For seafood distributors, seafood cold chain logistics involves more than simply moving products from one warehouse to another. Frozen seafood requires temperature-controlled transportation throughout the delivery process, making logistics an important component of the final cost.
For interprovincial shipments, the impact becomes more significant: even when the purchase price remains unchanged, different transportation costs can significantly change the actual cost per kilogram.
Why Can Cold Chain Freight Increase Product Costs?
Refrigerated transportation costs depend on several factors, including distance, shipment volume, vehicle type, delivery schedule, return trips and temperature requirements.
For small orders, hiring an entire refrigerated truck can result in a high transportation cost per kilogram. On the other hand, large shipments may still generate unnecessary costs if loading capacity and delivery schedules are not properly planned.
For this reason, distributors should look beyond the cost per trip and calculate the logistics cost per kilogram when comparing transportation options.
Consolidated Trucking or Full-Load Transportation?
Refrigerated truck consolidation is suitable for smaller shipments that do not require a full truck. Sharing transportation capacity with other shipments on the same route helps distribute freight costs more efficiently.
Full-load refrigerated trucks or reefer containers are generally more suitable for larger volumes, fixed delivery schedules or shipments requiring greater control over transportation. When sufficient volume is available, the cost per kilogram can be more efficient than splitting the shipment into several smaller trips.
| Option | Suitable for | Key consideration |
|---|---|---|
| Consolidated refrigerated truck | Small shipments | Depends on routes and schedules |
| Full refrigerated truck | Large, regular shipments | Maximize loading capacity |
| Reefer container | Large or long-distance shipments | Include handling, storage and container costs |
Better Logistics Starts with Better Order Planning
Cost-efficient transportation is not simply about finding the lowest freight rate. Distributors can improve efficiency by consolidating orders by route, planning purchasing schedules and maximizing truck or container capacity.
Choosing suppliers that can provide stable delivery schedules, suitable packaging specifications and planned production volumes can also help reduce additional costs throughout the cold chain.
KDT Production supplies frozen seafood to distributors and B2B buyers with flexible product specifications and volumes, helping customers plan sourcing and distribution more efficiently.
Contact KDT to discuss product volume, specifications and delivery planning for your seafood business.