Ideal Shipping Conditions
Dry vs Blanket vs Reefer
Dry Containers
Dry containers can reach both extreme high and low temperatures.
Container Liners
Blankets can provide protection against only brief temperature swings.
Reefer Containers
Reefer containers continuously protect product from all temperature swings.
Interactive Graph: Dry vs Reefer Containers from Europe
This graph shows a dry container and a reefer container that were shipped from Europe. The reefer container, shown in blue, left one week later than the dry container, shown in red. During this trip, the Reefer container never rose above the maximum recommended temperature for wine of 24°C. The dry container, however, frequently reached temperatures above 24°C.
Recommendation for Wine Transport
The World Food Logistics Organization (WFLO) recommends that “...all wines are stored in refrigerated warehouses and shipped in refrigerated containers/trucks with the temperature exposure continuously logged to assure that the refrigeration system has indeed been working.” For more information, see the WFLO Wine Shipping Recommendations.
| Storage Time | Heat Exposure Temperatures | Cold Exposure Temperatures |
|---|---|---|
| Never | 30°C (86°F) or above | -5°C (23°F) or below |
| Spike of 30 min or less | 29°C (85°F) or below | 0°C (32°F) or below |
| 1-4 weeks | 24°C (75°F) or below | 10°C (50°F) or below |
| Long-term storage | 10-16°C (50-60°F) | 10-16°C (50-60°F) |
Recommendation for Chocolate Transport
It is recommended that chocolate remain at temperatures between 12°C and 20°C during transportation and warehousing. Consideration should also be given to humidity level, air circulation, and light exposure to prevent unwanted absorption of smells and changes to appearance. For more information, see Sensitech’s Transporting and Warehousing Recommendations.
