Pharma Freight Success Story: Oman to Spain Cold Chain Delivery

A leading Oman-based pharmaceutical manufacturer specializing in the production of high-quality medicines for global markets needed to move a large-volume pharma shipment from Oman to Spain under strict compliance with Good Distribution Practice (GDP) and international pharmaceutical logistics standards. Their products are regularly exported to multiple regions to provide patients with easy access to reliable healthcare solutions.

The company’s primary goal was to ensure product safety, integrity, and timely delivery to their partner, a Japanese generics pharma company headquartered in Barcelona. However, the process entailed several challenges that could pose a risk to the goods. These included the following:

Geographical limitation - Direct uplift from Salalah to Spain was not feasible due to the large shipment volume.

Temperature sensitivity - The Middle East’s sweltering summer temperatures called for meticulous cold chain management to prevent the products’ spoilage or degradation during transit.

Transshipment risks - Routing through Dubai raised issues in maintaining seamless control during land and air freight transitions.

Regulatory compliance - Strict adherence to GDP standards and documentation was required throughout the supply chain.

Another challenge was determining the packaging requirements to safely export a sensitive product without contamination while maintaining the right temperature throughout the transport from pickup to the research facility.

As the appointed GDP-compliant freight forwarder, TFI managed the full scope of the shipment — from goods collection to cross border transport, border clearance, and air freight to Spain— providing a seamless end-to-end logistics solution that ensured compliance and reliability throughout. Here’s how we made it possible:

As the appointed GDP-compliant freight forwarder, TFI managed the full scope of the shipment — from goods collection to cross border transport, border clearance, and air freight to Spain— providing a seamless end-to-end logistics solution that ensured compliance and reliability throughout. Here’s how we made it possible:

Route optimization Our in-house team planned a dual-mode transport – land freight from Salalah to Dubai, followed by air freight uplift from Dubai to Barcelona.
Temperature protection – We deployed data loggers to monitor and safeguard the shipment throughout transit.
GDP-compliant handling – We ensured all operations, from pickup to transshipment to uplift, adhered to pharmaceutical GDP standards.
Lane risk assessment – Our team evaluated each stage of the supply chain including origin handling in Oman, air freight routing, customs clearance points, and final delivery in Spain. Included in our key considerations were GDP compliance, cold chain management, temperature excursion risks, regulatory requirements, transit time reliability, and potential logistical disruptions. We mapped mitigation measures against each risk, such as validated packaging, real-time shipment visibility, contingency routing, and strict adherence to local and EU pharmaceutical regulations.
Regulatory support – Leveraging our 30+ years’ experience in customs clearance, our experts managed the documentation and compliance requirements; thus, alleviating the shipper’s burden.

By leveraging dual-mode transport, the large-volume pharma shipment was moved efficiently and without delay, while real-time monitoring safeguarded against any risk of temperature excursions.

TFI’s logistics services also delivered measurable impact across multiple facets of the client’s business. Our route planning and optimization improved their cost efficiency by minimizing delays and avoiding multiple smaller shipments. The smooth execution reinforced operational reliability and strengthened trust between our client and their European partner. By enabling the client to meet international demand more effectively, our solution supported growth and positioned them for further expansion into the European market. Additionally, the successful operation enhanced their reputation, showcasing TFI as a dependable GDP-certified logistics partner for large-scale, sensitive pharmaceutical movements.

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