GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 24, 2026

Foreign Trade Zones Reefer Management

Storing temperature-sensitive cargo in a Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) combines deferred import duties with a controlled cold storage environment – provided the day-to-day management is watertight.

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Last updated: 24 June 2026Published: 19 June 2025

Source: https://www.inboundlogistics.com/cms/article/reefer-management-in-foreign-trade-zones/

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Logistics Concept

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Definition & Explanation

Storing temperature-sensitive cargo in a Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) combines deferred import duties with a controlled cold storage environment – provided the day-to-day management is watertight. Core operational tasks include maintaining uninterrupted power to reefer plugs, keeping audit-ready temperature logs, reconciling customs inventory records as required by zone regulations, and scheduling movements to minimise door-open time. Where goods undergo controlled processes inside the zone – ripening fruit, pharmaceutical repacking – those activities must be covered by the zone operator's authorisation. Temperature records serve a dual purpose: they satisfy customs authorities at formal entry into domestic commerce and document cold chain integrity in any quality dispute.