Executive Summary
A commercial aquafeed producer in Chachoengsao Province, Thailand, contracted Hongyang Feed Machinery for a complete floating fish feed extrusion line rated at 1.2-1.5 t/h. The line was pre-assembled and trial-run at our Liyang, Jiangsu facility on the customer’s own formulation, then dismantled, packed and loaded into three containers for shipment from Shanghai to Laem Chabang. Because extruded aquafeed lines combine long, irregular components with moisture-sensitive electrical gear, the shipment was engineered as a project in itself: a documented trial, a component-level packing specification, a calculated loading plan with verified weights and lashing, and a synchronized documentation package including ISPM 15 certificates and a Form E certificate of origin.
| Shipment Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Production line | Floating (extruded) fish feed line, 1.2-1.5 t/h |
| Route | Liyang, Jiangsu -> Shanghai -> Laem Chabang -> Chachoengsao |
| Containers | 2 x 40 ft High Cube + 1 x 20 ft GP |
| Packages / gross weight / volume | 46 packages / 38.6 t / 142.4 m3 |
| Average container utilization | 88% by volume |
| Loading / ocean transit | 2.5 working days / 8 days |
| Documents issued | Packing list, invoice, B/L, Form E, ISPM 15 certificates, insurance |
Industry Background
Thailand has one of the most sophisticated commercial aquafeed industries in Southeast Asia. According to IMARC Group, the Thai aquafeed market reached 438,740 tonnes in 2024 and is projected to reach 812,380 tonnes by 2033, a CAGR of 6.73%, with fish (tilapia, catfish, common silver barb) the largest end-user segment. Three drivers push demand toward extrusion rather than simple pelleting: farmers increasingly specify floating pellets for their water stability and visible feed intake; locally available corn, soybean meal and fishmeal make mid-scale extrusion viable; and residue requirements on export-bound fish and shrimp continue to favor industrially produced, traceable feed. For buyers in the 1-2 t/h class, however, the equipment is only half the purchase – whether the line arrives complete, undamaged and installable on schedule is decided at the packing and loading stage.
The Line and Its Packing
Process flow: hammer mill -> mixer -> screw conveyor -> extruder -> pneumatic conveying -> three-layer belt dryer -> counter-flow cooler -> drum oil coater -> finished bin -> automatic packing machine, with dust collection and electrical control integrated throughout.
| Equipment | Packing Form |
|---|---|
| Hammer mill, mixer | Steel-skid plywood cases |
| Screw conveyors (3 sets, up to 6 m) | Bundled on timber cradles, ends capped |
| Dry-type DGP-series extruder, 75 kW | Steel frame with plywood enclosure; screw elements and dies individually wrapped in VCI film |
| Pneumatic conveying system | Ducting nested, blower crated |
| Three-layer belt dryer, 9 m | 3 sectional crates on steel skids |
| Counter-flow cooler, oil coater | Crated, SS 304 contact parts protected |
| Electrical panels (3 sets, PLC + VFD) | Vacuum-wrapped with desiccant, sealed in crates marked “do not stack” |
| Spares, dies, bearings | Dedicated spares case, tagged to parent assemblies |
Packing addressed three risks: corrosion of machined surfaces, mechanical damage to precision parts, and misidentification on arrival. Exposed shafts, flanges, bearing seats and die faces were rust-preventive coated and wrapped in VCI film; PLC and VFD cabinets were vacuum-wrapped with 5 kg desiccant each; every container was lined with PE film and fitted with 8 kg of container desiccant. All solid-wood packing was heat-treated and marked to ISPM 15, and every package carried its package number out of 46, weights, dimensions and ISO 780 handling symbols, with numbering aligned to the contract equipment list rather than to loading sequence.
Trial Run and Container Loading
No line is packed before it has run. The complete line was trial-run on the customer’s formulation (approximately 32% crude protein, 6-8% added fish oil), recording stable output above 1.2 t/h, over 95% of pellets still floating after 30 minutes in still water, dryer outlet moisture below 10%, and verified PLC/VFD interlocks. The trial was video-recorded and remotely accepted by the customer. Every joint that would be re-made on site was match-marked with paired tags and paint lines, and coupling keys, shims and bolts were bagged and tagged to their parent assembly – a discipline that typically removes one to two days of on-site re-assembly.
| Container | Contents | Weight | Volume | Utilization |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40HQ #1 | Dryer sections, cooler, dryer blower and ducting | 18.2 t | 68.1 m3 | 89% |
| 40HQ #2 | Extruder, hammer mill, mixer, oil coater, panels | 16.4 t | 62.5 m3 | 82% |
| 20GP | Screw conveyors, ducting, packing machine, spares | 4.0 t | 11.8 m3 | 85% |
Takeaways
- Trial data beats a specification sheet. Throughput, floatability and moisture recorded on the customer’s own formulation give the commissioning engineer a target to reproduce on site.
- Packing and match-marking are engineering activities. Tagging joints and numbering packages against the contract equipment list is what gets a line to production quickly.
- Loading must be planned against axle load and centre of gravity. Heavy units low and centred prevent transit damage.
Sources
- Research and Markets / IMARC Group, Thailand Aquafeed Market Report by End User, Ingredient and Product Form, 2025-2033, August 2025.
- International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), ISPM 15: Regulation of Wood Packaging Material in International Trade.
- ASEAN-China Free Trade Area, Rules of Origin and Form E certificate of origin, as applied to machinery imports into Thailand.
Post time: Sep-11-2026
