Fresher, faster, smarter. How Maersk is protecting seafood quality and expand globally

Home ... News Case studies News Case studies Case studies Fresher, faster, smarter. How Maersk is protecting seafood quality and expand globally Summary: Maersk Air Freight kept premium salmon fresher, faster, and compliant from Norway to China with zero spoilage. 16 Sep 2025 Share LinkedIn Facebook X.com WeChat Email Copy link Delivering premium salmon from Norway to China with speed, compliance, and uncompromising standards. The Customer A premium seafood exporter in Norway, renowned for high-grade salmon supply to global retailers, needed a logistics solution that could guarantee freshness, speed, and reliability across continents. China as one of the core markets of the brand require products with a long shelf life, flawless quality, and strict adherence to cold-chain regulations. Their flagship product, fresh salmon, requires continuous temperature control and seamless handling, as even minor exposure to delays or fluctuating storage conditions can impact texture, color, and taste. As a brand positioned on premium freshness, the customer could not risk product rejection or a tarnished reputation in international markets. But they were facing growing pressure: rising rejection rates from buyers, inconsistent cold-chain handling by third-party providers, and customs delays that impacted freshness on arrival. A Valuable Shipment at Risk Seafood exports, especially salmon, operate under unforgiving timelines. Any deviation in temperature, delay at customs, or handling lapse can lead to spoilage and revenue loss. The customer’s key challenges included: Perishability under pressure Up to 72% of seafood spoilage occurs during transport Temperature integrity risks 43% of cold chains globally report temperature excursions Shelf-life anxiety Buyers increasingly reject delayed or sub-optimally chilled shipments Complex routing Fragmented carrier networks and third-party handovers increased risk To protect product quality, ensure brand reputation, and avoid lost sales, the customer needed a single, accountable partner that could take control from end to end. The Maersk Solution: Fresh Corridors with Air Freight Precision Maersk Air Freight designed a temperature-controlled, point-to-point salmon logistics solution leveraging its own-operated flight network, integrated cold chain, and rapid customs processing. Here's how we delivered: Dedicated Fresh Corridors: Beyond our Norway-China air routes for salmon, we offer a broader network to meet all your perishable shipping needs. As of May 15, we have expanded China-US air corridor to include Latin America, providing seafood exporters /importers with even faster access to key markets. No matter your perishable cargo—salmon, seafood, or other temperature-sensitive goods—we have the global air solutions to ensure freshness and speed. Temperature-Controlled Aircraft: Specialized cargo holds maintain precise temperatures throughout the journey, mitigating the risk of thermal fluctuations that could compromise product quality and ensure optimal freshness. Maersk-Controlled Flight Operations: Priority handling at strategic airports ensured seamless transfers and minimized ground time, reducing exposure to temperature variations and potential delays that could affect product integrity. Rapid Customs Clearance: With the strong network with local authority, salmon shipments cleared customs in as little as two hours, compared to the industry average of 6–12 hours. End-to-End Cold Chain Management: Continuous monitoring from pickup to final delivery ensured unbroken temperature control throughout the supply chain, guaranteeing product quality at every stage. Turning Urgency Into Opportunity In just three weeks, Maersk Air Freight seamlessly delivered over 20 tons of premium salmon between China, Europe and Latin America, with zero spoilage or quality rejections. By combining our cold chain logistics capabilities and controlled air operations, we achieved up to a 40% reduction in transit time compared to traditional multimodal solutions. This accelerated delivery preserved product freshness, giving retailers a longer shelf life, reduced markdowns, and greater confidence in product quality. To date, Maersk’s own controlled flight operation team has operated over 1,500 flights, handling more than 80,000 metric tons of import/export cargo. This achievement underscores Maersk Air Freight's commitment to setting new standards in global perishable supply chains. With this level of capability behind them, the customer now views Maersk not just as a carrier but as a strategic partner safeguarding their brand reputation and growth through reliable, end-to-end cold-chain logistics. Take the Next Step with Maersk When your business depends on delivering time-sensitive, temperature-controlled products to global markets, Maersk Air Freight provides the specialized expertise and dedicated infrastructure you need to succeed. Find out more about our Air Freight services here. Facing a challenge to bring salmon to the world? Speak to our experts to keep your catch fresh from dock to dish. Thank you for reaching out! We’ll get in touch with you shortly. Please be aware that if you’re new to Maersk, you’ll first receive an email to verify your information before we can reach out. If you want easy access to our products and services, you can also create an account here: Get started We're sorry - there was a problem processing your contact request. Please review the form fields and ensure all required information is provided correctly. If the issue persists, please contact our support team for further assistance. Facing a challenge to bring salmon to the world? Speak to our experts to keep your catch fresh from dock to dish. Is this your email address? email Yes No Explore more on these topics Asia Pacific Cold Chain Logistics Refrigerated Cargo Air Freight Reefer MLB Related articles See all news Previous Next Rate announcements Peak Season Surcharge for the scope: Far east Asia to South africa & Mauritius 29 Sep 2026 Advisories Maersk Operations through Strait of Hormuz 29 Sep 2026 Advisories Middle East Operational Update 50 29 Sep 2026 Rate announcements Implementation of Peak Season Surcharge (PSS) for F3W trade 29 Sep 2026 Rate announcements Intermodal Fuel Fee update in (New Zealand) 29 Sep 2026 Rate announcements Intermodal Fuel Fee update in (Australia) 29 Sep 2026 Rate announcements Equipment Positioning Service – Export (POE)- Australia via Fremantle to World 29 Sep 2026 Rate announcements Equipment Positioning Service – Export (POI)- Australia via Fremantle to World 29 Sep 2026 Advisories Structural change to AE12: Updated rotation 28 Sep 2026 Advisories Middle East Operational Update 49 23 Sep 2026 Advisories Notice of temporary delay to Ocean invoices and credit notes on 25-26 September 23 Sep 2026 Rate announcements Rate Announcement – Far East to North Europe & Mediterranean 22 Sep 2026 Anything you need, we’re here to help Logistics services We meet customer needs from one end of the supply chain to the other. Solutions Contact us Our dedicated team of experts are here for you. Contact us Ready to ship? Look up rates for new shipments and inland tariffs. Find a priceBook now Stay informed Sign up for news and insights Stay ahead of the curve with valuable supply chain trends sent directly to your inbox I agree to receive logistics related news and marketing updates by email, phone, messaging services (e.g. WhatsApp) and other digital platforms, including but not limited to social media (e.g., LinkedIn) from A. P. Moller-Maersk and its affiliated companies (see latest company overview). I understand that I can opt out of such Maersk communications at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link. To see how we use your personal data, please read our Privacy Notification. By completing this form, you confirm that you agree to the use of your personal data by Maersk as described in our Privacy Notification. Thank you for signing up You have now signed up for newsletters. You will shortly receive an email which will explain how to set your newsletter preferences and unsubscribe. Subscribed You can unsubscribe anytime.