International Parcel Delivery | Blog

Dry Ice Shipping from Montreal: Global Time-Critical Shipments

Written by Jet Team | January 16, 2026

Montreal is a global hub for life sciences, food innovation, and advanced research and development. Yet many companies in the region face a shared challenge: they only need to ship temperature-critical materials internationally on an infrequent, ad hoc basis.

For these organizations, building full dangerous goods (DG) certification and cold-chain infrastructure is neither economical nor practical. This is where professionally managed dry ice shipping from Montreal becomes a powerful solution.

Jet Worldwide enables small, compliant dry ice shipments from Montreal to international destinations using International Express Courier services, allowing businesses to move frozen materials globally without becoming logistics specialists.

What Is Dry Ice Shipping and When Is It Required?

Dry ice (solid carbon dioxide, UN 1845) maintains a stable temperature of approximately -78.5°C, making it ideal for materials that must remain fully frozen during transit.

Compared to gel packs or refrigerated packaging, dry ice:

  • Maintains sub-zero temperatures for multiple days
  • Performs reliably on international express courier lanes
  • Does not require powered refrigeration or external cold storage

For Montreal-based companies shipping infrequently, dry ice provides enterprise-grade temperature control in a compact, courier-friendly format.

Ship frozen goods from Montreal on Dry Ice

Jetship Worldwide provides a cold chain solution for companies who simply need to keep their international shipment cold and/or frozen.  We are certified to make it easy for you ship samples, speciality products and other applications. This can include biological samples as well.

Who Needs Dry Ice Shipping in Montreal?

Dry ice shipping is most often required for non-routine, high-value shipments tied to marketing campaigns, validation efforts, and strategic business milestones.

Looking for a simple way to ship something that needs to stay cold or frozen? If you have a one-off or infrequent shipment—anything from a frozen food sample to a lab culture that must remain cold for final analysis—you may not have the time (or desire) to build a full cold-chain program.

Jet Worldwide makes it practical to ship cold and frozen goods from Montreal and Quebec using compliant temperature-controlled packaging (including dry ice where appropriate), so your materials can arrive in a usable condition at their destination.

This service is not limited to Canadian organizations. Companies outside of Canada can also use Jet Worldwide to coordinate cold and frozen shipments that originate in Montreal or Quebec and move internationally via International Express Courier.

Common ad hoc shipments include:

  • Frozen food samples for buyer evaluation, tastings, or product reviews
  • Temperature-sensitive ingredients and specialty formulations
  • Lab cultures, reagents, and R&D samples requiring cold or frozen conditions for final analysis
  • Prototype kits or small-batch trial materials sent to partners or pilot sites

If you can describe what you’re shipping, how cold it must stay, and when it needs to arrive, Jet Worldwide can recommend the appropriate packing approach and help you execute a reliable, low-friction shipment from Montreal.

For Companies in the Montreal Metro Area: Package Directly at Jet Worldwide

If your company is located in the Greater Montreal or Quebec metro area, you have an additional advantage: you can bring your samples directly to Jet Worldwide’s facility for professional packaging.

This option is particularly valuable for ad hoc shipments where timing, temperature control, and compliance all matter, but internal packaging capabilities are limited or nonexistent.

By packaging at Jet Worldwide’s facility, you benefit from:

  • Reduced pre-transit temperature loss by minimizing handling time between packing and courier handoff
  • Correct dry ice loading based on your specific transit time and destination
  • Compliant UN 1845 packaging, labeling, and documentation prepared by experienced staff
  • Lower risk of shipment refusal or delay at courier acceptance

This approach is ideal for companies shipping frozen food samples, biological materials, or temperature-sensitive R&D samples that must remain cold or frozen right up to departure.

Once packaged, shipments can move directly into the International Express Courier network, helping preserve temperature integrity and reduce overall transit risk.

For many Montreal-area companies, bringing the sample to Jet Worldwide is the simplest way to ensure that cold and frozen shipments are prepared correctly—especially when shipping with dry ice for the first time. Account approval required.

Life Sciences and Biotech Startups

Example: A Montreal biotech startup ships frozen cell samples to a pharmaceutical partner in Europe for validation testing.

  • Shipment size: 3–5 kg total
  • Dry ice load: 5–7 kg
  • Transit time: 48–72 hours via International Express Courier

The samples arrive fully frozen without requiring powered cold-chain logistics.

Specialty Food and Ingredient Innovators

Example: A premium frozen food producer ships tasting kits from Montreal to international buyers ahead of a product launch.

  • Small, curated shipments
  • High product presentation standards
  • Dry ice ensures product integrity during transit

How Long Do Shipments Stay Cold with Dry Ice?

The duration that dry ice maintains frozen conditions depends on insulation quality, ambient temperature, and the amount of dry ice used.

As a practical guideline for international express courier shipments:

Dry Ice Quantity Typical Hold Time
2–3 kg 24–36 hours
4–6 kg 48–72 hours
7–10 kg 72–96 hours

Jet Worldwide designs shipments conservatively to account for customs clearance delays, weekend transit, and worst-case ambient conditions.

For most international express courier lanes departing Montreal, 48–72 hours of protection represents the optimal balance between performance and cost.

Dry Ice Shipping via International Express Courier

International express couriers accept dry ice shipments when packaging and documentation meet established requirements. This includes:

  • Properly insulated and vented outer packaging
  • Clear marking indicating “Dry Ice” and “UN 1845”
  • Accurate declaration of net dry ice weight
  • Compliance with courier-specific acceptance thresholds

For infrequent shippers, the challenge is not demand but execution. Incorrect packaging or documentation can lead to shipment refusal or delays.

Jet Worldwide bridges this gap by managing the technical and regulatory details on behalf of the shipper.

Why Montreal Companies Choose Jet Worldwide

Dry ice shipping is not a core competency for most companies. It is a tactical requirement that arises at critical moments such as product launches, partner evaluations, or regulatory submissions.

Jet Worldwide supports Montreal-based companies by providing:

  • Compliant dry ice packaging design
  • Accurate labeling and documentation
  • Alignment with international express courier requirements
  • Support for one-off and low-volume shipments

Our services are designed for organizations that need speed and reliability without investing in permanent DG infrastructure.

Dry Ice Shipping as a Strategic Enabler

When executed correctly, dry ice shipping enables:

  • Faster international collaboration
  • Global product sampling and marketing campaigns
  • Reduced risk to temperature-sensitive materials
  • Greater operational flexibility

For Montreal innovators, dry ice shipping is not a regulatory burden. It is a competitive advantage.

Ship with Dry Ice from Montreal

Jet Worldwide helps companies ship frozen, time-critical materials internationally—even if it is their first dry ice shipment.

Visit jetworldwide.com to learn how we make dry ice shipping from Montreal practical, compliant, and reliable for ad hoc shippers.