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Tips for Choosing the Right Container Based on Commodity Characteristics: Dry, Reefer, Open Top, or Flat Rack?
tips memilih jenis kontainer

In the logistics world, choosing the right type of container is crucial to maintaining the quality, safety, and efficiency of your shipment. Each container type is specifically designed to accommodate different commodity characteristics. Choosing the wrong type of container can lead to damaged goods and increased logistics costs.

Here’s a practical guide to help you choose the right container based on the nature of your cargo, complete with real-world industry examples.

1. Dry Container: For General Dry Goods

Features:

  • Fully enclosed, made of steel or aluminum.
  • Available in standard 20-foot and 40-foot sizes.
  • Suitable for cargo that doesn’t require temperature control.

Examples of Commodities:

  • Packaged goods, textiles, electronics, automotive spare parts, paper, and other consumer products.

Industry Use Case:

A manufacturing company ships automotive components from Surabaya to Makassar using a 40-foot dry container to optimize volume and reduce cost.

2. Reefer Container: For Temperature-Sensitive Products

Features:

  • Equipped with a built-in refrigeration unit.
  • Temperature can be controlled (down to -25°C or lower).
  • Ideal for perishable or temperature-sensitive goods.

Examples of Commodities:

  • Frozen foods, fresh fruits, pharmaceuticals, meat, seafood, and dairy products.

Industry Use Case:

A tropical fruit exporter from Maluku uses reefer containers to ship mangoes and bananas to Jakarta, maintaining stable temperatures throughout the sea journey.

3. Open Top Container: For Overheight Cargo

Features:

  • The top is open (covered with a tarpaulin).
  • Perfect for cargo that exceeds standard container height or requires top loading.

Examples of Commodities:

  • Large machinery, logs, long pipes, and construction materials.

Industry Use Case:

An infrastructure company ships large drilling equipment from Surabaya to Ambon using open top containers, as the equipment exceeds the height limit of standard containers.

4. Flat Rack Container: For Heavy or Oversized Cargo

Features:

  • No side walls or roof.
  • Collapsible design.
  • Designed for heavy-duty or oversized cargo.

Examples of Commodities:

  • Trucks, heavy equipment, generators, tank containers, or fabricated steel materials.

Industry Use Case:

A heavy equipment exporter in Jakarta uses flat rack containers to ship excavators to Papua due to the cargo’s size and weight limitations.

Why Choosing the Right Container Matters in Your Supply Chain

Choosing the right container is not just a technical decision — it directly impacts cost efficiency, logistical smoothness, and the final product quality received by your customers. Understanding the features of each container type helps businesses minimize risks and boost customer satisfaction.

SPIL Offers End-to-End Container Solutions to Match Your Cargo Needs

As a provider of integrated logistics solutions, PT SPIL (Samudera Perdana Indonesia Lines) offers a complete range of containers — including dry, reefer, open top, and flat rack — to support your shipment across the Indonesian archipelago.

Backed by a reliable inter-island shipping network, digital services through MySPIL Reloaded, and dependable inland transportation, SPIL ensures that your cargo is delivered faster, more accurately, and with full transparency.

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