11 Aug Land, sea and air: Means of transport for exporting food

Food export is a complicated process that requires precise and highly efficient logistics organisation, as well as preparing a large number of documents, to ensure that the food reaches its destination in optimal condition and on time. Based on whether it is perishable or not, each type of food requires a specific means of transport to maintain its quality and food safety levels.

Maritime transport, air transport and land transport are the main means of transport used for the export of food, as well as a combination of all three. Besides the characteristics of the food to be transported, the choice of one or another will also depend on the needs, requirements and resources of the import and export companies, as well as the negotiation of incoterms.

These are all the characteristics of the various means of transport that exist for exporting food.

Maritime Transport

Maritime transport is the most common and economical method for exporting food over long distances. It is mainly used to transport large volumes of goods.

Food can travel in a variety of different ships when being transported by sea: container ships, bulk carriers or reefer ships.

· Container ships: They transport food in standard containers, including refrigerated containers for perishable products.

· Bulk carriers: Used for food products in bulk, such as grain, rice and other cereals.

· Reefer ships: These specialise in transporting perishable foods that require controlled temperatures, such as fruit, vegetables, meat and dairy products.

The main advantages of maritime transport are its capacity, its cost and the range of cargo accepted. Large cargo volumes can be handled with this means of transport. Generally speaking, it is also more economical for long distances. It is suitable for a wide range of food products, both perishable and non-perishable.

On the other hand, time and weather represent the downsides. Maritime transport can be slower when compared with other means of transport. Furthermore, deliveries can be delayed by adverse weather conditions.

Air Transport

Air transport is ideal for high-value perishable food that requires fast and safe delivery. Food can travel in one of two ways when being transported by air: main cargo or belly cargo.

· Cargo planes: These aircraft specialise in the transport of cargo. They are fitted with refrigeration systems to maintain the quality of perishable food.

· Belly cargo: This term does not refer to a type of aircraft but rather to the space that exists in the cargo compartment of commercial/passenger aircraft that is used to transport goods.

The main advantages of air transport are speed, freshness and accessibility. It is the fastest way to deliver food over long distances and keeps perishable products fresh because travel times are short. Furthermore, it enables access to global markets with suitable airport infrastructure.

On the other hand, cost and limited capacity are the main downsides given that it is more expensive than other means of transport and offers less cargo capacity when compared with maritime transport.

Land Transport

Land transport is essential for domestic food distribution and for connecting different means of transport together (seaports, airports and dry ports). Overland export mainly takes place using three types of vehicles: freight trucks, refrigerated trucks and trains.

· Refrigerated trucks: They are fitted with refrigeration systems to transport perishable food.

· Freight trucks: They are used for non-perishable products and bulk goods.

· Trains: They are used to transport large volumes of food over long distances on the same continent.

The main advantages of land transport are flexibility, direct access and efficiency.  This means of transport is ideal for door-to-door deliveries as it enables access to rural and urban areas, and is the most suitable for short and medium distances.

On the other hand, infrastructure and the variable costs may impact its choice over other means of transport. This is because it depends on the quality of the roads and the railway network, and the costs may vary based on the distance and terrain.

Multimodal Transport

Multimodal transport combines two or more means of transport to move food from source to final destination efficiently. The most common combinations are sea + land and air + land:

· By sea and land: This uses ships for international transport and trucks or trains for domestic distribution.

· By air and land: This uses rapid transport by air followed by overland distribution.

Multimodal transport is beneficial because of its efficiency, flexibility and shorter travel times. It streamlines costs and delivery times by combining the advantages of different means of transport. It also allows food to be transported to destinations that are not directly accessible by one single means of transport while minimising wait and storage times.

On the other hand, there are a number of coordination challenges and administrative costs that need to be accepted. It requires precise coordination between different operators and means of transport. For this reason, additional handling and administration costs may apply.

How to choose the best means of transport for exporting food?

Several factors need to be considered when choosing the most suitable means of transport for exporting food. Specifically, those factors are the type of product, the destination for the goods, the cost, the infrastructure and the rules or regulations in place.

· Nature of the product (perishable or non-perishable): Perishable food requires fast means of transport and suitable refrigeration systems. More economical and slower means of transport can be used for non-perishable food.

· Distance and destination (long distance or short distance): Maritime transport is more economical for large volumes over long distances. Meanwhile, land transport is more suitable for domestic distribution over short distances.

· Costs and budget: The costs associated with each means of transport need to be assessed and the most profitable option selected. These issues are always negotiated between the importing company and the exporting company in incoterms.

· Infrastructure and accessibility: Information must be held on the availability of suitable infrastructure at source and destination, such as seaports, airports and road transport networks.

· Regulations: Knowledge of customs and health requirements is essential so that the import and export regulations at both ends of the transport process can be met.
In many cases, in addition, foods and their preparation must have certain certificates.

Food export requires the means of transport to be chosen carefully so as to guarantee efficiency, profitability and quality of the product. Maritime, air, land and multimodal transport all offer different advantages that should be assessed according to the nature of the product, the distance, the cost and the available infrastructure.