A reefer shipping container or refrigerated container is a unit that is used to store goods that can be damaged or rot if left at normal temperatures. This type is common in global trade for perishable or temperature-sensitive cargo.
A reefer shipping container has a cooling system that aims to maintain the temperature conditions inside the container according to its use and function. They also can maintain internal temperatures at the desired level, making them a staple across so many professional industries.
To know 10 goods that require the use of a reefer shipping container and its recommended unit, read this article fully!
10 Perishable Goods
Common categories include:
Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
Plants naturally undergo respiration, where it consumes oxygen and release carbon dioxide, heat, and moisture. Warm temperatures speed this process up. A reefer container helps control temperature, humidity, and airflow, so fresh fruits and vegetables stay fresh and safe during long-distance transport.
Without refrigeration, fruits and vegetables may become bruised, discolored, dehydrated, and rotten before reaching markets.
Reefer containers also allow exporters to ship produce over long distances by sea while keeping it marketable for weeks. For example, apples can last for months in controlled cold storage.
Meat, Poultry, and Seafood
Harmful bacteria, like Salmonella in poultry, E. coli in meat, Listeria in seafood and processed foods, grow rapidly at unsafe temperatures. Keeping meat, poultry, and seafood refrigerated or frozen slows microbial growth and reduces the risk of foodborne illness.
Moreover, reefer containers allow products to travel internationally by sea while remaining suitable for retail or processing.
Dairy Products
Milk, cheese, butter, yogurt, and ice cream are a few examples of dairy products. They are highly sensitive to temperature changes and can spoil quickly if not kept cold during storage and transportation.
Without a reefer shipping container, milk can sour quickly, yogurt quality declines, and cheese may develop harmful contamination.
Cold temperatures slow the growth of harmful microorganisms and help maintain food safety. Reefer containers allow dairy products to be transported long distances while remaining suitable for sale and consumption.
Frozen Foods
Frozen foods often move through multiple stages, from the production facilities, cold storage warehouses, seaports, ships, distribution centers, to retail stores. Therefore, they must be stored and transported in reefer containers to keep them continuously frozen and safe for consumption.
Freezing slows or stops the growth of most bacteria, molds, and yeasts. If frozen foods thaw during transport, microorganisms can begin growing, and food safety risks increase. Frozen food often needs -18°C or lower to keep food safe during long-distance shipping.
Pharmaceutical & Medical Goods
Vaccines, insulin, biologic drugs, blood plasma, and medical samples are medical products that need to be stored and transported within a reefer shipping container. Those products contain active ingredients that degrade when exposed to improper temperatures.
If temperature control fails, medicines may lose potency. Therefore, reefer containers help maintain the exact storage range required throughout transport.
Moreover, governments and health organizations require strict temperature monitoring for medical cargo. Organizations such as the WHO require proper cold-chain management for many pharmaceutical products. Failure to comply can lead to regulatory penalties and shipment rejection.
Floral & Agricultural Products
Floral and agricultural products require reefer containers because they are highly sensitive to temperature, humidity, airflow, and handling conditions. These include cut flowers, seeds, nursery plants, fresh herbs, and agricultural seedlings.
Moreover, appearance is extremely important for floral and agricultural products because buyers expect bright colors and fresh texture. Without refrigeration, flowers may droop, and plants may become damaged or discolored.
Chemicals & Industrial Materials
Many industrial materials must remain chemically uniform during transport. Some chemicals, such as specialty chemicals, adhesives, resins, and certain cosmetics, degrade if exposed to heat. Controlled transportation helps maintain product stability, safety, and performance during storage and shipping.
Beverage Industry
Wine, beer, juice concentrates, dairy beverages, functional drinks, and cold brew coffee are some examples of beverage products that need a reefer shipping container. They are sensitive to heat and temperature changes.
High temperatures can alter taste and aroma, accelerate oxidation, damage ingredients, and reduce freshness. Reefer containers help maintain consistent product quality during long-distance transport. This is because temperature control slows microbial activity and helps maintain food safety.
Film and Photo Equipment
Traditional photographic film is highly temperature-sensitive. Excessive heat can cause color shifts, grain deterioration, fogging, reduced image quality, and chemical degradation.
Cold storage slows the natural aging of film and preserves image performance. This is especially important for professional laboratories and motion-picture production.
Cosmetics
Many cosmetics contain oils, waxes, and emulsions that are temperature-sensitive. Heat exposure can cause lipsticks to melt or deform, creams to separate, lotions to become watery or grainy, and sunscreens to lose consistency.
Reefer containers provide stable temperature, humidity control, and ventilation, ensuring cosmetics remain safe, stable, and visually perfect until they reach consumers.
Reefer Container Recommended Units
These are reefer container units that are available for rent and sale from Tradecorp:
20ft Refrigerated Container
Our 20ft Refrigerated Container is equipped with a computerised control system, which automatically maintains the required climate. With external dimensions of 20ft x 8ft x 8ft 6in, it provides generous storage capacity while remaining practical to move and handle.
The interior is equipped with a stainless steel lining, T-bar flooring, an air circulation fan, and a baffle plate, all working together to maintain uniform cooling and balanced airflow across the container. Every new 20ft Refrigerated Container is supplied with a valid CSC (Container Safety Convention) plate and complies with ISO standards, making it suitable for international shipping without issue.
20ft Refrigerated Container High Cube
Tradecorp’s 20ft Refrigerated High Cube Container is designed to keep your temperature-sensitive cargo in top condition. Whether for food, beverages, or medical supplies, this unit delivers consistent cooling performance and extra storage capacity.
The 20ft High Cube Refrigerated Container for Sale in Fiji offers extra height, giving you more storage space and improved efficiency for your goods. It also comes with flexible cooling options from leading brands to suit your needs, such as Daikin around -30°C to -35°C, Carrier up to -35°C, and Thermo King up to -40°C.
20ft Refrigerated Super Freezer
The 20ft Refrigerated Super Freezer Container is widely used in seafood export, keeping tuna, salmon, and other premium fish at the required temperatures to maintain sashimi-grade quality.
Built with a high-performance Thermo King refrigeration system, this unit achieves and maintains extreme cold levels down to –70 °C for the new unit, making it suitable for pharmaceuticals, premium seafood, biotechnology samples, and other temperature-sensitive cargo.
It is also commonly utilized in sectors such as pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and meat or specialty food storage to preserve freshness and prevent spoilage of high-value products. With ultra-stable temperature control, it guarantees product quality from origin to final delivery point.
20ft Easy Opening Door Refrigerated
Built in compliance with ISO standards and fitted with a valid CSC plate, the 20ft Easy-Opening Door Refrigerated Container is ready for both local use and international shipping. This is a reliable solution for keeping perishable goods fresh and secure during storage or transportation.
It is designed with a user-friendly door system that allows fast and safe access to your cargo while maintaining consistent cooling performance. This container can be equipped with leading refrigeration systems from Daikin, Carrier, or Thermo King, offering temperature ranges as low as -30°C to -40°C.
40ft Refrigerated Container HC
The 40ft High Cube Refrigerated Container is equipped with a range of advanced features to ensure reliable performance. It is designed to handle large volumes of temperature-sensitive cargo, making it perfect for businesses in Fiji that require reliable cold storage or transportation.
With dimensions of 40 feet in length, 8 feet in width, and 9 feet 6 inches in height, this reefer provides extra vertical space compared to standard containers, ensuring maximum storage efficiency. Every 40ft High Cube Reefer is built to ISO standards and fitted with a CSC plate valid for five years, assuring you that it meets international shipping regulations. It can be used both for long-haul export/import shipments or as a stationary cold storage unit within Fiji.
40ft Refrigerated High Cube Super Freezer
The best ability of Tradecorp’s 40ft High Cube Refrigerated Super Freezer Container is maximizing freezer efficiency. It is because the unit has a powerful Thermo King refrigeration system that can consistently reach and maintain temperatures as low as –60°C, ideal for transporting and storing highly temperature-sensitive goods in bulk.
This container is widely used for perishable products such as seafood, meat, pharmaceuticals, and other frozen goods, guaranteeing freshness and quality even on extended journeys. It also provides reliable cold storage in remote areas or project sites where stable refrigeration is crucial.
20ft High Cube Refrigerated Dual Temperature
Instead of investing in and transporting two separate refrigerated containers, it is better if you use Tradecorp’s 20ft High Cube Refrigerated Dual Temperature unit. Built with a dual-compartment system, this container lets you store two types of products at separate temperatures in a single unit.
This unit system provides a cost-effective and space-saving alternative. For example, catering businesses can keep drinks cool in one section and prepared meals frozen in the other, while medical suppliers can safely separate vaccines from other temperature-sensitive medicines.
Conclusion
Using a reefer container helps preserve product quality, extend shelf life, meet food safety regulations, and reduce spoilage losses.
As one of the trusted providers that reliably presents various container units, Tradecorp offers the option to buy used or new containers, with the alternative of renting for short-term use.
With strategically placed depots across the region, Tradecorp ensures faster delivery and smooth handling. Our professional team is ready to assist with transportation and installation, ensuring a hassle-free experience. Fill out the contact form on our page to get the reefer container, and we will respond to your inquiry promptly
