Agriculture Products

Natural Rubber
Moisture due to rain, seawater or condensation water must be strictly avoided, as it can lead to rot, mold, mildew stains and discoloration. Rubber which has become wet and absorbed too much moisture is termed bleached rubber.
Natural rubber is not hygroscopic. The poor thermal conductivity of rubber may lead to condensation on the surface from capillary water, which in turn leads to mold and rot.
Since mold and mildew stains can occur in the middle of the cargo block, it is not possible to detect damage when the consignment is accepted. This can only be detected when the container or means of transport is unloaded.

Mold and Condensation Natural Rubber

Ginger
Ginger has poor moisture tolerance: the intrinsic moisture content of inadequately dried goods and moisture from external sources may cause mold growth. Contact with water in any form (seawater, rain or condensation water) may result in significant depreciation. For this reason, moisture measurements should ideally be carried out at the time of acceptance of a consignment.

Rotten and Mold Ginger

Mold Nutmeg
The cargo must be protected from moisture, since this may lead to mold and spoilage. The goods develop a foul smell and crumble. The molds growing on moldy goods may include Aspergillus flavus, which produces the toxic substance aflatoxin.




Coconut Fiber
Coconut fiber is strongly hygroscopic (hygroscopicity). It must be protected from sea, rain and condensation water and also from high levels of relative humidity, if decay, staining, self-heating, mold, attack by microorganisms and rusting of the steel strapping are to be avoided.
In damp weather (rain, snow), the cargo must be protected from moisture, since coconut fiber is strongly hygroscopic and readily absorbs moisture. This may lead to staining of the bales, decay and mold growth and to rusting of steel strapping. Rusty steel strapping contaminates the coconut fiber and reduces its value.

Wet, Fungus and Damage Coconut Fiber

Tobacco

Tobacco leaves, cut tobacco and paper are all extremely hygroscopic which means that they give up their moisture to the surrounding environment if the air is too dry. Dry air causes tobacco's properties to degrade resulting in shrinkage, weight loss, brittleness, flaking, splitting and tearing.

In natural agriculture products such as seaweed, betel nut, gambier, cocoa, rice, coffee etc the moisture content is high, so it is detrimental if they are not protected by humidity absorbent. In the past, an exporter used silica gel to solve this problem, but silica gel was not too effective. Research has found out that silica gel is not safe because it is toxic, so in some countries it is not allowed as humidity absorbent mediator, especially for food and agriculture products.

Damage on Seaweed


















Coffee Bean

Coffee beans have an excessively high moisture content, there is a risk of mustiness, mold growth and post- or overfermentation. Washed coffee frequently has a higher moisture content than unwashed coffee, due to the processing technique used, so meaning that it also releases more water vapor and is therefore more at risk from sweat. Moisture damage (vapor damage, fresh and salt water damage) does not generally become apparent until several days after the beans have come into contact with water and is then manifested by a musty odor and visible changes to the beans.

Fungus and Damage Coffee Bean

Cocoa Bean
Cocoa beans are known to be highly hygroscopic (hygroscopicity) and to release large amounts of water vapor during transport. Water content has accordingly been observed to fall by 1 - 3% during extended voyages. Improperly fermented and dried cocoa beans have a greater tendency to release water vapor.
If the water content is <> 8%, there is a risk of vapor and mold damage which cause depreciation which may go as far as total loss due to rot.

Mold and Damage Cocoa Bean

Damage on Rice

Fungus betel nut export to India