How to ship perishables internationally: Packaging, planning & DHL expertise

With time and temperature as your biggest challenges, knowing how to ship perishables safely and efficiently is non-negotiable for success. Whether you're moving delicate flowers or life-saving vaccines, every shipment demands precision, speed, and specialized expertise.

This guide will walk you through why shipping perishables is so important for Sri Lankan businesses, the challenges you'll face, and the best ways to keep your goods fresh from origin to destination.

Why shipping perishables matters for Sri Lankan businesses

Sri Lanka’s agriculture sector, which includes fruits, vegetables, seafood, and floriculture, contributes up to 7% of the national GDP and employs more than a quarter of the workforce. The rapid growth of perishable exports is a key driver of this sector, helping goods and services account for nearly 20% of the country’s GDP¹.

Efficient international shipping of high-quality perishables allows Sri Lankan businesses to:

• Enter global markets
• Increase revenue
• Create jobs locally
• Compete successfully by meeting freshness and regulatory standards

What perishable goods can be exported from Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is renowned for exporting a wide variety of perishable goods, including:

• Fresh fruits and vegetables: Tropical produce such as mangoes, papayas, pineapples, and jackfruit that are sought after for their unique flavours and nutritional value.
• Seafood: High-quality fish, crabs, and shrimp harvested from Sri Lanka’s coastal waters, prized for freshness.
• Floriculture: Cut flowers and ornamental plants that cater to international florists and events markets.
• Pharmaceuticals and vaccines: Temperature-sensitive medical products requiring secure, cold-chain transport.
• Essential oils and spices: Products such as cinnamon, cardamom, and cloves, valued for their aroma and therapeutic properties.

By investing in reliable logistics and food packaging solutions, exporters can maintain freshness, meet compliance, and strengthen their reputation worldwide.

5 key challenges in shipping perishables (and how to solve them)

1. Environmental sensitivity

Perishable goods are highly vulnerable to temperature, humidity, and handling risks; even minor fluctuations can accelerate spoilage. For businesses aiming to ship perishables successfully, maintaining a consistent cold chain is essential. The use of appropriate food packaging, combined with active cooling, thermal insulation, and real-time monitoring, helps protect product quality throughout every stage of transit.

By pairing these measures with reliable standard or expedited international shipping, businesses can ensure their perishables arrive at their destination fresh and in compliance with regulations.

2. Short shelf life

Unlike non-perishable items, which can often be stored for extended periods without significant degradation, perishable goods have a limited lifespan. 

With a shelf life of only two to three days at room temperature, products like berries require fast and reliable shipping. Therefore, international priority shipping services with full tracking are essential to guarantee expedited delivery and ensure freshness upon arrival.

3. Rising consumer expectations

Today's consumers demand high standards of taste, nutrition, and appearance. Successfully exporting delicate products like flowers from Sri Lanka and other premium foods requires advanced packaging to preserve quality in transit.

4. Regulatory compliance

Different countries and regions enforce their own standards and regulations for importing perishable goods. For exporters, understanding how to ship perishables goes beyond packaging — it also means navigating strict documentation and compliance requirements. Shipping perishables typically involves preparing detailed paperwork, including:

• Certificates of Origin: Confirm where the goods were produced. These are essential for customs clearance and for determining applicable tariffs or eligibility under trade agreements.
• Health Certificates: Prove that the shipment meets the importing country’s sanitary and phytosanitary standards, ensuring products are free from pests, diseases, and contaminants.
• Quality Certifications: Demonstrate compliance with freshness, safety, and handling requirements. These certifications build consumer trust and enable wider market access.
• Permits: Certain goods, such as plants, seeds, or animal products, require import licenses or special agricultural permits before they can enter a foreign market.
• Phytosanitary & Food Safety Compliance: Exporters must follow strict regulations covering chemical residue limits, packaging standards, labelling requirements, and in some cases, FDA certification, to guarantee that perishables are safe and properly handled throughout the supply chain.

Regulations concerning product safety, labeling, packaging, and documentation vary significantly by location. Failing to provide the required documentation can result in shipment delays, fines, or border rejections. Therefore, a thorough understanding and preparation of these requirements are critical for the successful export and import of perishable goods.

5. Higher logistics costs

Cold storage, expedited transport, and risk management can make shipping perishables far more costly than shipping non-perishables. While the temptation of cheap overseas shipping is strong, the risk of spoilage is high. In fact, the Global Cold Chain Alliance reports that up to 1.3 billion tons of perishables spoil each year due to inadequate logistics².

This makes smart planning crucial. Using the right packaging, choosing trusted carriers, and leveraging monitoring technology will protect the value of your shipment and retain customers satisfaction.

Cold chain logistics: The backbone of safe delivery

Cold chain logistics are essential for the safe international shipment of perishables. By maintaining strict temperature ranges from origin to final delivery — using refrigerated storage, temperature-controlled transport, and real-time tracking — the cold chain preserves freshness and protects the value of goods. 

For exporters, choosing the right packaging, including sustainable, insulated materials, is crucial for both product integrity and compliance with international standards. By combining reliable cold chain solutions with options like standard or faster international priority shipping, Sri Lankan companies can confidently deliver their seafood, pharmaceuticals, or flowers to global markets, consistently meeting customer quality expectations.

A strong cold chain is the foundation for successfully shipping perishables internationally. This logistics system ensures goods stay within precise temperature ranges from origin to delivery through refrigerated storage, climate-controlled transport, and real-time tracking. Exporters must also use the right packaging, such as sustainable, insulated materials, to protect freshness, preserve value, and comply with global standards.

By pairing these reliable cold chain solutions with standard or express international shipping, Sri Lankan businesses can confidently export their seafood, pharmaceuticals, and flowers, delivering the quality that customers expect.

Packaging solutions for perishables that actually work

Vacuum-sealed packaging

Ideal for meat, seafood, and dairy products, vacuum sealing removes air to inhibit bacterial growth and extend shelf life during transit. This method is widely used by food export companies to ensure products stay fresh during standard international shipping and long-distance deliveries.

Insulated containers & gel packs

Insulated containers combined with refrigerants are ideal for exporting pharmaceuticals, ready-to-eat meals, and flowers from Sri Lanka, stabilising temperatures and protecting products from external fluctuations. For businesses learning how to ship perishables, these solutions are essential for maintaining quality for international shipping.

Smart labelling & tracking

Innovative labelling techniques such as QR codes, expiry timers, and temperature sensors increase transparency in shipment management. Tracking platforms provide exporters with real-time data to ensure their temperature-sensitive goods remain within safe limits.

Best practices for perishable goods shipment

To ensure the success of shipping perishable goods, consider these five best practices:

1. Clear labeling

Clearly label perishable shipments to inform handlers of their delicate nature and specific handling instructions. Labels such as "Keep Refrigerated," "Do Not Freeze," or "Store at 2°C" are essential for maintaining freshness and safety throughout the international shipping of perishables. Proper food packaging and accurate labelling help ensure your perishables arrive in optimal condition, meeting regulatory and quality standards.

2. Backup plans

Perishable goods are highly time-sensitive, and delays in transportation can cause spoilage, contamination, or loss of freshness. To protect shipment value and ensure successful international shipping of perishables, having backup plans is crucial to minimise the impact of delays on product integrity.

One way is to identify alternative transportation routes. If the primary route experiences unexpected delays or closures, having a pre-established alternative route can keep the shipment on track. This might involve using different modes of transportation or selecting other carriers with available capacity.

Backup plans should also include identifying backup storage facilities, such as refrigerated warehouses or cold storage units, where goods can be safely stored until the transportation issue is resolved. These facilities should be strategically located along the transportation route.

3. Insurance

Insurance is especially critical for sensitive exports from Sri Lanka such as seafood, pharmaceuticals, Ayurvedic medicine, or flowers. Invest in insurance for perishable shipments to protect against financial losses in case of goods spoilage or damage. Comprehensive insurance can provide coverage in case the goods spoil during transit due to temperature deviations, equipment failures, or other unforeseen circumstances.

4. Regular communication

Keep all stakeholders informed about the shipment's status, especially during emergencies. This ensures that everyone is informed, ensuring that the goods remain on schedule and within the required temperature range.

During emergencies or unforeseen challenges, stakeholders can quickly assess the situation, make informed decisions, and implement contingency plans, such as rerouting the perishable goods, sourcing alternative storage facilities, or adjusting delivery schedules.

Trusted DHL logistics support for Sri Lankan perishable exports

From floriculture to peppers and pharmaceuticals, Sri Lankan exporters need reliable partners who understand cold chain logistics and complex regulatory compliance.

When choosing a provider, look for one offering:

• Competitive international shipping rates
• Flexible standard international shipping and international priority shipping
• End-to-end temperature monitoring and secure packaging

DHL Express Sri Lanka offers all of these services and more, with GoGreen-certified packaging, real-time tracking via MyDHL+, and dedicated local account support.

Open a DHL business account today to ensure your perishables arrive fresh, safe, and on time, every time.