Are you into the importation or exportation of large scale frozen food business or have any particular legitimate dealings that involve importing or exporting perishable items such as frozen food, fruits, live snails, and related? Before the invention of refrigerated vans and trucks, fresh produce could only be transported about 80km from its source. Yes, that short a journey! By the way, that’s if we assume that the product reaches the Market on the same day it was produced, otherwise, it perishes.

The Nigerian cold Chain system has grown tremendously over the years. From the earlier years when it was only about iceboxes and pre-coolers in cars, it has been able to bring sophistication to the forefront. Now we see large shipping containers, high tech containers, cooling warehouses and transportation of food, fruits, vaccines, chemicals etc., around the country as well as imported goods. But it doesn’t end there. We have gone beyond our national borders and are taking our cold chain service to other African nations and beyond.

With the development of the cold chain industry over the years, fresh produce and perishables can stay fresh and safe until it gets to its destination.

What is cold chain system?

The cold chain system in Nigeria is a means of transporting and storing products to meet specific temperature requirements. It is a supply chain management process that involves the performance of industry-specific, and temperature-controlled packaging techniques to guarantee the safe movement of food and medicine between specific conditions.

Cold chain logs are the most beneficial to the shipment of your products and should be taken very as a serious one.

The cold chain system is the system that also helps ensure that vaccines and other pharmaceuticals are stored at the right temperature and transported to other places where they can be delivered. With the advancement of technology in Nigeria, there has been a lot of development to make things better with distribution, especially with vaccines. Everyone wants to make sure that the vaccines are working well and that person especially the children are kept healthy.

The Value of Global Cold Chain Market

In a response from an interview conducted by Jill Okeke of the Nations Newspaper speaks on the prospects and challenges of Nigeria’s emerging cold chain industry, it was confirmed thus;

…Market forecast posits that the global cold chain market is estimated to be valued at USD 218.0 billion in 2020 and is expected to exceed USD 500 billion by 2026. The market in Nigeria is big yet untapped considering the population and vast opportunities available in the cold chain industry. With adequate support and collaboration, the potential for growth is enormous.

Mandilas, in an interview with Jill Okeke (the Nations Newspapers).#

The cold chain system in Nigeria is slightly new in logistics and it is important to know how this works. The cold chain system in Nigeria is used to preserve temperature-sensitive goods, a process that ensures that products or drugs are stored at the correct temperatures before they are sold, bought and consumed by customers.

There is a clear indication pointing to the fact that Nigeria can save abut $9b annually by avoiding spoilage of goods through transportation of the refrigerated products.

basically, transport refrigeration is an important aspect of cold chain logistics. Presently, Nigeria has less than 1% of the world’s cold storage and mobile refrigerated logistics capacity. The market is huge with great potential for growth, and if properly tapped the industry will benefit the economy and improve the life and living of Nigerians.

Items that can be shipped in a cold chain system

• Fresh fruits (banana, mango etc)
• Bulk frozen vegetables and fruits (watermelons, pineapples and the like)
• Frozen meat cuts
• Fish cuts
• Frozen bread/baked goods products
• Ice cream pails and cartons
• Frozen juices (not UHT)
• Ice cubes for domestic use
• Packaged dairy products e.g buttermilk, UHT milk, butter
• Human remains
• Vaccines & other pharmaceuticals (NB: For pharmaceuticals, it is defined as the temperature range of  2° and 8°C (or 36° to 46°F) or ambient conditions. Packing line equipment is used to maintain the temperature of compliant products while they are being inspected.

Key elements of cold chain

• Cooling systems. Bringing commodities such as food to the appropriate temperature for processing, storage, and transportation.

• Cold storage. Providing facilities for the storage of goods over a period of time, either waiting to be ship to a distant market, at an intermediary location for processing and distribution and close to the market for distribution.

• Cold transport. Having conveyances available to move goods while maintaining stable temperature and humidity conditions as well as protecting their integrity.

• Cold processing and distribution. Providing facilities for the transformation and processing of goods as well as ensuring sanitary conditions. Consolidating and deconsolidation loads (crates, boxes, pallets) for distribution.

Wrap Up

As always, our over 20 years of running Freight Shipping and Customs Clearing Business in Nigeria has seen quite a good number of importers and exporters make values. We have helped a lot of them record possible successes in their businesses.

This post is for informational purposes, although we are open for a business discussion with you whenever you are ready or willing to import or export your consignments. Our years of experience in Freight Shipping and Customs Clearing has led our way up above peers and that is why we at Bowa-gate Global Limited have been able to identify what works and what does not in the interest of our growing customer base.

We are willing to take you through a whole new perspective.

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