Guide · Logistics

Cold Chain & Reefer Shipping for Frozen Chicken Paws

Frozen chicken paws depend on one thing above all: an unbroken −18 °C cold chain from the moment they're frozen at the plant to the moment they're unloaded at destination.

The chain, step by step

FreezingPlant blast / IQF freezing
StorageOn-site cold storage at −18 °C
ContainerReefer set point −18 °C, monitored & logged
Capacity≈26–27 MT per 40ft reefer
Transit to ChinaRoughly 30–40 days, depending on routing
ArrivalDischarge port cold store

From blast freezing to the reefer container

Paws are blast or IQF (individually quick frozen) at the plant, then held in on-site cold storage before loading. From there they move into a reefer container set to −18 °C, with temperature continuously monitored and logged for the entire journey. A standard 40ft reefer carries roughly 26–27 MT of product. That container condition and set point is one of the items checked by an independent inspector before the vessel sails — see our SGS & Intertek inspection guide.

Transit time and why temperature integrity matters

From Brazilian ports such as Itajaí or Paranaguá, transit to China typically runs about 30–40 days depending on routing. Because the voyage is long, an unbroken cold chain is essential both for product quality — texture and glazing depend on the product never partially thawing — and for customs clearance, where temperature logs can be requested as proof the cargo was held correctly throughout. The Incoterm on the shipment also determines who is responsible for booking and managing that reefer voyage; see our CIF vs FOB guide.

Cold chain integrity on every container

Duna Trading ships Grade A frozen chicken paws and feet from SIF-registered, GACC-listed Brazilian plants with a monitored, unbroken −18 °C cold chain from plant to destination. Tell us your product, quantity and destination and the São Paulo desk reverts with a quotation.

Cold chain & reefer shipping — FAQ

Common questions about frozen chicken cold chain logistics.

What does an unbroken cold chain actually involve?

It means the product stays at −18 °C from the moment it is frozen at the plant to the moment it is unloaded at destination: blast or IQF freezing at the plant, on-site cold storage, a reefer container held at −18 °C with continuous temperature monitoring and logging, the ocean voyage, and finally a cold store at the discharge port. Any break in that chain — even briefly — risks quality loss and can create issues at customs.

How much product fits in a reefer container?

A standard 40ft reefer container carries roughly 26–27 metric tonnes of frozen chicken paws, packed in cartons with inner bags. Exact loadable weight depends on carton dimensions and stacking pattern.

How long does shipping from Brazil to China take?

Transit from Brazilian ports such as Itajaí or Paranaguá to Chinese ports typically runs about 30–40 days, depending on the shipping line's routing and any transshipment. Reefer monitoring and temperature logs run for the full voyage so temperature integrity can be verified on arrival.