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From bulk grains to soybeans, legumes, produce, and even ready-to-eat meals, agricultural goods make up for 1 in every 10 US exports. But between the US and the final destination lies a major challenge: shipping.
Shipping agricultural goods isn’t like shipping consumer products. They’re much more sensitive to temperature changes, moisture, and pests. Without proper protection, agricultural goods can mold, spoil, sprout, or cake, resulting in major financial loss.
As North American shipping experts, we’re here to teach you everything you need to know to help your shipment arrive safely. Read on for your ultimate guide to container shipping agricultural goods, including key challenges, considerations, best practices, and more.
What are Agricultural Goods?
Agricultural goods include bulk goods, crops, and ingredients shipped from one country to another. These exports play a huge role in the US economy. In 2024, the US exported $176 billion worth of agricultural products to 189 countries and territories around the world, and keeps growing. In 2024, US agricultural exports reached their 3rd highest value in 20 years.
Top agricultural products exported from the US include:
- Soybeans
- Corn
- Beef & beef products
- Tree nuts
- Pork & pork products
- Dairy products
Key Challenges in Shipping Agricultural Products
When it comes time to ship, agricultural products present a number of unique challenges. From increased humidity risks to heightened compliance needs, read on to learn what you need to be aware of.
Moisture & Humidity Risk
Excess moisture in your agricultural shipments can do a world of damage. It can affecrt packaging and cause products to mold, sour, or spoil. In shipments of powdered goods or ingredients, excess moisture can cause clumping and caking, damaging the quality of your products.
Temperature Fluctuations
As shipments travel through different environments, fluctuating temperatures cause a phenomenon known as container rain. Condensation builds up on the ceiling and begins to rain down on products. Without proper protection, they’ll suffer serious damage.
Excessive temperatures can also cause fresh fruits and vegetables to ripen too quickly and products to spoil
Pests and Contamination
Agricultural shipments are a magnet for pests like insects and rodents. Even the smallest cracks in shipping containers are an open door to infestations. Rats, ants, and other pests can make their way into shipping containers while in storage and spend the journey chewing through packaging and ruining products.
Contamination is a serious concern, too. Dust, foreign materials, or cross-contamination can make a shipment of agricultural goods unusable.
Regulatory Compliance
Navigating compliance standards for agricultural goods can be complex. Key players in US agricultural exports include:
- USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service: Enforces regulations that control the spread of plant diseases and pests to other countries.
- USDA Federal Grain Inspection Service: Inspects and weighs grain and oil seed exports.
- USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service: Oversees export certificates for meat, poultry, and eggs.
- USDA Foreign Agriculture Service: Requires reports of certain export sales.
Best Packaging and Moisture Protection for Agricultural Goods
Proper protection is essential to ensure your agricultural shipment arrives safely. Use these shipping solutions to manage moisture, temperature, and contamination as your shipment journeys to its final destination.
Barrier Liners
Barrier liners create a layer of protection between your cargo and your shipping container. Humidity control barrier liners are large, polyethylene bags that line the inside of your shipping container, creating a dry environment for your agricultural products. In the event of leaks, container rain, or high humidity environments, your humidity control barrier liner will protect your shipment.
Bulk liners are another effective tool for protecting agricultural shipments. They create a sterile environment for grains, meal, and other bulk dry goods that protects your exports from pest infestation or contamination. Choose from bulk liners with front openings for conveyor loading and bottom openings for unloading, or top spouts to quickly load dry goods.
Desiccants
Desiccants provide an additional layer of humidity protection. These compounds absorb and trap humidity to prevent water damage, mold, or spoilage. There are many types of desiccant to choose from, but calcium chloride is the best for agricultural shipments. This desiccant permanently traps moisture in a gel formula.
Choose from desiccant bags, blankets, or pads for full-spectrum protection.
Thermal Protection
For temperature-sensitive goods, thermal insulation is a must. These shipping container products protect your agricultural exports from extreme temperatures, which can cause souring, spoilage, and rotting. Thermal protection products come in a range of styles, including thermal blankets, thermal pallet covers, or thermal container liners
How to Choose the Right Shipment Method
When it comes to choosing a shipment method for agricultural goods, there’s a primary tradeoff to consider: cost vs. speed.
Air Freight
Air freight is very fast. That means your shipment will have less exposure to humidity, moisture, contamination, and pests. That said, it’s very costly. Shipments can cost 4x more than ocean freight. It’s typically reserved for perishable items with very short shelflives.
Agricultural goods commonly shipped by air include:
- Fresh seafood
- Flowers
- Highly perishable produce like berries, exotic fruit, and tender vegetables
Ocean Freight
Ocean freight is much slower and has more risks. But it’s significantly cheaper. According to some statistics, a $1,000 air shipment costs just $195 by sea. Less sensitive goods are shipped by ocean freight whenever possible.
Agricultural goods commonly shipped by sea include:
- Bulk ingredients
- Hardy produce
- Grains, beans, and rice
- Frozen and refrigerated meats
Container Type
Depending on what you’re shipping, there are three primary container types to choose from:
- Standard dry containers: These airtight steel containers come in 20 or 40-foot lengths. They’re used to transport dry goods that don’t require refrigeration.
- Ventilated containers: Ventilated containers are standard dry containers with ventilation built in. They use passive air vents or active ventilation systems that rely on a generator. They’re most commonly used to transport moisture-sensitive goods like coffee and cocoa beans.
- Refrigerated containers: Commonly referred to as “reefers,” refrigerated containers maintain precise temperatures for temperature-sensitive goods. They rely on generators or power from ships.
Best Practices for Agricultural Shipments
Set your shipments up for success with these best practices.
Thoroughly Inspect Your Container
Before loading anything into your shipping container, give it a thorough inspection. Look for dents, cracks, or signs of damage. Check for rust. Ensure all doors seal properly. If your container is ventilated, ensure the ventilation is working properly. If anything seems amiss, don’t use it. It’s better to be cautious than lose an entire shipment.
Use Monitoring Devices During Transit
To ensure your goods are safe to consume, it’s vital to monitor your shipment during its journey. Monitoring devices inform you when your shipment has reached unsafe humidity levels or temperatures. Choose from the following:
- Real-time trackers: Real-time trackers provide continuous, real-time monitoring of your shipment. If it surpasses a specific threshold, you’ll get an immediate alert. They rely on internet or cellular service to do so.
- Data loggers: These devices monitor your shipping container and store all information on a USB device or transmit it via Bluetooth. While you won’t get real-time alerts for your shipment, you’ll be able to review all data once your shipment arrives. They’re a good choice if you expect your shipment to travel through areas with little or no cellular service.
- Humidity indicators: Many humidity indicators are totally analog devices. They contain a compound that changes color when humidity passes a certain threshold. When your shipment arrives, you can check the indicators to determine whether humidity became problematically high.
Protect Your Agricultural Shipments With Custom Solutions From EPGNA
Agricultural goods require extra care and attention to ensure their safe arrival. At EPGNA, our goal is to ensure your goods make it to their destination unscathed. We offer custom solutions to all your shipping problems, from moisture control to temperature stabilization, containment, and more. Discover how EPGNA can help you simplify your shipments. Contact us today.
