Shipping Ambient Food from Oakland to Balboa via Ocean Freight

Moisture-sensitive shelf-stable food demands moisture-resistant inner packaging such as laminated liners inside sturdy outer cartons. Our team suggests adding Desiccant packs and using “Keep Dry” labels on all processed food shipments, especially when moving through humid or coastal routes.

You are allowed to ship dry food and bottled drinks together if all items are securely packed and bottled drinks are placed at the bottom of the carton. We recommend using Dividers for liquid items so that any leak does not damage surrounding packaged groceries.

Most international shipments of packaged groceries will require detailed invoices listing full product descriptions, HS codes, and values. Depending on the destination and type of beverages, you might also need Health certificates and Proof of origin, especially for animal-derived ingredients.

For shelf-stable food with medium fragility and mixed dry food and bottled drinks, insurance providers typically recommend all-risks freight insurance that includes spoilage and contamination. Be sure to Declare the full value of your Packaged groceries and record how goods are packed, as insurers may assess packaging quality when processing claims.

Most processed food and standard beverages are shipped in standard dry vans as long as you protect from temperature extremes. We recommend checking manufacturer guidelines on Maximum storage temperature, especially for sensitive beverages, and planning transit to minimize exposure to very hot or very cold environments.

Packaged food should be stored in a temperature-controlled environment during transit to maintain product integrity. It is important to ensure that the cargo is properly secured and protected from moisture and contaminants, as ocean freight may expose it to varying conditions.

Shipments of packaged food to Panama require compliance with both U.S. and Panamanian food safety regulations, including obtaining necessary permits and certificates. Importers must provide documentation verifying the products meet health standards set by the Panamanian authorities, and all labels must be in Spanish.

Operationally, SAMMIE delivers 50% less time spent tracking shipments, immediate visibility, fewer shipment errors and missed handoffs, better alignment between purchasing, logistics, and finance, and lower overhead with fewer manual check-ins.

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