Export guide

Cold Chain for Egg Transport: Keeping Quality from Farm to Port

In short: Table eggs for export move in pre-cooled reefer containers held at 5 to 8 °C from stuffing to discharge. An unbroken cold chain slows quality loss and extends shelf life from about 21 to 28 days at ambient to up to 45 days, keeping Haugh units high on arrival.

Key facts
  • Reefer set point: 5–8 °C, agreed per destination
  • Shelf life: 21–28 days ambient, up to 45 days at 5–8 °C
  • Haugh units 78–90 at dispatch
  • Containers pre-cooled before stuffing
  • Temperature records available on request

Why temperature matters

Egg interior quality falls faster in heat. Holding a steady 5 to 8 °C slows that decline, protecting the albumen height (Haugh unit) and yolk that buyers judge on. It is the difference between an egg that performs on arrival and one that has aged in transit.

The unbroken chain

The chain only works if it is unbroken: the reefer is pre-cooled before stuffing, held at the agreed set point through the voyage, and discharged promptly. A single warm gap undoes the rest. See quality and process for how we handle it.

Records and monitoring

We fix the set point with you per destination and can provide temperature records on request, so you have evidence the chain held. More on lanes and set points is on packing and logistics.

Dr. Mahesh Eknath Mungase
Nilkamal Global Egg — writing on table-egg sourcing, export documentation, cold chain and Gulf/Asia market access. More about our team.

Questions

Frequently asked

What temperature are eggs kept at during shipping?
Pre-cooled reefer containers are held at 5 to 8 °C by default, with the exact set point fixed per destination.
Does the cold chain extend egg shelf life?
Yes. Ambient shelf life is about 21 to 28 days; under a 5 to 8 °C cold chain it extends to up to 45 days.

Let us discuss your requirement

Share your destination port, monthly volume and pack preference. Our export desk responds with a commercial offer, not an automated acknowledgement.