Key takeaways

• Choose between active cooling containers and passive insulated packaging based on your cargo’s sensitivity and transit time.
• Ensure all commercial invoices and agency permits are ready before departure to prevent customs holds at Canadian airports.
• Recognise that dry ice and certain chemical coolants are classified as hazardous goods, requiring specific IATA declarations and labelling.
• Work with a freight forwarder that handles door-to-door cold-chain logistics to maintain temperature integrity across all transit legs.

What is temperature-controlled air freight?

Temperature-controlled air freight is a highly specialised logistics service designed to transport goods that require a strict, stable climate environment. Unlike general cargo, which is exposed to the ambient temperatures of airport tarmacs and cargo holds, temperature-sensitive shipments are managed through a meticulously planned cold chain. This ensures that the internal temperature of the cargo remains within a specific range, whether that is deep frozen, standard frozen, chilled, or a controlled room temperature.

This type of shipping is critical for a variety of industries. Importers bringing in high-value pharmaceuticals, specialised medical equipment, perishable food ingredients, and sensitive cosmetics rely on climate control to maintain product efficacy and safety. Because temperature fluctuations can ruin an entire shipment, working with an experienced logistics provider is essential. When you book air freight services, the forwarder coordinates with IATA-compliant airlines that have the infrastructure to handle and store temperature-sensitive goods properly during transit.

How should you pack cold-chain goods for air shipping?

Proper packing is the first and most crucial line of defence against temperature excursions. The environment inside an aircraft cargo hold can fluctuate significantly, and shipments may be exposed to extreme weather during loading and unloading on the tarmac. Your packaging must act as a robust thermal barrier.

For passive cooling systems, shippers typically use insulated boxes made from expanded polystyrene (EPS) or more advanced vacuum insulated panels (VIPs). These outer containers are then lined with coolants such as gel packs, phase change materials (PCMs), or dry ice, depending on the required temperature range. PCMs are highly effective because they can be engineered to maintain a very specific temperature for extended periods, making them ideal for high-value cargo that cannot risk freezing or overheating.

If your shipment requires deep freezing, dry ice is the standard coolant. However, it is important to understand that dry ice sublimates, turning from a solid directly into carbon dioxide gas. Packaging for dry ice must never be completely airtight; it requires venting to allow the gas to escape and prevent the container from rupturing under pressure. Because of this gas release, airlines classify dry ice as a hazardous material, meaning your shipment must feature specific dangerous goods labelling and precise documentation detailing the exact weight of the dry ice included.

Active vs. passive cooling: Which is right for your cargo?

When arranging temperature-controlled air freight, you will generally choose between active and passive cooling solutions. The right choice depends on the value of your goods, the required temperature stability, and the total transit time.

Active containers act like portable refrigerators. They are plugged in at the warehouse, rely on heavy-duty batteries during the flight, and are plugged in again once they reach the destination airport facility. This makes them exceptionally reliable for critical shipments. Passive systems, while simpler, require careful calculation of transit times to ensure the coolants do not expire before the cargo reaches its final destination in Canada.

What documents do you need to clear temperature-sensitive goods through Canada Customs?

Customs delays are the biggest threat to temperature-sensitive cargo. Even the best active container or passive packaging will eventually fail if a shipment is held up for days awaiting clearance. To prevent this, your paperwork must be flawless and submitted well in advance of the flight’s arrival.

At a minimum, you will need a highly detailed commercial invoice, a packing list, and a certificate of origin. For temperature-controlled goods, the commercial invoice should clearly state the nature of the products, their intended use, and their value. However, because most cold-chain cargo involves food, supplements, or medical items, you will likely need additional permits or licences. For example, food products may require clearance from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), while medical goods might require Health Canada documentation.

It is strongly recommended to work with a professional customs brokerage team to pre-clear your goods. By classifying your items with the correct HS codes and submitting the paperwork before the aircraft lands, brokers can facilitate a rapid release. Always confirm current regulatory requirements and permit necessities directly with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) or consult with our customs team to ensure compliance.

How to mitigate risks and protect high-value cargo?

Even with meticulous planning, international air freight can experience unexpected delays due to severe weather, rerouted flights, or sudden airport congestion. Protecting your high-value, temperature-controlled cargo requires a proactive approach and a solid contingency plan.

First, always include temperature monitoring devices or data loggers inside your packaging. These devices record the internal temperature throughout the journey, providing a clear audit trail. If a temperature excursion occurs, this data is essential for determining if the goods are still safe to use or sell, and it serves as vital evidence if you need to file a claim.

Second, ensure your logistics provider has a plan for ground transport. The cold chain must not break once the cargo leaves the airport. Soleil Transportation arranges prompt pickup and delivery at airports using temperature-controlled ground vehicles, ensuring a seamless door-to-door transition.

Finally, consider protecting your financial investment. Standard carrier liability is notoriously low and often does not adequately cover high-value goods or temperature-related spoilage. We highly recommend adding optional cargo insurance to your shipment. An all-risk, customised policy can provide comprehensive coverage, offering peace of mind in the event of unforeseen transit issues.

Frequently asked questions

Can I ship frozen goods and ambient goods in the same shipment?

Yes, but they must be managed carefully. They can be packed in separate insulated passive containers within the same consignment, or booked under different temperature zones if using specialised active multi-temperature containers. Your forwarder will ensure each item is treated according to its specific climate requirements.

Does standard cargo insurance cover temperature excursions?

Not typically by default. Standard carrier liability provides minimal coverage. To protect against spoilage caused by temperature fluctuations or delays, you need a customised all-risk policy that explicitly includes temperature excursions. This coverage is optional and can be added upon request.

Are dry ice shipments considered dangerous goods?

Yes. Because dry ice releases carbon dioxide gas as it sublimates, it is classified as a hazardous material under IATA regulations. Shipments containing dry ice require specific venting in the packaging, dangerous goods labelling, and accurate declarations of the dry ice weight.

How can I avoid customs delays for perishable items?

The most effective way to avoid delays is to prepare and submit all required documentation, including commercial invoices and any necessary agency permits, before the cargo departs the origin country. Working closely with a customs broker ensures your paperwork is compliant and ready for fast processing upon arrival in Canada.

Contact Soleil Transportation

Ready to ship your temperature-sensitive cargo safely to Canada? Our team can help you navigate cold-chain logistics, proper packing, and customs compliance. Contact Soleil Transportation at +1 888-998-5199 or info@soleiltransportation.com, or request a quote at our contact page.

Many families in Canada who miss the taste of home ask relatives to send a few jars of pickled shallots, pickled mustard greens or sweet and sour pickled eggplant. However, food is a very sensitive category for air shipping. Pickles keep fermenting and producing gas in transit. When cabin pressure changes, ordinary plastic jars easily swell, pop their lids and leak brine onto surrounding parcels, which can lead the airline to refuse or destroy them.

To make sure your taste of home arrives intact, you need to know how to pack against leaks and choose the right shipping service.

Comparing costs for shipping food to Canada

Depending on the weight and your needs, Soleil Transportation offers air shipping solutions from Vietnam to Canada with delivery to the recipient at very competitive prices.

Note: Prices include import duties in Canada. Packing in a standard carton is free.

3 steps to pack pickles so the lids don’t pop

To keep jars of pickled shallots and eggplant from leaking in flight, senders in Vietnam should use this three-layer packing method:

Step 1: Pour off some liquid and choose a strong jar

• Don’t fill the brine right up to the rim. Leave a 3–4 cm gap so the gas has room to expand.
• Use rigid, purpose-made plastic jars with tight screw caps. Avoid cheap, thin plastic jars that dent easily.

Step 2: Wrap with cling film and seal with tape

• Wrap cling film tightly over the mouth of the jar at least 5 times before screwing on the lid.
• After tightening the lid, tape it firmly around the lid and neck with wide tape so it can’t unscrew when shaken.

Step 3: Double vacuum-seal and add cushioning

• Put each jar in a heavy-duty vacuum bag and seal it. If any brine leaks, it stays inside the plastic bag instead of soaking through the carton.
• When packing the carton, line it with bubble wrap so the jars don’t knock against each other.

Canadian customs rules on bringing food into the country

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) controls imported food very closely to protect biosecurity.

• Ingredients: Food must not contain meat, eggs, dairy or other ingredients from land animals. Pickled shallots, mustard greens and eggplant are purely vegetable, so they clear customs more easily.
• Labels: For homemade products, write the product name in English or French on the outside of the vacuum bag so inspectors can easily identify it.
• Import duties: With Soleil Transportation’s dedicated service, the rate from $16/kg includes all import duties, so the recipient in Canada simply waits for door delivery with no hidden costs.

Tracking and receiving your parcel in Canada

Once shipped, both sender and recipient can track the parcel online with the order or booking number. Status updates are also sent automatically by email, SMS or Zalo.

After about 7 to 12 business days, the parcel is delivered in Canada. In Toronto, Mississauga and nearby Ontario, you can choose to collect it from the Soleil Transportation warehouse at a time that suits you.

• Canadian warehouse address: 2446 Cawthra Road, B1U8, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada L5A 3K6
• Flexible payment: The recipient in Canada can pay by Interac e-Transfer, credit card or cash, or the sender in Vietnam can pay by bank transfer.

For more advice on which foods you can send and an accurate quote for your parcel, call our toll-free line +1 888-998-5199 or email the details to info@soleiltransportation.com and our team will help you as quickly as possible.

Many e-commerce shop owners selling from Vietnam to Canada assume that ocean freight is always the cheapest option. In practice, the story is different. Imagine you have a shipment of handicrafts or trending fashion. By sea, it spends 2 to 3 months on the water. By the time it arrives, your Canadian customers’ tastes may have changed or, worse, they may have cancelled because the wait was too long.

On top of that, Vietnam’s latest rules require people buying and selling through cross-border e-commerce to complete electronic identity verification when trading with foreign parties. This change is catching many people off guard, adding paperwork and lengthening clearance times. If you consolidate goods by sea, a problem with the electronic identity of just a few packages in a container can hold your whole shipment at the port for weeks. In this situation, switching to air freight to Canada frees up your capital and protects your shop’s reputation.

The hidden costs: is ocean freight really cheaper?

To know when to switch from sea to air, look at the total landed cost, not just the raw freight rate. Ocean freight has a low starting rate but carries a range of hidden costs:

• Storage and domestic transfer fees: When goods arrive at a Canadian port, they wait to be unloaded and declared, then a truck brings them to your warehouse before they are split up and shipped. Domestic costs in Canada are often expensive, from a few hundred to a thousand dollars or more.
• Opportunity cost of capital: If you invest 100 million VND in stock, that money is frozen for the 90 days at sea. By air, you could turn that capital over 3–4 times in the same period.
• High cancellation rates: Online shoppers in Canada are used to fast delivery. Waiting more than 3 weeks is the top reason they ask for refunds, so you lose both the goods and the two-way shipping cost.

The break-even formula for switching to air freight to Canada

To work out exactly when to change shipping methods, use this break-even calculation based on order weight and value.

1. Small parcels under 2 kg (use ePacket)

If your shop sells light products such as accessories, jewellery, phone cases or thin clothing, ocean freight is simply not viable because you can’t meet the minimum volume. The best option is ePacket.

From just $8.50 CAD per parcel, goods fly directly from Vietnam to Canada and are delivered to the recipient through Canada Post. Average transit time is just 7–12 business days. You don’t need to fill a full load or pay large storage costs.

2. Wholesale shipments of 10 kg or more

For heavier shipments, compare how efficiently your capital works. Assume your net profit margin per product is 30%.

• By sea: Cheap freight but 60 days in transit. You can only turn over your capital 6 times a year. Annual profit = Capital x 30% x 6 = 180% of capital.
• By air to Canada: From $16/kg (including all import duties and door-to-door delivery). Transit time is just 7–14 days. You can turn over your capital at least 18 times a year. Annual profit = Capital x 30% x 18 = 540% of capital.

So even though air freight costs more than ocean freight, turning over your capital three times faster brings much higher absolute profit. The break-even point is this: if your product has a life cycle under 3 months or a profit margin above 25%, you should switch to air to maximise revenue.

Prepare smoothly to avoid customs bottlenecks

To make full use of air freight’s speed (7–12 business days on average from take-off to delivery), shop owners need to handle paperwork and packing in Vietnam in advance. Delays in preparation wipe out air freight’s core advantage.

Complete electronic identity verification early

To avoid goods being held at the Vietnamese airport, sellers need to register and verify their electronic identity account on the public service portals or as instructed by the e-commerce authorities. Have a scan of your chip-based citizen ID and your household business or company details ready to provide as soon as the export declaration requires them.

Pack smart to save space

Air freight is charged on actual weight or volumetric weight (length x width x height / 5000), whichever is greater.

• Vacuum-seal clothing, stuffed toys and textiles to cut their volume as much as possible.
• Use sturdy cartons to protect your goods. Soleil Transportation offers free basic packing in standard cartons for all shipments to Canada.
• For heavy or oversized goods that need a pallet or wooden crate, contact us in advance for advice on surcharges.

Use fulfillment in Canada

If you have a steady flow of orders, the smartest option is to send one bulk shipment of 20–50 kg by air for storage in Canada, then use fulfillment in Canada from just $5 CAD per order.

The Soleil Transportation warehouse at 2446 Cawthra Road, B1U8, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada L5A 3K6 stores your goods, packs them to your standards and hands them straight to domestic carriers in Canada or the US (domestic rates from just $35 per parcel). This cuts delivery times to customers in Canada to just 1–3 days.

Act now to optimise your operations

Don’t let slow ocean shipments cool your customers’ interest and choke your cash flow. The new electronic identity rules may be a short-term challenge, but if you prepare carefully and choose the right shipping method, they become an opportunity to leave less professional competitors behind.

To start optimising your costs and try air freight to Canada, take these steps now:

1. List your best-selling items and calculate the average weight per order.
2. Have your personal or business electronic identity details ready for customs declarations.
3. Call +1 888-998-5199 or email your shipment details (size, weight, type of goods) to info@soleiltransportation.com. The Soleil Transportation team will calculate your break-even point in detail and set up the fastest air route for your shop.