Recommended cold chain transportation service providers for perishable goods (food/cosmetics) from China to Eastern Europe in 2025

Author: share / May 10, 2025

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Perishable goods (Fresh Produce, dairy products, meat, aquatic products, cosmetics) exported from China to Eastern Europe have extremely high requirements for cold chain transportation. This article first introduces the key links and compliance standards of the temperature control chain (ATP, EN 12830, ISO 22000), and then focuses on recommending six major cold chain service providers (Nordfrost, PLG Logistics & Warehousing, Baltic Logistic Solutions, Maersk Cold Chain, Kuehne+Nagel Perishables, DHL Reefer Foods), and compares their network coverage, temperature solutions, value-added services and price levels. Finally, practical suggestions on line combination, packaging and temperature monitoring are given to help you maintain product quality and reduce losses in the Eastern European market.

1. Compliance standards for cold chain transportation

1. ATP Agreement (Agreement on the International Carriage of Perishable Foodstuffs)

• The international convention stipulates the test methods for the thermal insulation and refrigeration performance of containers and vehicles, and customs in many Eastern European countries require mandatory inspection.

2. EN 12830 Temperature Recording Standard

• Temperature data loggers for refrigeration equipment must comply with EN 12830: –25 °C to +25 °C with an accuracy of ±1 °C.

3. ISO 22000 Food Safety Management System

• End-to-end HACCP risk management is a must-have certification for food cold chain companies.

2. Eastern European cold chain market and demand

The cold chain logistics market in Eastern Europe (Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria) has a compound annual growth rate of 5%+, and the market size will be approximately US$2.8 billion in 2024.

• Fresh food accounts for 60%, and the cold chain of cosmetics and other pharmaceuticals accounts for 15%.
• Main channels: China-Europe Express (Shenyang→Manzhouli→Poland), sea + land transportation (Tianjin→Varna/Brest), and air transportation (Shanghai→Warsaw/Bucharest).

3. Recommended comparison of six major cold chain service providers

Service Provider	Overlay Network	Temperature range	Key value-added services	Sample Circuit & Timeliness
Nordfrost	Cold storage + transportation in Germany, Poland, Czech Republic and Hungary	–25 ~ +25 °C	Customs pre-allocation, EU customs clearance template, quality inspection laboratory docking	Shenyang – Manchuria – Poland 15 days Mordor Intelligence
PLG Logistics & Warehousing	Poland 12 warehouses, Slovakia, Hungary	–20 ~ +20 °C	Cold chain packaging design, temperature traceability platform	Tianjin – Varna – Budapest 20 days
Baltic Logistic Solutions	Baltic countries + Poland cold storage network	–30 ~ +15 °C	Integrated LCL, intra-regional delivery	Shanghai – Brest – Warsaw 18 days
Maersk Cold Chain	Global Ocean Shipping + European Railway	–25 ~ +25 °C	Temperature control visualization, remote monitoring, ATP certified containers	Ningbo – Copenhagen – Bucharest 25 days
Kuehne+Nagel Perishables	400+ cold storage locations, key airports and land transport hubs in Eastern Europe	–30 ~ +30 °C	Air + Ocean Combined Transport, ISO 22000 Consulting, Terminal Distribution	Qingdao – Warsaw air freight 5 days
DHL Reefer Foods	220 countries around the world, including distribution centers in Poland, Czech Republic and Romania	–30 ~ +30 °C	DPD terminal delivery, bonded warehouse, CBEC model	Guangzhou – Warsaw – Local delivery 12 days

Note : The temperature range and validity depend on the season and line.

4. Practical selection and packaging suggestions

1. Line combination strategy

• High-value cosmetics : preferably air freight + Kuehne+Nagel, 5–7 days;
• Bulk fresh produce : Ocean shipping + Nordfrost railway, low cost and stable;
• Urgent fruit orders : air freight + DHL Reefer, direct delivery by DPD at the end.

2. Packaging and insulation

• Multi-layer packaging: inner aluminum foil bag + EPE foam + outer corrugated cardboard, ISTA 3A certified.
• Dry ice/ice pack combination for –18 °C freezing and +4 °C refrigeration zones.

3. Temperature monitoring and traceability

• Use EN 12830 compliant recorders;
• Connect to the service provider’s temperature control platform for real-time alarm and data export.

5. Related recommendations

• “2025 Customs Clearance and Tax Avoidance Techniques for Electronic Products from China to Vietnam”
• 《A guide to planning the shipping time of seasonal goods from China to Eastern Europe?》
• Central and Eastern Europe Cold Chain Logistics Market (Mordor Intelligence Report)
• Maersk Cold Chain Logistics (Maersk official temperature-controlled logistics service overview)
• Perishables—bringing freshness to the world
• Everwest Group – Cold‑chain perishable goods logistics
• Keeping Perishable Goods Fresh from Warehouse to Shelf (Ryder Cold Chain Solutions)