Transportation of cocoa and cocoa beans

AsstrA provides a full range of logistics and transport services necessary for the international transportation of cocoa beans and cocoa powder. Cocoa is the main ingredient in chocolate and other foods containing chocolate. Grated cocoa is also used for cosmetic purposes. The market for raw cocoa has demonstrated steady growth over the past few years. According to experts’ estimates, in recent years the chocolate production market has grown with the share of chocolate products in foreign trade having increased as well. The volume of shipping in this segment has also expanded accordingly. Companies that work with raw cocoa often look to new foreign markets and require new logistics systems. AsstrA helps its customers establish regular international deliveries of grated cocoa and cocoa beans. Our company organizes the transportation of cocoa products by various modes of transport in Europe, the CIS, the Baltic States, the Balkans, and Southeast and Central Asia. Our experienced employees take into account each Client's needs and cargo characteristics to develop optimal delivery routes that minimize the cost of the transportation of cocoa beans and grated cocoa. AsstrA organizes on-time delivery of any cargo regardless of geographical destination. Thanks to fruitful cooperation with international transport companies, we offer flexible pricing with Swiss-quality service supporting the transportation of cocoa beans, raw cocoa, and other related products.

From Plantation to Candy Store with AsstrA

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• CONDITIONS OF TRANSPORT OF COCOA

  Raw cocoa belongs in the “most sensitive” category of cargo susceptible to unfavorable external factors. It is a hygroscopic product that easily absorbs moisture and water vapor from the air. In addition, cocoa powder absorbs odors and is subject to autolysis (self-dissolution of tissues under the influence of special enzymes), self-heating, rot and mold. This sensitivity to external influences necessitates the strict observance of all conditions during the transportation of cocoa. Grated cocoa is a viscous liquid obtained by grinding heat-treated refined cocoa beans. Multilayered bags and other packaging used in the transportation of grated cacao ensures a proper seal and protection from the harmful effects of the external environment. As packaging for the international transportation of cocoa beans, dense bags of natural coarse fibers (jute or sisal) are used. This strong packaging helps maintain the consumer properties of the goods. Raw cocoa is transported in so-called "coffee containers" with natural ventilation. An important condition for transportation is minimizing water content in the product itself, the container, and in the container surface coating. The container surfaces must be dry and clean with a moisture percentage not exceeding prescribed limits. Minimizing humidity helps avoid the additional formation of water vapor inside the container and prevents damage to and decay of grated cocoa.

  Raw cacao containers are enclosed in special wrapping paper to avoid damage from water absorption. To regulate the humidity level inside the container, special filters with anti-coding properties or nonwoven insulating materials are also used. We perform delivery in standard ISO-containers and in flatrack containers with open platforms. The latter method, although less safe, allows lower transport costs in comparison to the use of more expensive ventilated containers. The rules concerning the transportation of cacao powder also cover special conditions and procedures for the handling of such goods. In particular, the use of loading and unloading equipment that can damage the goods' packaging is not allowed. A special procedure for transshipment operations is established in case of unfavorable weather conditions like snow, rain, and high humidity. In such cases, the cargo should be protected from accidental wetting and exposure to high humidity to avoid mold and rot. AsstrA carefully monitors international regulatory changes concerning the cargo transportation of food and other products and ensures safe, fast delivery appropriate for the characteristics of each particular product.

• TYPES OF VEHICLE

  Transportation of cocoa requires the use of specially-adapted sea, rail, air, and road equipment. Vehicles must be dry, cool, ventilated and odorless. These conditions are ensured, for example, in the case of international transportation of cocoa beans by sea, by placing the cargo in bags under the deck at a sufficient distance from any heat source. Special measures are taken to prevent the harmful effects of high air humidity, which provokes the product's self-heating properties and leads to autolysis. So, in the case of sea transportation, cargo should be laid on the inner cargo deck of a sea vessel. This arrangement reduces the risk of condensation. Cocoa is highly sensitive to sudden temperature fluctuations. Air temperatures below zero Celsius, as well as significant daily temperature fluctuations, can damage shredded cacao and make it unsuable as raw ingredients for food. To avoid exposure to unfavorable external weather conditions, the goods are kept in closed compartments of the vehicle. International transportation of cocoa and cocoa beans on the open part of a vehicle is possible only in warm seasons when daily temperature fluctuations are insignificant.

  Additional measures to maintain a temperature regime during the delivery of raw cocoa are not required. However, at the request of the customer, AsstrA specialists can organize the transportation of cocoa under a certain temperature regime. An important requirement for the international transportation of cocoa beans and cacao powder is adequate cargo fastening. Packages with goods have to be secured so as to avoid displacement or slippage during delivery. All of AsstrA's reliable transport Partners use vehicles complete with full sets of technical documentation. Experienced AsstrA experts select specially-adapted vehicles for the transportation of cocoa beans and grated cacao depending on cargo characteristics and customer needs. If necessary, our employees arrange multimodal transportation schemes using air, road, sea, and railway transport.

• OUR CAPABILITIES

  

  AsstrA employees are highly qualified and have many years of experience in the field of cargo transportation in general and in the transportation of cocoa in particular. Experience and qualifications help us provide solutions tailored to the cargo charactertistics and Client requirements for each order. Cooperation with reliable transport service providers allows us to develop and select the most cost-efficient routes, clearly coordinate all stages of transport, and deliver any cargo in a timely manner. We offer a suite of services for the international transportation of cocoa that includes:

  • Development of transportation projects.
  • Selection of specially-adapted vehicle appropriate to the charactertistics of this product.
  • Development of optimal routes and, if necessary, due diligence on them.
  • Security checks to verify the necessary licenses and registration details of transport haulers. AsstrA cooperates only with those transport companies that have been legally carrying out transportation activities for more than 120 working days.
• OUR ADVANTAGES
  1. LONG-TERM EXPERIENCE
     

     AsstrA has been organizing the transportation of cocoa for over 25 years. During this time, our company has studied the specifics of various industries and spheres of activity. Therefore, each Client receives a proven and effective solution for each specific requirement.

  2. MARKET KNOWLEDGE
     

     AsstrA employees competently solve each issue related to the international transportation of cocoa. Thanks to the well-coordinated work of our specialists, each AsstrA customer is guaranteed maximum safety of cargo during transportation, a clear and well-organized delivery system, adherence the established terms of transportation, and fulfillment of all technical and sanitary standards.

  3. COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES
     

     AsstrA is one expert source for a full range of services for the transportation of cocoa beans and shredded cacao: freight forwarding (including intermodal schemes), customs and documentation support, insurance, warehousing, consulting, and project logistics. In addition to a global presence in 18 countries, our company has 8 in-house customs agencies which allow us to improve and develop innovative logistics and transport solutions on an ongoing basis.

  4. RELIABILITY
     

     AsstrA organizes the transportation of grated cacao and cacao beans with the involvement of reliable transport service providers. Our transport Partners cooperate with us on the basis of long-term contracts which guarantee the achievement of high KPI indicators regardless of market conditions. AsstrA's transport Partners have all necessary licenses, permits, and carrier liability insurance contracts.

  5. FINANCIAL SAFEGUARDS
     

     We focus on providing safe, innovative, efficient services for the transportation of cocoa that meet the requirements of international law. AsstrA's liability is covered for EUR 3,000,000 per insured event. Insurance coverage is provided by our reliable Partner Zurich Insurance Company Ltd (Switzerland).

• REGULATIONS / DOCUMENTS

  The legal regulation of the international transportation of cocoa is complicated by the absence of a single international or national normative act that would contain an exhaustive list of rules for the carriage of this type of cargo. The rules of transportation are determined in respect of each particular shipping mode and in which countries the shipping takes place. In each specific case, carriers refer to the rules of cargo delivery by road, rail, air or sea transport as well as to international conventions and technical legal acts. Norms governing the process of the transportation of cocoa are contained in numerous technical regulations and documents establishing sanitary, hygienic and technical standards for the transport and certification of food products. All these documents establish a complex and detailed procedure for the transportation of raw cocoa. AsstrA fully ensures compliance with all relevant rules and regulations.