-November). Include buffer days for potential port congestion and weather-related delays, especially during peak rainfall (June-September) and typhoon months (August-October). Secure vessel space well in advance, particularly before the China Golden Week (October 1-7) and Lunar New Year (mid-January to late-February), as availability decreases. Coordinate closely with carriers for real-time updates to mitigate disruptions.
When shipping fresh produce, robust packaging Is essential to control temperature and moisture. Our team suggests using Insulated cartons with ice packs for Chilled food and dry ic...
Keeping the cold chain for fresh produce Requires tightly controlled handling. Reduce door-open time during loading and unloading so Reefer cargo does not warm or condense. Our ope...
For larger volumes of fresh food, booking the correct container type is Essential. Our logistics team recommends Integrated reefer containers for mixed loads of chilled food and Fr...
Exporting refrigerated food often Requires additional documentation beyond a standard commercial invoice. Depending on destination, you may need sanitary certificates, temperature-...
Before pickup, stage perishable goods at the correct temperature: typically 0–4°C for Refrigerated food and −18°C or below for Frozen food. Avoid storing Fresh produce directly on ...
Moving perishable goods successfully Requires a continuous cold chain. Use thermal containers with the right amount of gel packs for Chilled food or dry ice for Frozen food, 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 food can in many cases be shipped with dry ice by air, but dry ice is regulated as a dangerous good. Airlines Set 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. Our compliance team recommends checking carrier and destination rules in advance and combining dry ice with insulated packaging to keep Frozen food at temperature while staying within dry‑ice limits.
Standard cargo policies may limit coverage for temperature-related loss on chilled food and Frozen goods. Insurance specialists generally recommend arranging a policy that specifically covers temperature deviation and spoilage, and declaring the full value of your Reefer cargo. Keep packing records and temperature logs; insurers often require proof that adequate insulation was used before honoring claims.
Most refrigerated food 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 Confirm requirements for each item and specify the target range on booking instructions and labels so your Reefer cargo is set correctly.
You can sometimes mix fresh food and frozen goods in the same load, but only if your container or vehicle can maintain separate temperature zones. Fresh produce typically needs temperatures above freezing, while Frozen goods must stay well below zero. If only one temperature setpoint is available, We recommend separating them into different Reefer cargo shipments to avoid freezing Fresh produce or partially thawing frozen items.
Fresh and frozen food must be transported in temperature-controlled containers to maintain required temperature ranges. This includes using refrigerated containers for chilled products and frozen containers for products needing sub-zero temperatures during the entire ocean freight journey.
Yes, shipments of fresh and frozen food must comply with Costa Rican regulations, which may include obtaining health certificates, phytosanitary certificates for plant products, and ensuring that products meet local food safety standards. Proper documentation is essential for customs clearance at both the Xiamen and San Jose ports.
Our platform provides smart, preemptive alerts about delays, reroutes, or exceptions so you are notified before you even ask.
Yes, DNA provides port-to-door service that covers customs and final-mile delivery.
Yes, DNA provides U.S. and Mexico cross-border coverage.
Call or schedule a call with our sales team to discuss your Xiamen → San Jose shipping needs.
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