Sea container transport: prevent condensation and heat damage
Short answer: protect cargo in a sea container against heat and container rain with a thermal container liner (insulating inner liner for 20ft/40ft/45ft) and 8–12 desiccant bags per 40ft container for moisture control for 30+ days. Moisture issue only? desiccant bags are sufficient. Temperature fluctuations only? Use a liner. Both risks? Combine them.
Shipping temperature-sensitive goods by sea container presents challenges. A standard dry container can reach temperatures of 50°C+ in tropical regions. In addition, condensation (container rain) can occur and damage cargo.
What is container rain?
Container rain is caused by temperature fluctuations during transport. Warm, humid air in the container cools down at night. Condensation forms on the ceiling and falls onto the cargo like “rain”. Cardboard becomes weak, metal products rust, and electronics are damaged.
Solutions for sea container transport
1. Container Liners (thermal inner liner)
A thermal container liner is a complete insulating inner liner for 20ft, 40ft or 45ft containers. Benefits:
- Keeps the temperature stable (keeps both heat and cold out)
- Protects against condensation
- Easy to install during loading
- Disposable or reusable
2. Container desiccant bags (desiccant)
desiccant bags actively absorb moisture from the container air. A typical 40ft container requires 8-12 desiccant bags for effective moisture control for 30+ days.
3. Combination
For maximum protection: combine a thermal liner with desiccant bags. This is recommended for:
- Pharmaceutical shipments
- Temperature-sensitive chemicals
- High-value electronics
- Food products for long-distance transport
- Flower exports to Asian markets
Which solution should you choose?
| Risk | Recommended solution |
|---|---|
| Moisture control only | desiccant bags |
| Temperature fluctuations only | Container liner |
| Both risks | Combination of liner + desiccant bags |
| Strict GDP/pharma requirements | Reefer container + container liner as backup |
Our experience
Cooled Solutions supplies container liners and desiccant bags every day to customers across Europe and worldwide. For advice on your specific container shipment, please contact us.
Order now
Need the right packaging right away? View our container liners, container desiccant bags and insulation film.
