Top Frozen Vegetable Export Opportunities from Indonesia Market Insight

An action-first guide to loading 40ft reefers with Indonesian frozen vegetables. We cover carton sizes, pallet counts (EU vs ISO), airflow and vent settings, payload/VGM from Indonesia, and example calculations for 10x1kg and 12x1kg packs—so you maximize kilograms per container without risking claims.

If you sell frozen vegetables, the biggest “export opportunity” isn’t a new market. It’s the extra 1–3 tons you can safely add to every 40ft reefer by choosing the right carton, palletizing smartly, and keeping airflow clear. We’ve learned this the hard way moving edamame, okra, sweet corn, mixed veg and bell peppers out of Java. When utilization jumps from 85% to 95%, your cost per kilogram drops. Margins follow.

Below is the exact system we use when we ship products like Premium Frozen Edamame, Premium Frozen Okra, Premium Frozen Sweet Corn, and Frozen Mixed Vegetables.

The 3 pillars of profitable 40ft reefer loads

Pack format and carton geometry. Your bag size and carton dimensions decide everything. The best cartons stack to about 2.2 m in the box tunnel without blocking the top return airflow. Tall isn’t always better. Once you touch the ceiling or block the bulkhead, temperatures drift and claims start.
Palletization versus floor loading. Pallets protect the T-floor and speed handling at destination. Floor loading often fits more cartons but raises risk if airflow gets choked or cartons slump. We choose based on buyer’s DC setup, carton stiffness, and voyage length.
Weight and compliance. Max payload, VGM, and axle limits from Indonesian ports are real constraints. You can hit space limits long before weight on light items like frozen bell peppers. But potatoes or mixed veg blends can push weight limits first. We plan for both.

Start with specs that load well

We recommend standardized bags and cartons for repeat lanes:

10 x 1 kg (10 kg) or 12 x 1 kg (12 kg) cartons for retail programs.
4 x 2.5 kg or 10 x 1 kg for foodservice and ready-meal processors.
Keep carton height between 14–18 cm when possible. Shorter layers help you build stable stacks under the ceiling line while keeping airflow above.

For example, our edamame and sweet corn programs typically run 10 x 1 kg or 12 x 1 kg. Okra often runs 4 x 2.5 kg to reduce bag-to-bag compression. Bell peppers and mixed veg are flexible as long as the carton stays rigid when stacked to 2.2 m.

How many cartons fit in a 40ft reefer? Use this method

Assumptions below use typical 40ft HC reefer internals. Always confirm your box’s exact dimensions with the line.

Internal length x width x height: about 11.56 m x 2.29 m x 2.50 m.
Practical stack height: about 2.20–2.30 m to preserve headspace and airflow.
Frozen setpoint: -18 C.

Example A. 10 kg cartons, 60 x 40 x 15 cm, floor loaded.

Footprint per carton: 0.60 x 0.40 m.
One straightforward pattern yields about 95 cartons per layer.
At 14–15 layers (2.10–2.25 m), you’ll load roughly 1,330–1,425 cartons. That’s 13.3–14.25 tons of product. Good for light IQF items like Frozen Paprika (Bell Peppers). Heavier items may hit weight limits first.

Example B. 12 kg cartons with similar footprint height of 16–18 cm.

Expect roughly 1,200–1,350 cartons depending on layer count and pattern quality. That’s 14.4–16.2 tons.

Reality check. We routinely see 1,300–1,500 cartons of 10–12 kg in well-executed floor loads while maintaining airflow headroom. Variations come from carton stiffness, dunnage, and how neatly teams build near the bulkhead.

Pallets in a 40ft reefer: EU vs ISO

Typical pallet counts, assuming standard clearances and no overhangs:

ISO/Asia pallets 1100 x 1100 mm. 20 pallets per 40ft reefer. This is the most common in Indonesia and works well with DCs in Asia and the Middle East.
Euro pallets 1200 x 800 mm. 28–30 pallets depending on container model and end-user requirements. Many EU buyers expect 30, but some reefers and patterns achieve 28–29.
US pallets 1219 x 1016 mm (48 x 40). 20–21 pallets is typical.

Pallet load per pallet for 60 x 40 x 15 cm cartons often ends up 40–48 cartons per pallet depending on height and pattern. Multiply by the pallet count above to estimate total. Palletization simplifies handling and reduces damage. Floor loading fits more but needs experienced teams to keep the T-floor clear and the bulkhead breathing.

Takeaway. If the buyer’s DC insists on pallets, plan 20 pallets on 1100 x 1100 or up to 30 on Euro 1200 x 800. If capacity per kg rules, consider floor loading with a disciplined stuffing plan and QA photos.

Temperature, vents, and airflow that prevent claims

Setpoint for frozen vegetables. -18 C. We use return-air control unless the shipping line specifies supply-air. If your buyer wants tighter pulp temperatures, align settings in writing.
Fresh-air vents. Closed (0%) for frozen. Open vents add moisture and load on the compressor without benefit.
T-floor. Never block the floor channels. Use pallets or slip sheets that allow airflow. No shrink-wrap skirts touching the floor.
Bulkhead clearance. Keep 8–10 cm away from the front bulkhead grill. Use dunnage or a cargo net so cartons don’t press into the grill. This avoids heat spots and icing.
Ceiling headspace. Leave 5–8 cm at the top. Don’t wedge cartons into the roof.
Pre-cool. Pre-cool product to -18 C or colder. Do not pre-cool an empty reefer container. Moisture will condense and flash-freeze on panels.
Defrost. Set to Auto. We run a manual defrost just before stuffing to start clean.

Isometric cutaway of a refrigerated container showing cartons on pallets with unblocked floor channels, a clear gap before the front bulkhead grill, a slim gap beneath the ceiling, and smooth blue airflow paths moving along the floor to the back, rising at the doors, and returning along the ceiling to the front.

Data loggers: where to place them

We use three to five devices per container.

One near the bulkhead, mid-height on a central stack.
One middle of the load, centerline, mid-height.
One near the doors, mid-height, a bit off-center.
Optional. A surface probe at the bulkhead grill and a logger buried inside a mid-pallet carton to track core.

This triangulates real airflow conditions and helps resolve disputes fast.

Payload and VGM from Indonesia: plan for the real limit

40ft HC reefer max gross is typically about 34,000 kg. Tare around 4,500–5,000 kg. Theoretical max payload 29,000 kg.
Practical payload after road and axle limits. 26,000–28,000 kg on many trade lanes, sometimes less depending on the trucking route to port and destination country axle rules.
From Java corridors we often target 25,000–27,000 kg when shipping heavier SKUs like Premium Frozen Potatoes to avoid last-mile issues.
VGM. Indonesia enforces SOLAS VGM. Weights must be certified before gate-in. Calibrate scales and keep audit trails. If you ship multiple SKUs, keep a pallet-by-pallet or block tally.

Pro tip. Confirm the shipping line’s stated payload for the exact reefer model and the trucker’s axle limits for your pickup route. A 1,000 kg misjudgment can cost more than any carton optimization.

Answers we get every week

How many 10 kg frozen-vegetable cartons can I load in a 40ft reefer without blocking airflow?

With 60 x 40 x 15 cm cartons, plan 1,300–1,450 cartons when floor loaded to about 2.2 m, assuming neat brick-stacking and clear bulkhead and ceiling gaps. Palletized counts will be lower unless you’re using Euro pallets at 28–30 positions.

Is palletizing better than floor loading for frozen vegetables in a reefer?

For complex multi-drop DCs, yes. It reduces handling time and claims. If the goal is maximum kilograms, floor loading wins, but you need strong cartons, dunnage to protect the bulkhead, and a trained stuffing crew. Long voyages and transshipments favor pallets.

What carton dimensions work best to maximize space for 1 kg bags?

Cartons around 58–60 x 38–40 x 14–16 cm stack efficiently and maintain airflow. Taller cartons often force you to choose between height and headspace. Shorter layers make it easier to hit 2.2 m without touching the ceiling.

What’s the correct temperature and vent setting during ocean transit?

-18 C setpoint for frozen vegetables. Vents closed. Auto defrost. Pre-cool cargo, not the container.

How many pallets fit in a 40ft reefer for EU vs ISO pallet sizes?

Typically 28–30 Euro pallets (1200 x 800) or 20 ISO/Asia pallets (1100 x 1100). US 48 x 40 is commonly 20–21.

How do I calculate safe payload and VGM from Indonesia?

Add product weight plus pallet/dunnage plus container tare. Keep the total under the reefer’s max gross and your road axle limits. Certify the VGM before gate-in. When in doubt, target 25–27 tons payload to protect against last-mile restrictions.

Where should I place data loggers in a reefer?

At least three. Bulkhead mid-height, center mid-height, and near doors mid-height. Add a buried core logger and a grill surface probe for high-value loads.

A quick stuffing checklist you can reuse

Cargo at -18 C or colder. QA photo of pulp temps.
Container inspected dry, clean, odor-free. Manual defrost before stuffing.
Bulkhead grill protected. Dunnage ready.
Floor channels clear. No film or skirts touching the T-floor.
Headspace 5–8 cm. Bulkhead gap 8–10 cm. Door voids filled to prevent collapse.
Loggers activated and placed. Settings recorded: -18 C, vents 0%, Auto defrost.
Photos of each wall, bulkhead, and doors before closing.

Turning utilization into dollars

Quick math. If ocean + inland costs total 3,900 USD and you load 24,000 kg, landed freight is 0.1625 USD/kg. If you optimize to 26,000 kg with the same freight, it drops to 0.15 USD/kg. On a 40,000 kg monthly program, that’s thousands saved per month without touching price.

We apply this thinking across SKUs like Premium Frozen Edamame and Premium Frozen Sweet Corn. Want to model your exact cartons and pallet sizes? Need a stuffing plan for EU 30-pallet versus ISO 20-pallet buyers? If you’d like a quick capacity and cost-per-kg simulation for your lane, Contact us on whatsapp. You can also View our products to match pack specs to your market.

One last trend we’re seeing. Over the last six months, carriers have tightened overweight and VGM enforcement while schedule reliability has improved. That makes a clean stuffing plan even more valuable. Load smarter, and you won’t need new markets to grow margins. You’ll find the opportunity inside the box.